Issue - meetings

To consider a report of the Cabinet Member for Children’s Services, Education and Skills.

(a)           That a maximum spend limit of £1.3million on this contract be approved, which would ensure our children and young people had access to an advocate or Independent Visitor in accordance with our local authority responsibilities.

(b)           That authority be delegated to the Executive Director for Children's Services in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Children, Families and Education to negotiate and authorise any further contract extensions or amendments subject to the spend limit in as set out in (a) above.

Reason for the decision

Approval was sought to increase the contract spend limit and cover extended demand for Dorset’s Advocacy and Independent Visitor Service, reflecting higher than anticipated usage and future growth beyond the original Cabinet-approved value and term.

The Cabinet Member for Children, Families and Education presented a report outlining the council’s statutory duties to ensure that children in care, care leavers and other vulnerable young people had access to independent advocacy to support them in decisions that affect their lives, as well as independent visitors to provide consistent and supportive relationships.

Cabinet had previously approved an indicative budget of £500,000 for this contracted service in 2023. The report provided an update on the procurement and award of the contract, emphasising the importance of maintaining high-quality provision to meet legal requirements and support positive outcomes for young people. It was noted that the contract awarded in April 2024 would exceed the original estimate should the optional extensions through to 2027 be taken up.

Therefore, Cabinet was asked to approve an increase in the maximum contract spend to 1.3 million to take the contract to 2030.

It was proposed by Cllr C Sutton and seconded by Cllr S Clifford.

Decision

(a)           That a maximum spend limit of £1.3million on this contract be approved, which would ensure our children and young people had access to an advocate or Independent Visitor in accordance with our local authority responsibilities.

(b)           That authority be delegated to the Executive Director for Children's Services in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Children, Families and Education to negotiate and authorise any further contract extensions or amendments subject to the spend limit in as set out in (a) above.

Reason for the decision

Approval was sought to increase the contract spend limit and cover extended demand for Dorset’s Advocacy and Independent Visitor Service, reflecting higher than anticipated usage and future growth beyond the original Cabinet-approved value and term.