Children’s services plans

1A

1

Every local authority shall, on or before 31st March 1997—

a

review their provision of services under sections 17, 20, 21, 23 and 24; and

b

having regard to that review and to their most recent review under section 19, prepare and publish a plan for the provision of services under Part III.

2

Every local authority—

a

shall, from time to time review the plan prepared by them under sub-paragraph (1)(b) (as modified or last substituted under this sub-paragraph), and

b

may, having regard to that review and to their most recent review under section 19, prepare and publish—

i

modifications (or, as the case may be, further modifications) to the plan reviewed; or

ii

a plan in substitution for that plan.

3

In carrying out any review under this paragraph and in preparing any plan or modifications to a plan, a local authority shall consult—

a

every health authority the whole or any part of whose area lies within the area of the local authority;

b

every National Health Service trust which manages a hospital, establishment or facility (within the meaning of the National Health Service and Community Care Act 1990)2 in the authority’s area;

c

if the local authority is not itself a local education authority, every local education authority the whole or any part of whose area lies within the area of the local authority;

d

any organisation which represents schools in the authority’s area which are grant-maintained schools or grant-maintained special schools (within the meaning of the Education Act 1993)3;

e

the governing body of every such school in the authority’s area which is not so represented;

f

such voluntary organisations as appear to the local authority—

i

to represent the interests of persons who use or are likely to use services provided by the local authority under Part III; or

ii

to provide services in the area of the local authority which, were they to be provided by the local authority, might be categorised as services provided under that Part.

g

the chief constable of the police force for the area4;

h

the probation committee for the area5;

i

such other persons as appear to the local authority to be appropriate; and

j

such other persons as the Secretary of State may direct.

4

Every local authority shall, within 28 days of receiving a written request from the Secretary of State, submit to him a copy of—

a

the plan prepared by them under sub-paragraph (1); or

b

where that plan has been modified or substituted, the plan as modified or last substituted.