Agenda, decisions and minutes

There were no apologies for absence.

To provide an opportunity for Members and Officers to declare any disclosable pecuniary and non-pecuniary interests in any item on the agenda.

There were no declarations of interest.

In accordance with Procedure Rules Nos.11 and 35 a period of 10 minutes is allocated for members of the public to address the meeting on any matter relevant to the work of the body in question.  Individual members of the public may speak for up to 5 minutes but the Chairman or person presiding will decide how the period of time allocated for public speaking will be apportioned where there are a number of speakers. Members of the public are not required to give notice to use this facility. However, as a matter of courtesy, a period of 24 hours’ notice is encouraged.

Members of the public wishing to ask a question at the meeting should provide at least three clear working days’ notice in writing and should include the question with that notice. This will enable an informed answer to be given.

No members of the public were present.

To consider the introduction of a charging policy.

1.    That approval be given to the adoption of the policy, shown as Appendix 1 of the report, from 1 August 2017 for all new entrants to care subject to Section 20 of the Children Act where care proceedings are not the agreed care plan.

2.    That a review of the effectiveness of the policy be carried out in one year’s time.

The legal power to claim costs from parents is contained in Section 29 and Section 2 of the Children Act 1989.  This policy aims to promote children remaining within their families and to deter families from abdicating their parental responsibilities, and to reduce the numbers of cared for children where parents are able to care for their own children. 

It was recognised however that careful management and oversight would be needed to ensure the charging policy does not become a barrier to children coming into care where there was a need to safeguard their welfare.  The Head of Service for Cared for Children, together with the management team, will provide oversight via the Permanence Tracking Panel which will review the appropriateness of the charging policy to individual children as they enter care and the Head of Service has the discretion to set aside a charge if required.

The policy reflects the sharing of responsibility between parents and the local authority to ensure best outcomes for children; it supports the objectives of the Children Act 1989 that the welfare of the child is paramount and promotes social responsibility; it should not result in parents being charged more than they can reasonably be expected to pay; it should not result in parents refusing to agree to voluntary accommodation arrangements if to do so would place a child at risk of continued harm; it assesses all families ability to contribute irrespective of income or employment status; and uses the income generated to support current services.

The Portfolio Holder received reassurance that children in care for safeguarding reasons would not be affected and that the administration of the policy would be by a separate team to those involved in overseeing the care of the child.  It was confirmed that similar such schemes were operated by other Councils.

RESOLVED

1.    That approval be given to the adoption of the policy, shown as Appendix 1 of the report, from 1 August 2017 for all new entrants to care subject to Section 20 of the Children Act where care proceedings are not the agreed care plan.

2.    That a review of the effectiveness of the policy be carried out in one year’s time.