GWENT councillors will meet today to discuss helping to lead a national adoption service.

A report will be presented to councillors by Liz Majer, corporate director of social services at Blaenau Gwent council, to secure approval for the plan to establish a National Adoption Service for Wales.

The aim is for members to agree to the council acting as the lead authority for the South East Wales Adoption Service.

The regional service will cover Blaenau Gwent, Monmouthshire, Torfaen, Newport and Caerphilly. Four others will operate across Wales by April this year.It will provide a single point of contact for anyone seeking information about adoption, provide a database of information, develop and maintain a national adoption register.

The report said: “For the South East Wales Adoption Service it is proposed Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council should be the host and lead authority. The rational for this decision is Blaenau Gwent currently host the Tri Partite Adoption Service delivered by Blaenau Gwent, Torfaen and Monmouthshire local authorities. This arrangement has been in place for two years and is working well. To move to the South East Wales Adoption Service would mean Caerphilly and Newport joining this arrangement.”

Recommendations that will be put to members will suggest endorsing the proposals for achieving a National Adoption Service in Wales and agreeing that Blaenau Gwent council will act as the lead authority. Also up for discussion today is new legislation for the control of horses working with Powys County Council.

In April 2012, the authority entered into an agreement to enable it to deliver Animal Health and Welfare Services on behalf of Blaenau Gwent Council. Following the introduction of The Control of Horses (Wales) Act 2014, Powys and Blaenau Gwent officers need to be authorised under the new legislation in order to enforce its provisions. A report which will be presented to members will recommend that the act’s discretionary powers mean it would be helpful in dealing with the problem of fly-grazing horses and horse abandonment, and members are advised to authorise officers to exercise the powers contained within the act.