Decision details

Adoption West Contract Extension

Decision Maker: Cabinet

Decision status: Recommendations Approved

Is Key decision?: Yes

Is subject to call in?: Yes

Purpose:

Adoption West was created as a wholly owned local authority company, limited by guarantee, for the delivery of adoption services on behalf of six participating authorities, including Gloucestershire County Council. It is now almost 3 years since Adoption West (AW) commenced operation on 1st March 2019 and, as such, the current contractual arrangements and commissioning agreement will come to an end on 28th February 2022. Adoption West is unique in being the only regional adoption arrangement using this vehicle as its delivery model.

The original Commissioning Agreement (as defined) provides an option to extend its term for a period of up to 5 years commencing 1st March 2022, subject to the agreement of the participating local authorities. Initial discussions between the participating authorities via the Adoption West Board suggest an appetite to proceed on this basis, acknowledging the good progress being made and the not inconsequential challenges of recommissioning and/or participants’ departing the arrangements.

The extension will be progressed by a variation to the current commissioning agreement, alongside a revised service specification and financial agreement reflecting the operational changes that have taken place since commencement.

Decision:

Cllr Stephen Davies sought Cabinet approval for Gloucestershire County Council (GCC) to continue its participation in Adoption West (a company it owns jointly with Bath and Northeast Somerset, Bristol, North Somerset, South Gloucestershire and

Wiltshire Councils) that was created for the purpose of delivering adoption services, by extending the term of a commissioning agreement for the provision of an integrated adoption service between GCC, the other participating councils and Adoption West (the “Commissioning Agreement”), for a period of 5 years.

 

 

Having considered all of the information. Cabinet noted the report and

 

RESOLVED to:

 

Approve

 

a) The exercise by GCC of an option under the Commissioning Agreement to extend its term for a period of 5 years, commencing 1st March 2022 and expiring 28th February 2027;

 

b) An amendment to the Commissioning Agreement’s financial mechanism in order to reflect changes in both population and service activity levels, as described in more detail in paragraph 14 of the report; and,

 

c) An amendment to the Commissioning Agreement’s service specification in order to reflect revised working arrangements between participating councils and Adoption West, as described in more detail in paragraph 14 of this report

 

Report author: Cabinet Member - Children's Safeguarding and Early Years

Publication date: 22/12/2021

Date of decision: 22/12/2021

Decided at meeting: 22/12/2021 - Cabinet

Effective from: 01/01/2022

Accompanying Documents: