Agenda and minutes

The Chair, Cllr Richard Watts, welcomed the members to the meeting and thanked the Rt Hon Edward Timpson MP, Minister of State for Vulnerable Children and Families for attending. No declarations of interest were made.

The Chair facilitated questions for Minister Timpson from the floor. Questions from members focused on corporate parenting, unaccompanied asylum seeking children (UASCs), home educated children and young carers, ‘inadequate’ Ofsted ratings and the introduction of new school structures, including academies and grammar schools.

The Minister answered these questions by referring to the intentions of the Children and Social Work Bill, the need to find better ways to accommodate UASCs, the need to intervene earlier in failing children’s services, developing corporate parenting abilities, the recent National Audit Office report.

Decision

The Board noted the update from the Minister and thanked him for his attendance.

Action

Officers to progress work in line with direction from members.   

The Chair introduced the item by addressing the recent National Audit Office (NAO) report which had been unfavourable to devolving further responsibilities around children’s services. He explained that the newly proposed task and finish group would seek to address this argument in an attempt to make the case for more involvement of local government in children’s services.

Cllr Dick Madden explained that the task and finish group was an opportunity to engage central government, especially concerning the Children and social work Bill.

Decision

The Board;

1.    Noted the current context in which children’s services are delivered.

2.    Directed officers to continue establishing the task and finish group.

Action

Officers to continue with the establishment of the task and finish group, in line with future direction from members.

The Board agreed the minutes of the previous meeting.