Agenda item

Report of the Director of Community and Children’s Services.

 Members received a report of the Director of Community and Children’s Services which presented the City of London Corporation Sufficiency Strategy.

During the discussion on this report, the following points were noted:

• Officers agreed to explore  how foster caring opportunities could be promoted to City residents, given the CoL does not provide a fostering service.

• Officers confirmed that the majority of Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Children presented at Bishopsgate Police Station and would then be assessed and supported by CoLP and Children Social Care .  Members noted that the numbers of UASC had increased significantly. Officers confirmed that this was due to the National Transfer Scheme not being able to support the timely and safe moving of UASC to other Local Authorities outside of London.  The City had increased from 8 to 29 UASC in a relatively short period of 18 months and whilst there had been an increase generally across London, the City’s proportion was significant due to its low number of residents.  Members noted that additional social work support had been made available to meet this increase in demand.

• Members were informed that whilst Government funding for under 18’s had increased recently, this had not been the case for over 18’s care leavers which placed a significant financial  burden on the Central Risk budget as the care leaver costs were being absorbed by the CoLC.  This was being monitored closely by the Chamberlain.

RESOLVED, that – the report be noted.