Lead Member for Children and Families
DECISIONS made by the Lead Member for Children and Families, Councillor Sylvia Tidy, on 1 June 2020 at County Hall, Lewes
++ Please Note, The Lead Member took the decisions remotely++
Councillor Field spoke on item 4 (see minute 4 )
1 Decisions made by the Lead Cabinet Members on 7 October 2019
1.1 The Lead Member approved as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 7 October 2019.
2 Disclosures of interests
2.1 There were no disclosures of interest.
3 Urgent items
3.1 There were no urgent items.
4 Introduction of a Charging Policy for Children who are Accommodated at the request of their parents under Sec 20 of the Children Act (1989)
4.1 The Lead Member considered a report by the Director of Children’s Services seeking approval for the introduction of a Charging Policy to seek to recoup partial costs in defined circumstances when a child becomes Looked After at the request of parents.
4.2 The Lead Member RESOLVED to approve the introduction of the Charging Policy set out in Appendix 1 to seek to recoup partial costs in defined circumstances when a child becomes Looked After at the request of parents.
Reason
4.3 Within a wider Council budget that is under pressure, the specific budget that supports the care of children who are Looked After continues to be very challenging. It is reasonable to expect parents to contribute to the costs for their child to be cared for when they request itand if they can afford to do so. It encourages parents not to abdicate responsibility for their child and emphasises the importance of parents continuing to be involved in their child’s life. It is unlikely in reality, however, that this will generate much or any income but may act as a partial deterrent to those parents who could afford to contribute but are presently not expected to do so, or who are unwilling to do so.