Issue - meetings

The Committee were updated that the report requested at the last meeting on the transition of care leavers would be deferred to the October Committee meeting and which would permit the inclusion of half year statistical information to provide greater context to discussions. The report would also include details of proposals to expand the remit of the virtual school to provide support for the 16 plus age group. 

The Deputy Director provided a short overview of the Council’s approach to the naturalisation of CiC (Children in Care) following queries raised by the Committee at the last meeting. Following legal advice, the Council had adopted an approach to seek to secure a child’s immigration status prior to them reaching their majority which was in line with other authorities. As the majority of unaccompanied minors in this cohort had indefinite leave to remain status anyway, the Council would not routinely actively seek to support any applications for naturalisation but would consider any requests on a case by case basis. The overriding premise was that young people should be encouraged to make their own decision about naturalisation once they reached their majority in recognition of the significance of the decision.