Agenda and minutes

Present: Councillor L Mulherin (Leeds) - Chair

Councillor E Hill (Kirklees), Councillor V Slater (City of Bradford) and Councillor M Swift (Calderdale MBC)

Councillor H Hayden (LCC)

In Attendance:  S Johal (LCC), S Tariq (LCC), J Jenkins (Calderdale MBC) R Roberts (LCC), H Lovelady (LCC) and J Grieve (LCC)

To consider any appeals in accordance with Procedure Rule 15.2 of the Access to Information Rules (in the event of an Appeal the press and public will be excluded)

(In accordance with Procedure Rule 15.2, written notice of an appeal must be received by the Head of Governance Services at least 24 hours before the meeting

There were no appeals against refusal of inspection of documents.

1  To highlight reports or appendices which officers have identified as containing exempt information, and where officers consider that the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information, for the reasons outlined in the report.

2  To consider whether or not to accept the officers recommendation in respect of the above information.

3  If so, to formally pass the following resolution:-

  RESOLVED – That the press and public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following parts of the agenda designated as containing exempt information on the grounds that it is likely, in view of the nature of the business to be transacted or the nature of the proceedings, that if members of the press and public were present there would be disclosure to them of exempt information, as follows:-

There were no items identified where it was considered necessary to exclude the press or public from the meeting due to the confidential nature of the business to be considered.

To identify items which have been admitted to the agenda by the Chair for consideration

(The special circumstances shall be specified in the minutes)

There were no late items of business

To disclose or draw attention to any disclosable pecuniary interests for the purposes of Section 31 of the Localism Act 2011 and paragraphs 13-16 of the Members’ Code of Conduct. 

There were no declarations of disclosable pecuniary interests were made at the meeting.

To receive apologies for absence (If any)

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor O Rowley.

To receive any opening comments from the Chair.

The Chair welcomed everyone to this, the inaugural meeting of the West Yorkshire Adoption Joint Committee. The Chair said the establishment of the “One Adoption Agency West Yorkshire” had already begun to forge strong relationships across the West Yorkshire region.

To consider a report by the Director of Children’s Services which seeks the approval of the Joint Committee to:

·  Consider electing a Vice Chair of the Joint Committee

·  Consider the appointment of and delegation of functions to any Sub-Groups or Advisory Groups

·  Consider whether a standing invitation be made to any other party to attend meetings of the Joint Committee.

(Report attached)

The Director of Children’s Services submitted a report which explained that the Joint Committee’s Constitution and Procedure Rules required and permitted the Joint Committee to take decisions on the following:

·  The appointment of a Vice Chair

·  To consider the appointment of and delegation of functions to any  Sub – Groups or Advisory Groups

·  Consider whether a standing invitation be made to any other party to attend meetings of the Joint Committee

The Chair sought nominations for the position of Vice Chair of the Joint Committee

Councillor Slater nominated Councillor Swift, this was seconded by Councillor Hill.

Upon being put to the vote, Councillor M Swift was unanimously voted in as Vice Chair to the Joint Committee

A discussion ensued on the possible delegation of functions to any  Sub Groups or Advisory Groups, but Members were not supportive of the proposal at this time.

In considering whether a standing invitation be made to any other party/ organisation to attend meetings of the Joint Committee, Members were supportive of the attendance of representation from the Voluntary Adoption Alliance.

The Chair made reference to the Joint Committee’s Rules of Procedure for Meetings and the requirement for the WYAJC to meet a minimum  of once per year.

It was suggested that for the first year meetings be arranged more frequently, possibly quarterly and then reviewed after the first year.

RESOLVED –

(i)  That Councillor M Swift be appointed as Vice Chair to the West Yorkshire Adoption Joint Committee

(ii)  That at this stage, no functions of the Joint Committee be delegated to any Sub Groups or Advisory Groups

(iii)  That a standing invitation to attend meetings of the Joint Committee be issued to representatives from the Voluntary Adoption Alliance (One senior representative with a wider Yorkshire and Humberside or national overview of adoption and one management representative with a local West Yorkshire overview)

(iv)  That for the first year, up to four meetings of the WYAJC be arranged.

To consider a report by the Director of Children’s Services which seeks the approval of the Joint Committee to delegate the adoption functions to the Director of Children and Families at Leeds City Council.

(Report attached)

The Director of Children’s Services submitted a report which sought the approval of the Joint Committee to delegate the adoption functions to the Director of Children and Families at Leeds City Council.

The report explained the way in which it was proposed to discharge the adoption functions through the agency, to the Director of Children and Families at Leeds City Council in order that those functions may be  sub-delegated to the Head of Service within the Agency to enable the day to day operation of the Agency and the adoption of the functions through the Agency.

RESOLVED – That approval be given to the delegation of the following adoption functions to the Director of Children and Families:-

·  Adoption services including:-

a)  Recruitment and approval of potential adopters;

b)  Identification of potential matches between children and adopters

c)  Provision of adoption panels; and

d)  Provision of adoption support services to adopters, adoptees, birth families and relevant professionals.

To consider a report by the Director of Children’s Services which sets out the structural and reporting arrangements for the Regional Adoption Agency.

(Report attached)

The Director of Children’s Services submitted a report which set out details of the structural and reporting arrangements for the Regional Adoption Agency.

The report explained the arrangements in establishing the “One Adoption Agency West Yorkshire” (A new regional adoption agency) including the transfer of staff via TUPE from other Local Authorities into the employment of Leeds City Council to work within the Regional Adoption Agency (RAA)

An update on the progression of transfer arrangements, together with details as to where staff would be based was provided.

The report set out the Corporate Parenting Responsibilities for the agency and explained the operation of the Management Board.

Referring to the operation of the Management Board councillor Swift asked about the monitoring/ performance arrangements for the Board.

In responding officers reported that the One Adoption Agency West Yorkshire was the first regional agency to be established and that guidance around the inspection regime was still awaited.

RESOLVED –

(i)  To note the structural arrangements and support the progression of these arrangements

(ii)  To note that the structure would continue to be populated and updated with a view to the completed structure been circulated to Members by early April 2017

To confirm that the next meeting will take place on Wednesday 28^th June 2017 at 2.00pm in the Civic Hall, Leeds.

RESOLVED – That the next meeting be arranged for Wednesday 28^th June 2017 at 2.00pm in the Civic Hall, Leeds.