Issue - meetings

Cabinet considered a report proposing an increase in the fees paid for Fostering and Adoption Panel membership. The proposals put forward were informed by analysis of the financial arrangements that exist in comparative local authorities and Independent Fostering Agencies.

The proposed changes would provide increased fees for independent members of the Fostering and Adoption Panel on the central list, that were comparable to the allowances and fees received by panel members and chairs for other local authorities and Independent Fostering Agencies.

The overriding aim of the proposal was to support the recruitment and retention of a suitably skilled, experienced, and diverse panel pool, that was able to provide high quality decision making that reflected the county council's commitment to children in care and those requiring adoptive families. The report also updated Cabinet on the interim arrangements for ensuring no financial detriment in the first year of young people 'Staying Put' with their foster carers.

Resolved: That;

1. Approval be given to increase the payment for Fostering and Adoption Panel members and chairs as follows:
   1. To increase the payments for chairs from £450 to £500 per meeting; and
   2. To increase the payments for members from £90 to £120 per meeting.

  ii.  Cabinet endorsed the approach set out in the report to "Staying Put" payments to ensure no financial detriment in the first year.