Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin Councils had had a joint adoption service since 1998.  The joint service had a combined adoption budget of £1.1million.  The majority of functions were delivered in-house with the exception of marketing for the recruitment of prospective adopters, birth parent support and counselling.  The report by the Head of Children’s Social Care and Safeguarding detailed the work undertaken since the last Portfolio Holder meeting on 12 September 2013 and outlined options for further development.