Decision - Residential Child Care, Foster Care and SEN Education Placements

            That the Committee:

1)    Grants delegated authority to the Executive Director of Families, Children & Learning to conclude negotiations with West Sussex County Council on the terms of access and agreement to participate in a regional Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS) for the provision of placements in independent residential children’s homes, independent foster care and independent non-maintained special schools (INMSS).

2)    Approves the procurement of a DPS, framework agreement or individual contracts, either led by West Sussex County Council (WSCC) as the contracting authority or procured with one or more other regional partners or procured by Brighton & Hove City Council for its sole use (depending on the outcome of 2.1 above), for the provision of placements in independent residential children’s homes, independent foster care and INMSS.

3)    Grants delegated authority to the Executive Director of Families, Children & Learning to: (i) carry out the procurement of the DPS, framework agreement or individual contracts referred to in 2.2 above; (ii) agree the term of the DPS, framework agreement or individual contracts; (iii) award and let the DPS, framework agreement or individual contracts and; (iv) award and let placement agreements under the DPS, framework agreement or individual contracts.