Agenda item

1.         That LBHF becomes a member of a not-for-profit company, limited by guarantee, provisionally to be known as the Pan London Vehicle (PLV), to:

o    Develop and then oversee the running of London’s secure children’s home provision for a five-year period from 1^st April 2023 to 31^st March 2028 (with a break-point after three years), at a fixed annual cost of £20,0000 payable only once the provision has launched (subject to inflation adjustment), unless an alternative model for funding is agreed by members during the development phase.

o    Collaborate with other PLV members on future joint commissioning programmes.

2.         That LBHF 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 31^st 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 (break-point after five years).

3.         That Cabinet delegates authority to the Strategic Director of Children’s Services, in consultation with the Director of Finance, Monitoring Officer, and Cabinet Member for Children and Education to:

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

o  make the final determination on the Council’s membership of the PLV, following completion of the revised SCH business case and, if appropriate, enter into all the legal agreements, contracts and other documents on behalf of the Council required to implement and run any aspect of the PLV arrangements, and

o  exercise the break clause if it is not considered appropriate to proceed with membership of the PLV

Councillor Alex Sanderson introduced the report seeking approval for the Council to become a member of the Pan London Vehicle (PLV), a not-for-profit commissioning organisation for a five-year period from 1^st April 2023 to 31^st March 2028. Joining the PLV would ensure that the Council would be able to access specialist placements as and when needed, at a competitive rate, and ensuring the best outcomes for the children.

Councillor Victoria Brocklebank-Fowler stated that it was important that other London local authorities were involved to decrease the costings. She asked for the number of London councils that had signed up to for this project so far. She noted that fortunately there was only a very low number of children in the borough who might have to be placed in a secure children’s home.

Councillor Sanderson replied that this project had wide support across London and councils were currently taking the proposal through their approval process. The Council had a statutory duty to ensure there were places available for a child in a secure children’s home when needed. However, currently there was no secure provision in London which meant children would have to be sent far away, which had negative outcomes and was very expensive. Therefore, it made sense to become a member of the PLV, which would be funded by the Department for Education.

The Leader stated that the Council’s approach was to focus on the children’s needs and not just the money. Value for money was important but only mattered if services worked. Hopefully, no child would need to be placed in a secure home, but this was a good step forward which would be constantly monitored.

AGREED UNANIMOUSLY BY THE CABINET MEMBERS:

1.         That LBHF becomes a member of a not-for-profit company, limited by guarantee, provisionally to be known as the Pan London Vehicle (PLV), to:

o    Develop and then oversee the running of London’s secure children’s home provision for a five-year period from 1^st April 2023 to 31^st March 2028 (with a break-point after three years), at a fixed annual cost of £20,0000 payable only once the provision has launched (subject to inflation adjustment), unless an alternative model for funding is agreed by members during the development phase.

o    Collaborate with other PLV members on future joint commissioning programmes.

2.         That LBHF 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 31^st 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 (break-point after five years).

3.         That Cabinet delegates authority to the Strategic Director of Children’s Services, in consultation with the Director of Finance, Monitoring Officer, and Cabinet Member for Children and Education to:

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

o  make the final determination on the Council’s membership of the PLV, following completion of the revised SCH business case and, if appropriate, enter into all the legal agreements, contracts and other documents on behalf of the Council required to implement and run any aspect of the PLV arrangements, and

o  exercise the break clause if it is not considered appropriate to proceed with membership of the PLV