Issue - meetings

A report from the Executive Director of People is attached.  (Key decision – reference number 5483)

Cllr Abdul Abdullahi (Cabinet Member for Children’s Services) introduced the report of the Executive Director People, seeking approval to join a Pan-London Vehicle (PLV) for Commissioning which will develop secure welfare provision in London with the aim of providing a mechanism for future joint commissioning.

The need for a secure children’s home in London was recognised, so that children who needed such help were not placed far away, and at significant cost. There was a shortage of secure welfare provision. DfE had confirmed the funding to take forward the proposal. The proposed provision would be designed specifically for London. It would help children with complex needs, including those who were particularly vulnerable and at high risk of exploitation. Use would be Court-directed and for a short time, and provision was designed with co-located step-down facilities with wrap-around support.

Members confirmed they had no queries in relation to the exempt information set out in the appendix to the report, and it was not necessary to pass a resolution to go into part two.

DECISION:  The Cabinet agreed to:

1.  Approve that Enfield:

a.  Becomes a member of a not-for-profit company, limited by guarantee, provisionally to be known as the Pan London Vehicle, to:

· develop and then oversee the running of London’s secure children’s home provision for a five-year period from 1st April 2023 to 31st March 2028, with a break-point after two years once the refreshed business case has been developed to include service pricing structure, commissioning approach, practice model and location; and

· collaborate with other PLV members (all London Local Authorities have been invited to be part of the PLV) on future joint commissioning programmes. Full list of members to be confirmed in due course.

b.  Commits in principle to joint oversight and risk/benefit sharing, through the PLV, of the secure children’s home provision, for a five-year period to 31st March 2028, including the build, service development and service commissioning phases, subject to ratification after the revision of the SCH business case, and renewable on a ten yearly cycle thereafter, with break-point after five years.

c.  Delegates authority to the Executive Director - People to:

· finalise the legal documents required to set up, join and run the PLV; and

· make the final determination on the Council’s membership of the PLV, following completion of the revised SCH business case.

The report sets out the options considered, if any, and the reasons for the recommendations and the decision.

(Key decision – reference number 5483)