The report outlines the establishment of a new legal framework called the Torbay Public Services Trust (TPST) which will be established as a company limited by guarantee, completed within the remit of the Social Work Innovation Fund (SWIFT). This new organisation will be used as a vehicle for public and community and voluntary sector bodies in Torbay to co-commission services and to share savings across parties.  This is a means of achieving a common public purse and commissioner.  The report outlines the benefit to Torbay Council and requests permission for the Local Authority to become a member.

(i)       that the creation of a shell company for the Public Service Trust (LIST) be approved; and

(ii)      that before any projects commence the Executive Director of Operations and Finance in consultation with the Section 151 Officer be given delegated authority to approve their business case.

To demonstrate to our partners that there is a vehicle in place ready to progress projects.

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This decision will come into force immediately.

At the Council meeting held on 26 February 2015, the Council considered the submitted report on the proposed creation of a Public Service Trust (LIST) for delivery of children’s social care across all agencies using funding of £1.25m from the Social Work Innovation Fund awarded to the Council by the Department for Education.  The Council resolved:

“(i)                that the grant funding from the Department for Education of £1.25m, the new approach for the governance and delivery of Children’s Social Care through the creation of a Public Service Trust (LIST), as outlined in the submitted report, be supported in principle;

(ii)      that the Executive Director of Operations and Finance be given delegated authority, in consultation with the Section 151 Officer, having considered the detailed business case, TUPE and financial details, to approve the creation of the Public Service Trust (List) for delivery of Children’s Social Care; and

 (iii)     that, subject to (ii) above, the Executive Head of Commercial Services be given delegated authority to agree the terms of the lease or contacts for the Public Service Trust (LIST) for delivery of Children’s Social Care.”

The full details of the business case, have not been finalised but there is an urgent need to enable the establishment of a shell company for the Public Service Trust (LIST) to demonstrate to our partners that there is a suitable vehicle in place ready to progress projects.  The actual projects to be progressed through the LIST would be subject to detailed business cases which would need to be approved before any projects commence.

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