That:

(a)  the West Midlands Regional Foster Care Framework Agreement until 2023 for the provision of foster care services be adopted to facilitate the purchasing of independent agency foster care;

(b)  the Director for Children’s and Families be authorised to take all necessary operational decisions to implement the above recommendation and utilise the framework agreement;

(c)  the Director for Children’s and Families and relevant Assistant Directors be authorised to take all necessary operational decisions to spot-purchase placements outside the framework should the need arise for individual children.