Issue - meetings

To consider the report of the Cabinet Member for Aspiration, Children and Lifelong Learning seeking approval for the Local Placement Plan proposal for Children’s Residential Care.

Report of the Cabinet Member for Aspiration, Children and Lifelong Learning seeking approval for the Local Placement Plan Proposal for Children’s Residential Care.

RESOLVED: That the financial commitment of £2,311,500 Capital spend and Revenue spend from Children and Families budget as detailed below to deliver the project be approved.

·  FY 20/21 - £686,200

·  FY 21/22 - £2,476,400

·  FY 22/23 - £2,880,800

To consider the report of the Cabinet Member for Aspiration, Children and Lifelong Learning seeking approval for the Local Placement Plan proposal for Children’s Residential Care.

DECISION MADE: (CAB 19/20 26571

On consideration of the report of the Cabinet Member for Aspiration, Children and Lifelong Learning, the Cabinet agreed the following together with recommendations from Overview and Scrutiny Committee on 12^th March 2020 detailed in (iii) and (iv):-

(i)  To approve the Local Placement Plan business case (appendix 1).

(ii)  To delegate authority to Executive Director Children & Families service, following consultation with Cabinet member for Aspiration, Children and Lifelong Learning, to take necessary steps required to implement the proposals in (i) above

(iii)  That, to aid the discussion at Cabinet and Council, the forecast 2019/20 expenditure figure of £6.3m is utilised, rather than the 2018/19 actual figure of £4.6m, as this provides a more accurate reflection of current and future residential placement costs for the Council.

(iv)  That, whilst recognising that the principle of accommodating Southampton’s looked after children in placements within the city is supported by the Committee, it is recommended that, prior to the Cabinet decision, Finance are asked to model the future residential care placement costs to provide greater certainty that the proposal reflects value for money.