The Civic Mayor introduced the item ‘A Better Offer for Care Leavers’ for which one motion and two amendments had been submitted.

MOTION

Councillor Tom Usher moved and Councillor Kate Cannon seconded the following Motion submitted in accordance with Standing Order 7 –

“Council notes that the new Offer for Care Leavers reflects a commitment to do the right thing by the young people in our care. Those involved, both from the Council and our partner organisations should be thanked for their work and determination, especially those young people at the Care Leaver’s Council and beyond who helped shape this new offer.

Council also makes the assurance that it will continue to listen to children and young people in its efforts to improve the offer. We are resolute that one of the most important responsibilities of any government, local or national is to ensure children and young people get the best possible start to their life.  Council supports the decision to exempt care leavers from Council Tax and to write off any arrears owed.

The Council supports the £20m investment made in 2018/19 and is committed to continued investment in Children’s services.  However, our commitment and aspirations for our young people are made more difficult by the government’s refusal to act on the crisis in social care funding. If austerity is truly over, Council calls on the government to set children as their number one priority, provide adequate funding for local councils, and reverse some of the harmful cuts in services that have led to a record number of children in care.  In the sixth richest country in the world we should not have more than one in four children living in poverty in the UK.  This statistic shames us all.”

AMENDMENT 1

Proposed by Councillor Tom Anderson

Seconded by Councillor Wendy Clements

In paragraph 3 delete all from: ‘However, our commitment……’ to ‘truly over,’

In paragraph 3 delete all from ‘and reverse…….’ to ‘us all.’

Insert ‘and’ between ‘priority’ and ‘provide’

Insert new paragraphs:

Council welcomes the Government’s Care Leavers Strategy and is fully committed to ensuring that this guidance is implemented within the local authority. Council requests that a report goes to the Children and Families Overview and Scrutiny Committee detailing the progress in implementing this strategy.’

Council recognises the beneficial effect of employment on life chances. To give our care leavers the best start possible, Council requests Cabinet to ensure Officers continue their work to prioritise apprentice vacancies within the authority and working with our partners, for care leavers. Thereby ensuring they have a better start in life.

Therefore, the final three paragraphs read:

The Council supports the £20m investment made in 2018/19 and is committed to continued investment in Children’s services. Council calls on the government to set children as their number one priority and provide adequate funding for local councils.

Council welcomes the Government’s Care Leavers Strategy and is fully committed to ensuring that this guidance is implemented within the local authority. Council requests that a report goes to the Children and Families Overview and Scrutiny Committee detailing the progress in implementing this strategy.

Council recognises the beneficial effect of employment on life chances. To give our care leavers the best start possible, Council requests Cabinet ensures Officers continue their work to prioritise apprentice vacancies within the authority and working with our partners, for care leavers. Thereby ensuring they have a better start in life.

AMENDMENT 2

Proposed by Councillor Phil Gilchrist

Seconded by Councillor Andy Corkhill

Insert after para 3...

Council also believes that the Government needs to take steps to intervene in the operation of the private sector providing residential placements for children. In particular, the findings of the National Audit Office ‘Pressures on children’s social care’ (18 January 2019) highlighted the spiralling cost of care in that sector (paras 1.26 and 1.27).

The Government also needs to review the operation of the ‘market’ in care homes where the shortage of suitable places in some localities leads to increased charges. It should be noted that, at the end of August 2017, 43 private companies ran 41 per cent of all children's homes in England, with the five largest companies accounting for about 17 per cent of all homes.

However, only 14 per cent of privately-owned homes were judged to be "outstanding" overall by Ofsted in 2016/17, compared with 25 per cent of homes run by local authorities and 19 per cent of homes run by voluntary organisations. (source: Children and Young People Now, 17 July 2018)

www.cypnow.co.uk/cyp/news/2005543/call-for-councils-to-monitor-profits-of-private-childrens-home

Following the Council having debated the matter, the amendment (1) moved by Councillor Anderson was put and lost (19:41) (One abstention).

Councillor Usher as mover of the motion, and duly supported by Councillor Cannon as seconder, indicated acceptance of the amendment (2) moved by Cllr Gilchrist. 

The substantive motion was therefore put and carried.

Resolved (60:0) (One abstention) – That

Council notes that the new Offer for Care Leavers reflects a commitment to do the right thing by the young people in our care. Those involved, both from the Council and our partner organisations should be thanked for their work and determination, especially those young people at the Care Leaver’s Council and beyond who helped shape this new offer.

Council also makes the assurance that it will continue to listen to children and young people in its efforts to improve the offer. We are resolute that one of the most important responsibilities of any government, local or national is to ensure children and young people get the best possible start to their life.  Council supports the decision to exempt care leavers from Council Tax and to write off any arrears owed.

The Council supports the £20m investment made in 2018/19 and is committed to continued investment in Children’s services.  However, our commitment and aspirations for our young people are made more difficult by the government’s refusal to act on the crisis in social care funding. If austerity is truly over, Council calls on the government to set children as their number one priority, provide adequate funding for local councils, and reverse some of the harmful cuts in services that have led to a record number of children in care.  In the sixth richest country in the world we should not have more than one in four children living in poverty in the UK.  This statistic shames us all.

Council also believes that the Government needs to take steps to intervene in the operation of the private sector providing residential placements for children. In particular, the findings of the National Audit Office ‘Pressures on children’s social care’ (18 January 2019) highlighted the spiralling cost of care in that sector (paras 1.26 and 1.27).

The Government also needs to review the operation of the ‘market’ in care homes where the shortage of suitable places in some localities leads to increased charges. It should be noted that, at the end of August 2017, 43 private companies ran 41 per cent of all children's homes in England, with the five largest companies accounting for about 17 per cent of all homes.

However, only 14 per cent of privately-owned homes were judged to be "outstanding" overall by Ofsted in 2016/17, compared with 25 per cent of homes run by local authorities and 19 per cent of homes run by voluntary organisations. (source: Children and Young People Now, 17 July 2018).