Issue - meetings

This report provides a summary on the Decision Notice made by the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman whose investigation found maladministration causing injustice to a complainant and the remedy actions taken.

The Ombudsman under the Local Government Act 1974, section 31(2), as amended, has requested that the Council consider the report at its full Council.

Councillor Mike White, Cabinet Member for Children and Young People presented the report regarding the above, a copy of which had been circulated to each Member and a copy of which appears as Appendix ‘A’ to these Minutes in the Minute Book.

Councillor White reported that the report related to events that happened four years ago which BCP Council had been asked to investigate by the Ombudsman relating to foster carer payments. He explained that the Council had fully accepted and implemented all of the recommendations from the Ombudsman which included a number of payments and a full apology for the faults identified.  Councillor White reported that the Ombudsman had credited the Council for agreeing to all the recommendations.  Councillors were advised that the Ombudsman required that the report was considered by an appropriate body of the Council and the Monitoring Officer advised that this was best achieved by bringing to Council.  Councillor White reported that he had no hesitation in asking the Council to support the response to the Ombudsman.  He acknowledged that some Members may wish to scrutinise some aspects including if appropriate lessons had been learnt and welcomed such scrutiny whilst asking Council to support the action plan as the response to the Ombudsman.

Councillor Nicola Greene seconded the recommendations in the report.

Councillor Moore acknowledged that this related to a predecessor council whilst highlighting the importance of foster carers.  She felt that there could be some useful scrutiny to check out the new procedures in the Council and to be satisfied that the issues around payments for foster carers had been properly addressed.  A Councillor asked for reassurance that other similar cases of that time had been investigated.

Councillor White reported that a review of cases has been completed over the last five years and from the review 8 potential cases have been identified that were being investigated and 6 carers have been found to be underpaid and the Council was in the process of contacting those carers to negotiate and agree an appropriate settlement.  Councillor White reported that the Council would respond to any complaint made dating back up to five years from the LGO report publication.

RESOLVED that

(a)   having considered the report, the Council acknowledges the findings of the LGSCO, supports the action plan as detailed in Appendix 3 to the report and asks the Chief Executive to write to the LGSCO to confirm compliance and that the Council has addressed the weaknesses identified in the Ombudsman’s findings.

(b)  the report be referred to the Children’s Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

Voting – Unanimous