Children (Scotland) Act 1995

19 Local authority plans for services for children

(1) Within such period after the coming into force of this section as the Secretary of State may direct, each local authority shall prepare and publish a plan for the provision of relevant services for or in respect of children in their area.

(2) References to “relevant services” in this section are to services provided by a local authority under or by virtue of—

(a) this Part of this Act; or

(b) any of the enactments mentioned in section 5(1B)(a) to (o) of the [1968 c. 49.] Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968 (enactments in respect of which Secretary of State may issue directions to local authorities as to the exercise of their functions).

(3) A local authority shall from time to time review the plan prepared by them under subsection (1) above (as modified, or last substituted, under this subsection) and may, having regard to that review, prepare and publish—

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

(b) a plan in substitution for that plan.

(4) The Secretary of State may, subject to subsection (5) below, issue directions as to the carrrying out by a local authority of their functions under subsection (3) above.

(5) In preparing any plan, or carrying out any review, under this section a local authority shall consult—

(a) every Health Board and National Health Service trust providing services under the [1978 c. 29.] National Health Service (Scotland) Act 1978 in the area of the authority;

(b) such voluntary organisations as appear to the authority—

(i) to represent the interests of persons who use or are likely to use relevant services in that area; or

(ii) to provide services in that area which, were they to be provided by the authority, might be categorised as relevant services;

(c) the Principal Reporter appointed under section 127 of the [1994 c. 39.] Local Government etc. (Scotland) Act 1994;

(d) the chairman of the children’s panel for that area;

(e) such housing associations, voluntary housing agencies and other bodies as appear to the authority to provide housing in that area; and

(f) such other persons as the Secretary of State may direct.