9.1 The council will co-operate with other local authorities and will take all reasonable steps to resolve ordinary residence disputes as quickly as possible.
9.2 The council will act as the lead authority in resolving the dispute where the council has accepted responsibility for meeting needs pending the resolution of a dispute.
9.3 When acting as the lead authority, the council will:
- identify, and co-ordinate discussion between, the local authorities involved in the dispute
- collect from, and share between, the local authorities any information which may help to resolve the dispute
- keep the person (or their representative) informed about progress towards resolving the dispute
- discussion with Gloucestershire County Council legal representatives as required
- legal representatives may then refer the matter to the Secretary of State in accordance with the requirements of the Disputes Regulations and the Care and Support Statutory Guidance where the local authorities have been unable to resolve the dispute within four months of the date on which it arose (see paragraph 6.4)
9.4 The council will consider making a referral to the Secretary of State where:
- another local authority is acting as lead authority, and
- the local authorities have been unable to resolve the dispute within four months of the date on which it arose (see paragraph 6.4) and
- the lead authority does not refer the dispute.
