Purpose

The decision to implement inflationary uplifts
above £100k approved by Cabinet and Full Council as part of
the MTFS process and apply to contracts with:

External placement providers (£2,548,000) including
independent fostering agencies, supported accommodation providers
and residential children’s home providers. Please see exempt
Annex A for more detail.

Commissioned providers of services for Gloucestershire children and
young people (£619,000). Please see exempt Annex A for more
detail.

GCC in-house foster carer allowances (£911,000) to maintain
competitive foster care fees, ensuring this is not below the
national minimum standards.

These uplifts are necessitated by inflation and the additional
unforeseen costs associated with changes in the National Living
Wage (NLW) and employers’ National Insurance (NI)
contributions.

In the case of GCC in house foster carers, the decision reflects
national government guidance issued on 22/01/25 regarding the
national minimum fostering allowance.

Decision

To approve the implementation of inflationary
fee uplifts for:
 
(a) 
The Children and Families contracts within the MTFS 2025/26 –
2028/29 between the Council and commissioned providers of
wide-ranging services to children and young people during the
financial year 2025/26 that contain an inflationary uplift
mechanism clause.
 
(b) 
The Children and Families contracts within the MTFS 2025/26 –
2028/29 between the Council and commissioned providers of
wide-ranging services to children and young people during the
financial year 2025/26 that do not contain an inflationary uplift
mechanism clause, provided it would be lawful to do so under UK
public procurement law.
 
(c) 
GCC foster carers, in line with central government guidance.
 
The above uplifts were approved by Full
Council through the Medium-Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) final
revenue and capital budget 2025/26-2028/29; as per the decisions
made at Cabinet on 29th January 2025 and Full Council
19th February 2025.