Issue details

Summary

This report will seek approval to consult on a proposal to close the Old Vicarage Children’s Home.

It is proposed that public consultation will be undertaken for a period of four weeks. Staff consultation will also be undertaken for a period of four weeks in accordance with the Council’s Organisational Change Policy and Procedure.

The outcome of consultation will be reported to the Children and Young People Overview and Scrutiny Committee for consideration and to the Cabinet for consideration and determination.

Access to Information

The report together with any other documents being considered (unless they contain exempt information) will be available for inspection 5 clear days before the decision is taken by the Cabinet. Copies are available on the Council's website or requested from Democratic Services Medway Council, Gun Wharf, Dock Road, Chatham, Kent, ME4 4TR or email democratic.services@medway.gov.uk If you wish to submit information to the Cabinet about the item please also contact Democratic Services.

It is noted that the Local Authorities (Executive Arrangements) (Meetings and Access to Information) (England) Regulations 2012 requires 28 clear days’ notice of the intention to make a key decision.

On this occasion it has not been practicable to provide this 28 clear days’ notice and therefore Section 10 (General Exception) of the above regulations have been complied with. It was not possible to include this report on the Forward Plan with 28 days’ notice because the proposal has been drafted to urgently address the findings of the recent ILACS (Inspection of Local Authority Children’s Services), which concluded that too many vulnerable children and young people wait too long for intervention.