By 'my council' I assume you mean you have spoken with someone from either CIS or EYDCP. Either way, they tend not to know a great deal about nannies (at least that has been my experience over the past 10 or so years). The vOCR is very new to them (only something they legally have anything to do with as of Sept 2008). Previously they dealt with childminder training, and giving out information about nurseries, pre-schools.
Please don't rely on information from your local council CIS/EYDCP. They could well be wrong, so do cross reference it with the Childcare Act 2006 and associated SI's and Ofsted guidance documents.
Have HMRC given you any information about restrictions to you being self-employed as a homecarer? For example, if they permit you to work for the same family for more than 6-months or not? What have you received from HMRC in writing?
We are all puzzled by this, because over the past many years, we have all tried similar things and come up with the same problems - the major one being the SE/Employed Status query. The other major one being the definition Ofsted use for what they consider is a childminder.
With regard to caring for children from multiple families, at one home (should you be thinking of doing that... don't think you are, though I am confused by your pricing structure), then read The Childcare (Exemptions from Registration) Order 2008
In that document it says:
~~ Begin Quote ~~
Exempt childminding
3.?(1) The circumstances referred to in articles 2(1) and 2(3) are where a person makes the provision(b)?
(a) 2006 c.21.
(b) Early years childminding and later years childminding being defined in sections 96(4) and (8) of the Act respectively as early years or later years provision on domestic premises for reward.
2
(a) for?
(i) a child or children for particular parents, wholly or mainly in the home of the
parents, or
(ii) a child or children for particular parents (?the first parents?) and, in addition, for a child or children for different parents (?the second parents?), wholly or mainly in the home of the first parents or the second parents or in both homes;
(b) for a particular child for two hours or less per day; or
(c) only between 6pm and 2am.
~~ End Quote ~~
Or put a simpler way... you are exempt if you care for a children at the their (the children's) own home, or if you care for children from one family, plus children from another family, at one or both of the families homes.
You are also exempt if you only work between 6pm and 2am (such as being a babysitter).
Note: I am not a lawyer, so the above is purely how I read this legislation. Please seek professional legal advise if you require it.