Issue - meetings

Report of the Committees Manager. To be presented by the Leader of the Council.

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.

The Leader of the Council introduced the report.

It was explained that the Corporate Parenting Advisory Committee was responsible for overseeing the Council’s role as corporate parent for children and young people in care. This responsibility was carried out by elected members and officers and was not widely understood by all residents.

It was explained that it’s purpose was to ensure that children in care received appropriate support to maximise their health, educational and employment outcomes, to monitor the quality of care provided, and to help ensure that young people leaving care had sustainable arrangements in place for adulthood. The Corporate Parenting Advisory Committee was re-established, and I looked forward to taking an active role as Chair.

Th leader explained that the Community Safety Partnership played a key role in bringing together local agencies to improve outcomes for residents across a range of service areas. It also had an important role in supporting relationships between the police and the community and identifying learning to promote community cohesion.

RESOLVED:

That Cabinet:

1.    Agreed 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.