Issue - meetings

[To approve a proposed delivery model for a Regional Adoption Agency and to approve the financial commitment of the Local Authority to the project.]

1. That the proposals for the establishment of the Adoption@Heart Regional Adoption Agency (RAA) be approved as outlined in the report.

2. That it be agreed that the RAA is established as a Local Authority Trading Company (LATC), an organisation wholly owned by the participating local authorities

3. That it be agreed that such a company be constituted as a Community Interest Company (CIC) and a Company Limited by Shares (CLS).

4.That it be agreed to consider a further report in October 2017 that presents finalised details of the LATC for approval.

Councillor Val Gibson presented the proposal to create a new Regional Adoption Agency to be named Adoption@Heartby combining the adoption services for the local authority areas of Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council, Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council, Walsall Metropolitan Borough Council and City of Wolverhampton Council. Establishing a single agency would allow the four authorities to achieve a more efficient and effective use of resources and improve outcomes for children, adopters and others gaining from adoption services. Approval at the current stage would secure agreement that the Regional Adoption Agency was established as a Local Authority Trading Company, constituted as a Community Interest Company and a Company Limited by Shares.

Resolved:

1. That the proposals for the establishment of the Adoption@Heart Regional Adoption Agency (RAA) be approved as outlined in the report.

2. That it be agreed that the RAA is established as a Local Authority Trading Company (LATC), an organisation wholly owned by the participating local authorities

3. That it be agreed that such a company be constituted as a Community Interest Company (CIC) and a Company Limited by Shares (CLS).

4.That it be agreed to consider a further report in October 2017 that presents finalised details of the LATC for approval.