Agenda item

To receive a report from the Director of Schools & Children’s Services advising members of the publication of the recent report by the Government’s investigation team into Rotherham Metropolitan Council and actions recommended in response by the Council.       (Report No.169 A)

Non-Key

Council is asked to note that Cabinet agreed the report at its meeting on 11^th February 2015.  Council is therefore being asked to approve the establishment of a specialist dedicated Task Group with a strong focus on Child Sexual Exploitation and associated risks for children and young people.

Councillor Orhan moved and Councillor Jemal seconded the report of the Director of Schools and Children’s Services (No.169A) making recommendations to strengthen the robust governance and political oversight of safeguarding to vulnerable children and young people.

NOTED

1.         That the report proposed the establishment of a specialist task group on Child Sexual Exploitation and its allied issues (of children who are missing or unaccounted for). This to be alongside the regular reporting to Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

2.         The following changes to the recommendations within the report, proposed by the Cabinet Member for Education. Children’s Services and Protection when moving the item:

a.         recommendation 2.2 (a) to be amended so that the proposed Task Group be made up of 6 Members which would be split 4:2 in terms of membership, in order to comply with the proportionality requirements, with names to be notified by each Group.

b.      recommendation 2.2 (b) to be amended so that whilst the membership of the Task Group would still be set up in accordance with the requirements of political proportionality its detailed terms of reference and working arrangements would be subject to further consideration by the Group itself, and would then be reported back to Council for formal approval.

3.         Whilst supportive of the amendments in outlined in 2. above the Opposition Group were concerned to ensure that membership of the Task Group excluded members of the Executive, given the need for it to be able to develop an appropriate challenging role of the Executive.

4.         The work of the Task Group would be reported to Council on a biannual basis. The intention underpinning the recommendations was for the continuous drive for improvement by the Council and its partners in relation to the support and improved outcomes for vulnerable children.

During the debate on the report members were reminded that the meeting was due to end at 10:30pm.  As there was still a number of members who had indicated they wanted to speak on the item and a need to consider the 2015/16 Housing Revenue Account and Rent Setting report and Part 2 Budget Setting report Councillor Stewart moved and Council Taylor seconded a further extension of the meeting by 15 minutes under Council Procedure Rule 11 (m).  The extension was unanimously agreed without a vote.

Following a further period of debate the recommendations in the report (as amended) were agreed unanimously, without a vote.

AGREED

(1)       To note that Cabinet had agreed to support Scrutiny’s focus on children’s and young people’s issues and recommend that Overview and Scrutiny Committee include a standing item on every Overview and Scrutiny Committee agenda regarding children and young people’s issues.

(2)     The establishment of a specialist dedicated Task Group with a strong focus on Child Sexual Exploitation and associated risks for children and young people. The task group to comprise 6 Members to be split 4:2 in terms of membership in order to comply with the proportionality requirements, with names to be notified by each Group.

(3)     The detailed terms of reference and working arrangements for the Task Group would be subject to further consideration by the Group itself, and would then be reported back to Council for formal approval.

(4)     The Task Group would report on its work to Council on a bi-annual basis along with any recommendation on tackling on Child Sexual Exploitation and the associated risks for children and young people.