Issue - meetings

Development of a Caerphilly / Blaenau Gwent collaboration in providing Legal Services for Children’s Social Services

Meeting: 20/01/2022 - Social Services Scrutiny Committee (Item 10)

Development of a Caerphilly / Blaenau Gwent collaboration in providing Legal Services for Children’s Social Services

To consider the report of the Head of Children's Services.

Minutes:

Having regard to the views expressed by the Proper Officer regarding the public interest test, that on balance the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighed the public interest in disclosing the information and that the report should be exempt.

 

RESOLVED that the public be excluded whilst this item of business is transacted as it is likely there would be a disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 14, Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended).

 

Consideration was given to the report of the Head of Children’s Services which was presented to provide information in support of a collaborative arrangement with Caerphilly County Borough Council providing legal services for Blaenau Gwent Children’s Social Services Department.

 

The Head of Children’s Services spoke to the report, highlighted the main points contained therein and responded to Members questions.  She informed Members that a review of annual costs would be included as part of the SLA, but it was important to note that Blaenau Gwent would be responsible for costs incurred when commissioning counsel for more complex cases and other associated court costs.

 

With regard to capacity, the Head of Children’s Services explained that the continuation of the strategy to reduce the numbers of children looked after should result in a reduction of the number of court applications required in the future.  Caerphilly had been successful in recruiting and retaining their legal team and she felt confident that there would be sufficient capacity to support Blaenau Gwent Children’s Services.  She advised that if agreement for the collaboration was given Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council would enter into a minimum 5 year SLA with Caerphilly County Borough Council.

 

The Committee AGREED to recommend that the report which contained information relation to the financial/business affairs of persons other than the Authority be accepted and endorse Option 1; namely that the Social Services Scrutiny Committee support the collaboration between Blaenau Gwent and Caerphilly, for Caerphilly County Borough Council to provide legal services for Children’s social services.