Issue - meetings

Report of the Strategic Director, Care, Wellbeing and Learning

Consideration has been given to the creation of a new Regional Adoption Agency to be named “Adopt North East” through combining the adoption services for the local authority areas of Gateshead, Newcastle upon Tyne, North Tyneside, Northumberland and South Tyneside, working in partnership with the Voluntary Adoption Agencies, After Adoption, ARC, Barnardos and Durham Family Welfare.

RESOLVED -            (i)         That the progress undertaken with respect to the                                      proposal for the adoption services of Gateshead                                               MBC, Newcastle City Council, North Tyneside                                                            Council, Northumberland County Council and                                                   South Tyneside Council to be combined to create                                       a Regional Adoption Agency to be known as                                            “Adopt North East” be noted.

(ii)          That it be noted that the preferred business model for “Adopt North East” is a local authority hosted model which will operate through the delegation of the Constituent Councils’ adoption functions to a host local authority pursuant to Sections 9EA and 9EB of the Local Government Act 2000 and the Local Authorities (Arrangements for the Discharge of Functions) (England) Regulations 2012.

(iii)         That the proposal for North Tyneside Council to act as the Lead and Host Authority for “Adopt North East” and that it is proposed that the new arrangements will commence in early December 2018 be noted.

(iv)       That the draft summary Business Case associated                              with the delivery of “Adopt North East” and the                                       associated funding proposals be noted.

(v)        That the Authority be authorized to consult jointly                                 with the other participating authorities, on the                                         proposals for “Adopt North East” with the relevant                          stakeholders as set out in the report.

(vi)       That a further report be submitted to Cabinet in                              September 2018 seeking final approval of the                                       proposals following the receipt and analysis of the                               consultation exercise and the finalisation of the                                   Final Business Case and agreement of appropriate                              Heads of Terms for a legal agreement to be                                   entered into by the Constituent Councils.

The above decisions have been made as this option meets the requirements being place on the Authority by the Government in relation to the regionalisation of adoption services and is the most financially and legally efficient available option.