Issue - meetings

The Portfolio Holder for Children, Education, Skills and Early Help to present the recommendation from the People and Health Overview Committee.

Decision

That the 5-year Commissioning Strategy be approved and the intended approach be adopted.

Reason for the decision

Effective strategic commissioning is the main way to understand, plan and deliver better outcomes for residents. The strategy sets the direction for commissioning activity that will support the council’s strategic aims to improve the well-being of children in Dorset over the next five years.

The Portfolio Holder presented the paper that set out the Commissioning Strategy for Children’s Services and the council’s 5-year approach. The reason for the recommendation was that an effective strategy was the best way to understand, plan and deliver better outcomes. The report also been considered by the People and health Overview Committee at its meeting 24 March 2022.

In a response to a question regarding the scope and scale for the strategy, the Corporate Director for Commissioning and Partnership advised that the strategy reached across all of the children’s revenue budget spend,  it also included external commissioned services and some capital spend. Further procurement plans were likely to come back for committee approval in the future.

Responding to a question, members were further advised that the strategy was likely to be scrutinised by committees and a performance management group meets regularly to ensure that projects and services were on track.

It was proposed by Cllr A Parry seconded by Cllr P Wharf

Decision

That the 5-year Commissioning Strategy be approved, and the intended approach be adopted.

Reason for the decision

Effective strategic commissioning is the main way to understand, plan and deliver better outcomes for residents. The strategy sets the direction for commissioning activity that would support the council’s strategic aims to improve the well-being of children in Dorset over the next five years.