Decision details

DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST MADE FOR THIS ITEM:

None

RESOLVED:

That Cabinet:

1.    Greed to re?establish the Corporate Parenting Advisory Committee and noted the terms of reference for the advisory sub?committee, as set out in Appendix A.

2.    Noted the Community Safety Partnership terms of reference, as set out in Appendix B.

3.    Noted that the appointment of Members to the Corporate Parenting Advisory Committee and the Community Safety Partnership would be agreed by the Leader of the Council as a non?key decision.

Reasons for decision

The establishment of a Corporate Parenting Advisory Committee provided oversight of councillors’ statutory role as corporate parents and supported the Council in meeting its duties to children in care and care leavers.

Appointments from Cabinet to the Community Safety Partnership were required to meet statutory obligations and to ensure appropriate strategic oversight and accountability for community safety matters.

Alternative options considered

The option of discontinuing the Corporate Parenting Advisory Committee was considered. This would have removed a formal forum for members and officers to meet regularly to consider the wellbeing of children in care and to monitor the Council’s corporate parenting responsibilities. The Committee was distinct from the Children and Young People’s Scrutiny Panel, as it focused specifically on looked?after children and care leavers and reported directly to Cabinet.

The Community Safety Partnership was a statutory partnership body, and therefore the option of not appointing Cabinet Members to the Partnership was not available.