Purpose

REASON FOR THE DECISION
Please see table in the attached Officer Decision Record detailing a request for uplifts from a Provider who delivers provision for current out of authority education and care placements. This request is for one financial year from the 1st April 2023.
The uplift request relates to cost of off framework placements. The provider has demonstrated to the Council justification for such increases citing various reasons which generally relate to unavoidable cost pressures of inflation, National Living Wage increase, National Insurance increase and pension costs.

Decision

To agree price increase requests which have been received for individual placements for children and young people.

Alternative options considered

ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS CONSIDERED AND REJECTED
Do Nothing
There is a risk of places being withdrawn if providers do not cover their costs and are not able to deliver the provision, especially to meet the specific needs of our children and young people.
This would lead to the authority not meeting its statutory duties. New placements would need to be sourced for the children and young people being affected in a difficult and challenging market with high demand and low availability of placements.