Issue - meetings

To receive a report from the Director of Children’s Services with a proposed update to the Corporate Parenting Board following the outcomes of the recent Ofsted Inspection.

The Children and Families Advisory Panel received a report from the Director of Children’s Services proposing a restructure to its sub-committee, the Corporate Parenting Board.

Members noted the two core reasons for the proposed restructure. Firstly, there were issues raised in the recent Ofsted inspection surrounding the Board’s effectiveness at engaging with outside agencies such as Health, Police & District Councils. Secondly, the Board had been established for two years and there are lessons learnt this establishment period.

The current membership of the Corporate Parenting Board were present, and noted the positive role the Board had in playing a real role in Corporate Parenting and welcomed the suggested changes to strengthen this role.

Members considered the proposed Terms of Reference and noted that the new Corporate Parenting Board structure is designed to strengthen the principle that Corporate Parenting is a responsibility for all Councillors and Officers.

Resolved:

• To dissolve the existing Corporate Parenting Board arrangements as a sub-committee of the Children and Families Advisory panel with immediate effect.

• To consider the draft Terms of Reference for a newly constituted Corporate Parenting Board and recommend to Cabinet and the County Council that a new Board is established.

• (Subject to agreement of above recommendation) To consider the draft update to the Children and Families Advisory Panel Terms of Reference and recommend to Cabinet and the County Council that these be agreed.

• To delegate authority to the Director of Children’s Services, in consultation with the Monitoring Officer, to update the draft Terms of Reference identified in paragraphs 3 and 4 as required to ensure consistency with the County Council’s Constitution prior to their submission to Cabinet.