
It was confirmed at Plymouth’s Full Council on Monday that the City Council will take on the full managerial responsibility for Children’s Services in Torbay.
Plymouth Council endorsed their Cabinet’s decision to enter into a formal contractual arrangement for Plymouth to manage Torbay Council’s Children’s Services, which is due to come into effect from 1 April. Political responsibility will remain with Torbay Council
Councillor Julien Parrott, Executive Lead for Adults & Children from Torbay added: “Huge progress has been made to get to this stage. It is important to reassure our residents and staff that staffing structures across Children’s Services in both councils will be largely unaffected. Staff employed in Plymouth will continue to work with the city’s children, young people and families and those employed by Torbay will work with Torbay children, young people and families.”
Councillor Terri Beer, Cabinet Member for Children and Young People said: “This is an exciting example of sector led improvement with two authorities working together to deliver improved outcomes for our children and young people. I’m extremely proud that Plymouth will now be supporting our colleagues in Torbay. I know that we are in strong position to provide management leadership on the next stage of Torbay's improvement in Children's services, as we have faced similar challenges ourselves in the past.”
A Director of Children’s Services will be provided by Plymouth City Council, to report to both Councils’ Chief Executives and Councils. This is a legal requirement and ensures that each Council has clear responsibility for its children. This role will be separate and distinct from Plymouth’s Strategic Director of People to ensure that there is the capacity to deliver the work.
The opportunity to create this new contractual arrangement arose following the Department for Education’s (DfE) appointed Commissioner John Coughlan’s recommendation that Plymouth be the preferred partner to help lead improvement in Torbay’s Children’s Services.
It was agreed ‘in principle’ to this arrangement in September last year, subject to certain conditions including that there should be no cost to taxpayers and it’s been confirmed that the DfE has provided a grant of just over £1.4 million to cover all the costs.
The Commissioner has been closely involved in the discussions and will continue to be involved throughout the initial transition phase.
News archive
- February 2019 (4)
- January 2019 (11)
- December 2018 (11)
- November 2018 (14)
- October 2018 (14)
- September 2018 (9)
- August 2018 (7)
- July 2018 (19)
- June 2018 (21)
- May 2018 (7)
- April 2018 (10)
- March 2018 (35)
- February 2018 (9)
- January 2018 (15)
- December 2017 (9)
- November 2017 (17)
- October 2017 (11)
- September 2017 (6)
- August 2017 (7)
- July 2017 (13)
- June 2017 (22)
- May 2017 (16)
- April 2017 (8)
- March 2017 (9)
- February 2017 (9)
- January 2017 (4)
- December 2016 (10)
- November 2016 (11)
- October 2016 (14)
- September 2016 (9)
- August 2016 (10)
- July 2016 (11)
- June 2016 (4)
- May 2016 (20)
- April 2016 (14)
- March 2016 (18)
- February 2016 (8)
- January 2016 (15)
- December 2015 (13)
- November 2015 (19)
- October 2015 (17)
- September 2015 (8)
- August 2015 (6)
- July 2015 (19)
- June 2015 (11)
- May 2015 (20)
- April 2015 (14)
- March 2015 (15)
- February 2015 (13)
- January 2015 (17)
- December 2014 (17)
- November 2014 (18)
- October 2014 (14)
- September 2014 (17)
- August 2014 (16)
- July 2014 (10)
- June 2014 (8)
- May 2014 (1)
- February 2014 (1)
- January 0001 (1)