Agenda, decisions and minutes

To note any apologies for absence.

No apologies.

To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on  11 November 2020. (minutes attached).

The minutes of the meeting on 11 November 2020 were agreed as a correct record.

To  declare any pecuniary or personal interests relating to specific matters on the agenda.

Please see information note (1) at the end of the agenda

No declarations of interest were made at the meeting.

Up to 30 minutes is allowed for this item.

Written questions

To answer any written questions from a County Councillor, (or any person living or working in the county, or is affected by the work of the County Council), about any matter which relates to any item on the agenda for this meeting.

The closing date for the receipt of written questions is 4.00 pm on Thursday 10 December 2020.

Please submit any questions to stephen.bace@gloucestershire.gov.uk

A written answer will be provided for each written question received (to be presented to the questioner and to Cabinet (in advance of the meeting). The questions and answers will be taken as read and will not be read out at the meeting. At the discretion of the Leader of Council, each questioner ( in attendance at the meeting) will be allowed to ask one supplementary question (in response to the answer given to the original question).

A copy of all written questions and written answers circulated at the meeting will be attached to the signed copy of the minutes of the meeting.

Urgent questions

An urgent written question may be asked by a member of the public about any item on the Cabinet agenda for that meeting which the Chairperson considers could not have been reasonably submitted by the deadline for the receipt of written questions, provided he or she gives notice of the question to the Chief Executive by 12 noon the day before the meeting.

A total of 24 public questions were submitted for consideration in advance of the meeting.

The following supplementary questions were asked at the meeting.

Question 1: Alex Hegenbarth

Agenda Item 10: Establishment and construction of a new 3FE (630 place) Primary School in Bishop’s Cleeve

Referencing the answer to the original question detailing the work of the local county councillor, the individual asked why residents who had looked to contact members and feed into the process had been ignored. It was suggested that there had been political point scoring and reassurance was sought that there would be meaningful consultation with borough councillors.

Due to technical difficulties, Cllr Patrick Molyneux would provide a written response.

Question 7 – Chloe Turner

Agenda item 6: Draft Council Strategy and Medium Term Financial Strategy

Due to technical difficulties any supplementary questions would be emailed in and answers provide.

Question 24 – Molly Cato

Agenda Item 8: Leading the response to the Climate Emergency

The questioner made a ‘strong plea’ for the Stroudwater Station emphasising the potential CO2 savings from the rail commute. In addition she asked whether the County Council had a Citizen’s Assembly for climate change.

Cllr Nigel Moor replied that the Council was well aware of the support for the Stroudwater Station but that the Council was currently building a multi modal model to enable an assessment of where the best benefits from public transport improvements in the County could be achieved. He also explained that a Youth Climate Change Panel had been set up.

A total of 32 member questions were submitted for consideration in advance of the meeting.

The following supplementary questions were asked at the meeting.

Question 1 – Cllr Paul Hodgkinson

Agenda Item 8: Leading the response to the Climate Emergency

Cllr Hodgkinson quoted the commitment to plant 1 million trees with the County Council leading on this.  He asked how many trees had been planted in the last year.

Cllr Nigel Moor replied that the Council was moving forward. He referred to the challenges during pandemic and explained that the Council had worked with partners to get the Tree Strategy adopted which was the only way to meet this ambition.

Question 2 – Cllr Paul Hodgkinson

Agenda Item 8: Leading the response to the Climate Emergency

Cllr Hodgkinson asked if the member would commit to providing a figure to confirm the net result of cutting down trees against those that had been planted.

Cllr Nigel Moor stated that 1.3 million has been committed to dealing with Ash die-back and that he asked officers to develop a replanting programme which he would be happy to share in the New Year once available. 

Question 3 – Cllr Paul Hodgkinson

Agenda Item 8: Leading the response to the Climate Emergency

Cllr Hodgkinson asked what confidence the public could have that the Council would reach the target of planting 1 million trees?

Cllr Nigel Moor replied he was very confident.  He reiterated that during a challenging year the strategy and been  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

Cabinet to consider the findings of the Single Use Plastics Scrutiny Task Group.

Cllr Dr Andrew Miller presented the report, thanking all the members who had been involved in the task group. He particularly thanked Cllr Eva Ward who had chaired the task group.

He outlined the positive work the County Council were doing on this initiative alongside the work around tree planting and aiming to become carbon neutral. He drew member’s attention to the recommendations in the report, emphasising the importance of sharing the message around the impact of single use plastics.

In particular he highlighted recommendation 3 in the report noting that the estimated timescale for the procurement toolkit was 6-12 months and his recommendation was that the Environment Scrutiny Committee should keep on top of progress.

In response to the recommendations, Cllr Nigel Moor, Cabinet Member for Environment and Planning thanked the members for the task group. A report would be provided responding to the recommendations.

He provided an overview of communications activities and public campaigns aimed at raising awareness of single-use plastic waste prevention and recycling in Gloucestershire. Plastic waste was a considerable proportion of the household waste collected in Gloucestershire. Thin film plastic contributed 8% of residual waste by weight, with a further 14% comprising of mixed plastic materials and items such as disposable nappies.

Current and ongoing campaigns including helping local communities to set up and operate schemes for hard to recycle plastics and promoting the use of ‘real nappies’ amongst parents in order to drive down the use of disposables. He also referred to the current Christmas campaign highlighting the advice of waste avoidance. Planning was underway for a Spring 2021 campaign title ‘Clear on Plastics’ which aimed to cut through the confusion on plastics and offer practical tips and advice on prevention and recycling.

The campaign plan for 2021/22 was currently being prepared, and a focus on both waste reduction and recycling would be maintained.

Cllr Lynden Stowe, Cabinet Member for Finance and Change, set out proposals relating to the detailed revenue and capital budget for 2021/22 and the Medium Term Financial Strategy for the period 2021/22 to 2023/24. Cabinet was being asked to approve for consultation and scrutiny the proposed detailed revenue and capital budget for 2021/22 (including Dedicated Schools Grant which would also be considered by the Schools Forum), the Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) covering the period 2021/22 to 2023/24 and updated Council Strategy. This was prior to finalisation and scrutiny, prior to finalisation of the budget for approval by Cabinet on 27 January 2021 and recommendation to County Council on 17 February 2021.

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

RESOLVED to:

Approve for consultation and scrutiny the proposed detailed revenue and capital budget for 2021/22 (including Dedicated Schools Grant which will also be considered by the Schools Forum), the Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) covering the period 2021/22 to 2023/24 and the updated Council Strategy.

Cllr Lynden Stowe, Cabinet Member for Finance and Change, set out proposals relating to the detailed revenue and capital budget for 2021/22 and the Medium Term Financial Strategy for the period 2021/22 to 2023/24. Cabinet was being asked to approve for consultation and scrutiny the proposed detailed revenue and capital budget for 2021/22 (including Dedicated Schools Grant which would also be considered by the Schools Forum), the Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) covering the period 2021/22 to 2023/24 and updated Council Strategy. This was prior to finalisation and scrutiny, prior to finalisation of the budget for approval by Cabinet on 27 January 2021 and recommendation to County Council on 17 February 2021.

Cllr Stowe informed members that the MTFS had been prepared using the best estimates pending the announcement of the provisional finance settlement. Any amendments would be incorporated into the final budget submitted to Cabinet in January 2021.

The MTFS contained the proposed budget for 2021/22, including the general fund revenue budget, the capital programme and the Dedicated Schools Grant. The general fund revenue budget totalled £480.458million, based on an overall increase of 4.75% on Council Tax (this included 1.99% Council tax increase plus a 2.76% Adult Social Care Levy) which was in accordance with the announcement in the Comprehensive Spending Review. The proposed increase in the Levy was estimated to raise an additional £8651 million for Adult Social Care services.

The proposed tax increase would result in a Band D Council Tax of £1,409.22 in 2021/22 compared to £1,345.32 in 2020/21, an increase of £63.90 per annum.

Cllr Stowe referred members to the details in the report for service areas as well as including capital spend and dedicated schools budget.Cllr Stowe clarified that the proposed increase had been made in line with the council’s ongoing commitment to delivering key front-line services, including Children’s and Adult Services. He also highlighted the spending on highways and facilitating of broadband roll-out.

He emphasised that this was a well run, well financially managed council and the budget embedded the Council’s commitment to look to the future, the challenges around climate change and provide the resources to look after those who need care

Cabinet Members expressed thanks to officers and members for the proposals being put forward and discussed how the budget supported the initiatives they were working on, including services for children, supporting adults and highways works related to the £150m commitment. In addition Members acknowledged the challenges during the Covid-19 pandemic and the prudent management of finances shown.

The Leader detailed the generous financial settlement from government which was expected to be announced the next day in addition to the £1.55bn Covid recovery funding nationally which demonstrated that Local Government was getting the resources it needed. Gloucestershire’s budget showed real investment in the front line.

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

RESOLVED to:

Approve for consultation and scrutiny the proposed detailed revenue and capital budget for 2021/22 (including Dedicated Schools Grant which will also  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

Cabinet Member for Finance and Change, Cllr Lynden Stowe, gave an update on the year-end forecasts for the County Council’s Revenue and Capital Budgets 2020/21.

RESOLVED to:

1. Note the forecast revenue year end position based on actual expenditure as at the end of September 2020 and October 2020 (Period 7) forecasts for the 2020/21 financial year including Covid-19 forecast is an overspend of £8.371 million. The forecast excluding Covid-19 is an overspend £4.461 million.

2. Note the forecast capital year end position as at the end of September 2020 of £130.145 million against the current budget of £135.135 million.

3. Approve the re-profiling of the 2020/21 Adults and AMPS capital budgets

to reflect the current forecasts.

4. Note the year end forecast to deliver £9.817 million of savings against a target of £10.545 million or 93.10%.

Cabinet Member for Finance and Change, Cllr Lynden Stowe, gave an update on

the year-end forecasts for the County Council’s Revenue and Capital Budgets

2020/21.

The forecast excluding Covid-19 expenditure was a £4.461 million overspend – this was largely due to a £7.669 million overspend in Children and Families which was partially offset by £3.056 million underspend in Technical & Countywide budgets. The overspend in Children and Families reflected the continuing pressure on external placements and home to school transport.

The forecast cost of responding to the Covid-19 pandemic was £37.757 million, which exceeded the emergency grant allocation received of £33.847 million – resulting in a forecast overspend of £3.910 million. However it was currently estimated that the Council would receive around £3.9 million from the Government’s lost income reimbursement scheme. This would ensure that net expenditure on responding to COVID was in line with additional grant funding.

The report included detail on the Capital year end position of £130.145 million.

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

RESOLVED to:

1. Note the forecast revenue year end position based on actual expenditure as at the end of September 2020 and October 2020 (Period 7) forecasts for the 2020/21 financial year including Covid-19 forecast is an overspend of £8.371 million. The forecast excluding Covid-19 is an overspend £4.461 million.

2. Note the forecast capital year end position as at the end of September 2020 of £130.145 million against the current budget of £135.135 million.

3. Approve the re-profiling of the 2020/21 Adults and AMPS capital budgets to reflect the current forecasts.

4. Note the year end forecast to deliver £9.817 million of savings against a target of £10.545 million or 93.10%.

Cllr Nigel Moor, Cabinet Member for Environment and Planning updated Cabinet on progress with implementing the Gloucestershire Climate Change Strategy and sought Cabinet’s approval of the revised Action Plan.

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

RESOLVED to:

1. Note the overall emissions for Gloucestershire outlined in the report

and in Annex 1.

2. Note the progress and planned key actions outlined in the report and

in Annex 2.

3. Approve the outline Action Plan 2021/2 to 2026/7 (Annex 3), to be developed into a detailed plan in consultation with Leadership Gloucestershire partners, for implementation from April 2021.

4. Confirm the Council’s support to the Association of Directors of Environment, Economy, Planning and Transport’s call for government to secure more powers and resources for councils to take action on climate change and nature restoration, and to build back better from Covid-19 in their areas.

Cllr Nigel Moor, Cabinet Member for Environment and Planning updated Cabinet on progress with implementing the Gloucestershire Climate Change Strategy and sought Cabinet’s approval of the revised Action Plan.

The Gloucestershire Climate Change Strategy and 5-year rolling Action Plan was adopted by Cabinet last December.  The report summarised the most recent carbon emissions position for Gloucestershire and the council; our progress in implementing the action plan; and proposes an outline action plan to 2026/07. 

He outlined the importance of the County Council leading by example to become carbon zero by 2021.

He outlined the ambitious 5 year rolling action plan and that as this was also about partners this action plan needed to go to Leadership Gloucestershire for buy in.

He also emphasised the importance of public engagement by continuing to lobby for appropriate powers and resources from government to respond to the challenge of climate change. The Council had signed up to the  ‘Blueprint Coalition’ of local government, environmental, and research organisations.

Cabinet Members provided their full support for the strategy explaining that a strategy of this kind was essential and praising the amount of work that had gone into it. In addition, Members noted the highways work that had taken place such as the LED street lighting scheme and the change in materials being used in highways works to reduce the carbon footprint.

The Council’s corporate carbon emissions had decreased as outlined within the report. This compared favourably to partners and neighbouring Councils and there was a discussion around the investment and work that had been carried out by the administration to make real progress in this area and take a holistic approach to the big challenges being faced by the Council and the country.

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

RESOLVED to:

1. Note the overall emissions for Gloucestershire outlined in the report

and in Annex 1.

2. Note the progress and planned key actions outlined in the report and

in Annex 2.

3. Approve the outline Action Plan 2021/2 to 2026/7 (Annex 3), to be developed into a detailed plan in consultation with Leadership Gloucestershire partners, for implementation from April 2021.

4. Confirm the Council’s support to the Association of Directors of Environment, Economy, Planning and Transport’s call for government to secure more powers and resources for councils to take action on climate change and nature restoration, and to build back better from Covid-19 in their areas.

Cllr Carole Allaway Martin, Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care Commissioning and Cllr Kathy Williams, Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care Delivery, sought Cabinet’s approval to award to Oxford Computer Consultants, without further competition, of a call-off contract for the supply of adult social care finance system and related modules.

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

RESOLVED to:

Approve an award to Oxford Computer Consultants, without further competition, of a call-off contract for the supply of the following system and related services under Crown Commercial Services Framework Agreement RM3821 in accordance with the direct contract award criteria thereunder :

a – The adult social care finance system known as ContrOCC

b – The MarketPlace system

c – The Provider Portal module and

d – The E-Brokerage module

Such contract shall continue for an initial period of 3 years and include

options to extend its term for no more than two further one year periods to coincide with the expiry date of the Council’s current contract with Liquidlogic for the supply of the Council’s Adult Social Care Case Management solution that is due to expire on 28/03/24 (which also includes an option to extend its term for a further period of not more than two further one year periods).

Approve the execution of such contract under seal by the Assistant Director of Legal services.

Delegate authority to the Executive Director: Adult Social Care (in consultation with the Cabinet Members for Adult Social Care Commissioning and Adult Social Care Delivery) to determine each of the options to extend the contract on expiry of the initial contract term.

Cllr Carole Allaway Martin, Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care Commissioning and Cllr Kathy Williams, Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care Delivery, sought Cabinet’s approval to award to Oxford Computer Consultants, without further competition, of a call-off contract for the supply of an adult social care finance system and related modules.

It was outlined that the Council currently contracted with Oxford Computer Consultants (OCC) for the supply of the adult social care finance system and related modules. Under this contract The Council procured the finance system know as ContrOCC, the Provider Portal function, the Market Place system and e-Brokerage module.

The current contract would expire in January 2021. All of the mentioned systems and modules underpinned the Council’s Integrated Brokerage functions and the Council’s Adult Services advice and Information responsibilities under the Care Act. ContrOCC systems were capable of integrating with the Liquidlogic case management system that would be implemented by the Council in Spring 2021.

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

RESOLVED to:

Approve an award to Oxford Computer Consultants, without further competition, of a call-off contract for the supply of the following system and related services under Crown Commercial Services Framework Agreement RM3821 in accordance with the direct contract award criteria thereunder :

a – The adult social care finance system known as ContrOCC

b – The MarketPlace system

c – The Provider Portal module and

d – The E-Brokerage module

Such contract shall continue for an initial period of 3 years and include

options to extend its term for no more than two further one year periods to

coincide with the expiry date of the Council’s current contract with Liquidlogic for the supply of the Council’s Adult Social Care Case Management solution that is due to expire on 28/03/24 (which also includes an option to extend its term for a further period of not more than two further one year periods).

Approve the execution of such contract under seal by the Assistant Director of Legal services.

Delegate authority to the Executive Director: Adult Social Care (in consultation with the Cabinet Members for Adult Social Care Commissioning and Adult Social Care Delivery) to determine each of the options to extend the contract on expiry of the initial contract term.

Cllr Patrick Molyneux, Cabinet Member for Economy, Education and Skills, sought Cabinet’s approval to establish a new 3FE (Forms of Entry) (630 place) Primary School to serve Bishop’s Cleeve together with approval for

commissioning, additional funding, land acquisition and delivery of the new

school.

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

RESOLVED to:

1. Approve the establishment of a new 3FE Primary School to serve Bishop’s Cleeve and delegates authority to the Executive Director of Children’s Services, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Economy, Education and Skills to:

i) Hold a free school presumption competition in accordance with the Department for Education’s “The free school presumption” (November 2019) in order to identify a suitable Academy Trust to sponsor the school.

ii) Upon conclusion of the competition, recommend to the Secretary of State the findings of the Local Authority’s assessment to enable him to decide upon the most suitable proposer to take forward the new free school.

2. Delegate authority to the Assistant Director of Asset Management and Property Services in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Economy, Education and Skills to acquire the land on which to establish and construct the new primary school.

3.

(a) approve the addition of £3.000 million to the approved capital scheme to contribute towards the funding of construction and acquisition of the land [in respect of such school] from unallocated basic need grant funding; and

(b) review and ratify a decision by the Assistant Director of Asset Management and Property Services to conduct a competitive procurement process in respect of a contract for the design and build of such school under the County Council’s major framework and then award such contract to the preferred tenderer.

4. Delegate authority to the Executive Director of Children’s Services in consultation with the Assistant Director of Asset Management and Property Services to undertake all ancillary matters to enable the establishment of the new 3FE Primary School such school.

Cllr Patrick Molyneux, Cabinet Member for Economy, Education and Skills, sought Cabinet’s approval to establish a new 3FE (Forms of Entry) (630 place) Primary School to serve Bishop’s Cleeve together with approval for commissioning, additional funding, land acquisition and delivery of the new school.

The Schools Strategy had  identified that in light of the growing population and housing, school place projections for Bishop’s Cleeve identified a need to provide an additional 3 Forms of Entry (630 places) to meet the demand from 2023 onwards. He acknowledged that there had been a number of representations relating to a new school and asking the Council to ensure there was a site close to the need for new places. Negotiations were currently being pursued to secure a new site which was closer to where the additional demand was located. 

Additional capital funding had been identified for the delivery of the new school anticipated for September 2023.

The work of local members was commended in helping to bring the scheme forward.

Members emphasised the importance of schools becoming community hubs and emphasised the way in which the establishment of the school would help the Council’s wider agendas.

A Due Regard Statement has been produced and was included in the papers for the meeting. 

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

RESOLVED to:

1. Approve the establishment of a new 3FE Primary School to serve Bishop’s Cleeve and delegates authority to the Executive Director of Children’s Services, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Economy, Education and Skills to:

i) Hold a free school presumption competition in accordance with the Department for Education’s “The free school presumption” (November 2019) in order to identify a suitable Academy Trust to sponsor the school.

ii) Upon conclusion of the competition, recommend to the Secretary of State the findings of the Local Authority’s assessment to enable him to decide upon the most suitable proposer to take forward the new free school.

2. Delegate authority to the Assistant Director of Asset Management and Property Services in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Economy, Education and Skills to acquire the land on which to establish and construct the new primary school.

3.

(a) approve the addition of £3.000 million to the approved capital scheme to contribute towards the funding of construction and acquisition of the land [in respect of such school] from unallocated basic need grant funding; and

(b) review and ratify a decision by the Assistant Director of Asset Management and Property Services to conduct a competitive procurement process in respect of a contract for the design and build of such school under the County Council’s major framework and then award such contract to the preferred tenderer.

4. Delegate authority to the Executive Director of Children’s Services in consultation with the Assistant Director of Asset Management and Property Services to undertake all ancillary matters to enable the establishment of the new 3FE Primary School such school.

Cllr Vernon Smith Cabinet  Member for Highways and Flood asked Cabinet to delegate authority to the Head of Highway Authority (in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Highways and Flood) for the purpose of procuring highway services and construction phase works, through competitive tender, in relation to A435 Charlton Hill Geotechnical Stabilisation Scheme and awarding contracts for the provision of such services and works.

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

RESOLVED to:

Delegate authority to the Head of Highway Authority (in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Highways and Flood) to:

1. conduct a competitive procurement process(es) for the supply of highway services and construction phase works in relation to the A435 Charlton Hill Geotechnical Stabilisation Scheme and awarding contracts for the provision of such services and works and

2. make any other ancillary traffic regulation orders that might be required in order to successfully implement the Project (such as temporary traffic regulation orders (TTROs for speed limits etc.)) during the construction phase of the Project.

Cllr Vernon Smith Cabinet Member for Highways and Flood asked Cabinet to delegate authority to the Head of Highway Authority (in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Highways and Flood) for the purpose of procuring highway services and construction phase works, through competitive tender, in relation to A435 Charlton Hill Geotechnical Stabilisation Scheme and awarding contracts for the provision of such services and works.

In addition, it would be necessary to make further ancillary orders in order to successfully implement the project and authority was sought to enable GCC to make legal orders such as temporary traffic regulation orders (TTROs for speed limits etc.) during the construction phase of the Project.

It was explained that the scheme would be funded through the Highways Capital Programme. It was noted that the A435 (Cirencester Road) at Charlton Hill had been subject to ongoing cracking and movement of the road service for many years and that it had been intermittently patched and resurfaced. The southbound crawler lane had been partially closed. The scheme would cost an estimated £2.8 million and would involve full road reconstruction and a new drainage system to effectively manage surface water. There would be cycle provision (uphill only). The scheme was programmed to start on site in Summer 2021.

Cllr Smith thanked officers for their work on this project.

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

RESOLVED to:

Delegate authority to the Head of Highway Authority (in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Highways and Flood) to:

1. conduct a competitive procurement process(es) for the supply of highway services and construction phase works in relation to the A435 Charlton Hill Geotechnical Stabilisation Scheme and awarding contracts for the provision of such services and works and

2. make any other ancillary traffic regulation orders that might be required in order to successfully implement the Project (such as temporary traffic regulation orders (TTROs for speed limits etc.)) during the construction phase of the Project.

Cllr Richard Boyles, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Children’s Safeguarding and Early Years, sought Cabinet authorisation for Gloucestershire County Council (the Council) to continue to participate in the current Bath and North East Somerset Dynamic Purchasing System (known as the “Framework for the placement of children and young people in foster care”), for the provision of independent fostering services to participating Local Authorities (the “Dynamic Purchasing System/Framework”).

In addition, the report sought  authorisation for a 1.5% uplift in fees for new

placements under the Dynamic Purchasing System/Framework from 1 April

2021.

The report also sought authorisation for Childrens Services to join Fostering

Frameworks in other regions specifically to meet our sufficiency needs.

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

RESOLVED to:

Delegate authority to the Executive Director of Children Services to:

1) Extend the term of the current Dynamic Purchasing System/Framework for the supply of independent fostering services” for a period of 12 months from 1st April 2021 until 31st March 2022.

2) Extend the term of the Council’s Participation Agreement with Bath and North East Somerset Council for a further year from 1 April 2021 until 31 March 2022 for the purposes of enabling the Council to participate in the Dynamic Purchasing System /Framework and to pay Bath and North East Somerset Council a maximum sum of £4,000 as a contribution to its costs in acting as lead authority for the Dynamic Purchasing System/Framework.

3) Agree an uplift in fees (to be capped at 1.5%) paid to participating

independent fostering agencies under the Dynamic Purchasing

System/Framework in respect of individual placements from 1st April 2021 in conjunction with other participating Local Authorities.

4) Procure and award such number of call-off contracts under the terms of the Dynamic Purchasing System/Framework as are required to meet the Council’s responsibility to provide services for the assessed needs for the framework services, provided the aggregate value of such call-off

contracts does not exceed an estimated maximum amount of £7.77

Million.

5) Continue to undertake compliant procurement of placements outside of this Framework in order to provide maximum flexibility to match children and young people’s needs including cultural matching with suitable carers and for PACE where this cannot be provided by the current Framework provision.

6) Explore and join, if appropriate, Frameworks outside of the South West that are reaching renewal stage in coming years with a view to increasing cultural matching and PACE opportunities within the financial security of a Framework arrangement.

Cllr Richard Boyles, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Children’s Safeguarding and Early Years, sought Cabinet authorisation for Gloucestershire County Council (the Council) to continue to participate in the current Bath and North East Somerset Dynamic Purchasing System (known as the “Framework for the placement of children and young people in foster care”), for the provision of independent fostering services to participating Local Authorities (the “Dynamic Purchasing System/Framework”).

In addition, the report sought authorisation for a 1.5% uplift in fees for new placements under the Dynamic Purchasing System/Framework from 1 April

2021.

The report also sought authorisation for Childrens Services to join Fostering Frameworks in other regions specifically to meet the Council’s sufficiency needs.

The framework had currently worked well and would continue to ensure equality of opportunity for all looked after children.

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

RESOLVED to:

Delegate authority to the Executive Director of Children Services to:

1) Extend the term of the current Dynamic Purchasing System/Framework

for the supply of independent fostering services” for a period of 12 months

from 1st April 2021 until 31st March 2022.

2) Extend the term of the Council’s Participation Agreement with Bath and

North East Somerset Council for a further year from 1 April 2021 until 31

March 2022 for the purposes of enabling the Council to participate in the

Dynamic Purchasing System /Framework and to pay Bath and North East

Somerset Council a maximum sum of £4,000 as a contribution to its costs

in acting as lead authority for the Dynamic Purchasing System/Framework.

3) Agree an uplift in fees (to be capped at 1.5%) paid to participating

independent fostering agencies under the Dynamic Purchasing

System/Framework in respect of individual placements from 1st April 2021

in conjunction with other participating Local Authorities.

4) Procure and award such number of call-off contracts under the terms of

the Dynamic Purchasing System/Framework as are required to meet the

Council’s responsibility to provide services for the assessed needs for the

framework services, provided the aggregate value of such call-off

contracts does not exceed an estimated maximum amount of £7.77

Million.

5) Continue to undertake compliant procurement of placements outside of

this Framework in order to provide maximum flexibility to match children

and young people’s needs including cultural matching with suitable carers

and for PACE where this cannot be provided by the current Framework

provision.

6) Explore and join, if appropriate, Frameworks outside of the South West

that are reaching renewal stage in coming years with a view to increasing

cultural matching and PACE opportunities within the financial security of a Framework arrangement.