Issue - meetings

To consider the terms of reference for the committee for the municipal year 2010/11.

(Report of the Assistant Director for People and Organisational Development  - Agenda Item 5)

We noted that, when the committee was established in April 2009, it had been agreed that its terms of reference would be the subject of a review by the Cabinet Member for Children and Young People  service after one year’s operation.  A year had subsequently passed and the terms of reference had been put forward to the June meeting of the committee. The committee had, at this meeting, requested further time to consider them as the membership of the committee had, with the exception of the independent member completely changed. After further consideration of the terms of reference the committee questioned the location of this committee as an advisory committee of the Cabinet. Clarification was sought on the original purpose for establishing this committee as a sub body of the Cabinet as its current role and function suggested more of a connection to the scrutiny function of the Council. We learned that this committee was created as a Cabinet sub committee to enable it to have prominence in the committee structure of the Council. The Cabinet is the policy and decision making body of the Council and meets on a monthly basis. The minutes of its sub committees are considered at these meetings and therefore information from these meetings can be widely circulated. After considering this information the chair proposed that there should be further analysis of the function and purpose of this committee and recommended it be included in the current governance review.

Understanding was sought from new members about their own role and function on the committee.  The past work of the committee was referred to and members learnt that  this committee provided the opportunity for them  to: gain a wider knowledge of the  policies  being followed  in safeguarding,  check  the work of  safeguarding services  through independent audit work , and allowed committee members  and officers  to undertake practical exercises in safeguarding such as  tracking  cases  through the system.

RESOLVED

1. That the Chair of the committee discusses with the Cabinet Member for Children and Young People and Leader of the Council the inclusion of this committee in the current governance review.