Issue - meetings

To  seek  approval  for  Bristol  City  Council  to join The  Southern  Region  Residential  Care Framework led by Southampton City Council, and approval to purchase residential children’s home placements, for children in care, which will be secured from South Central Residential Children's Homes framework whenever possible, or may be spot purchased in the event that the framework is unable to meet the requirements.

That the Committee for Children and Young People

1. Authorises the Executive Director Children and Education in consultation with Chair of the Children & Young People Committee to take all steps required to join, award and purchase (which may be over the key decision threshold) from the South Region Residential Children’s Home Framework in line with the procurement routes and maximum budget envelopes outlined in this report.

2. Authorises the Executive Director Children and Education to invoke any subsequent extensions/variations specifically defined in the contract(s) being awarded, up to the maximum budget envelope outlined in this report.

The Committee considered a report that sought approval for Bristol City Council to join The Southern Region Residential Care Framework led by Southampton City Council, and approval to purchase residential children’s home placements, for children in care, which will be secured from South Central Residential Children's Homes framework whenever possible, or may be spot purchased in the event that the framework is unable to meet the requirements.

The Chair noted that this was a key decision over £500k. 

The Head of Service Children’s Commissioning briefly outlined the report.

It was confirmed there were currently 90 children living in care homes in Bristol. 

A Member commented that the need to go to more private provision is not good. Were there any plans to bring all children’s care provision in-house? Officers said there was a link between this paper and the sufficiency strategy where there were plans to work with the Council’s strategic partner to increase in-house residential placements. 

Following the brief discussion the Chair moved the recommendation as set out in the report. This was seconded by Cllr Hornchen.

The Committee then RESOLVED (unanimously) to:

That the Committee for Children and Young People

1. Authorises the Executive Director Children and Education in consultation with Chair of the Children & Young People Committee to take all steps required to join, award and purchase (which may be over the key decision threshold) from the South Region Residential Children’s Home Framework in line with the procurement routes and maximum budget envelopes outlined in this report.

2. Authorises the Executive Director Children and Education to invoke any subsequent extensions/variations specifically defined in the contract(s) being awarded, up to the maximum budget envelope outlined in this report.

Note: the vote was ‘8 votes for’ as Cllr Lavan had left the meeting.