Minutes:
The
Committee scrutinised the following matters:
Cabinet
Board Proposals
6.1 Western Bay
Safeguarding Children Board Business Plan 16/17 and Annual Report 2015
The
Committee received the Western Bay Safeguarding Children Board Business Plan
16/17 and Annual Report 2015 as contained within the circulated report.
Members
asked if the Foreword of the Annual Report be proof read before being published
as it contained come grammatical errors.
Members
noted the concern of budget and resource reductions and the ability of agencies
to action agreed tasks and noted that letters are now formally written to
agencies expecting action in relation to aspects of safeguarding.
Members
asked for further information in relation to timescales for actions included within
the Business Plan. It was noted that the
majority of action takes place within Sub Groups of the Board and that most of
the work is continuous.
In
relation to participation Members asked if planned engagement and communication
with children and young people was in relation to those who are already known
to the service or was broader; particularly in relation to ‘Safeguarding Week
2016.’ Officers commented that it is Children and Young People in general with
no limitations with the aim of raising awareness.
Members
asked what the abbreviation SAIT referred to and Officers confirmed they would
clarify this and feedback to the Committee.
Members
asked for a progress update in relation to the Strategic Priority of Neglect.
They noted a significant investment in a NSPCC project relating to early
intervention and prevention and the importance of preventing instances of
neglect instead of responding to it.
Following
scrutiny, it was agreed that the report be noted.
6.2 Regional Adoption Service Inter Authority Agreement
The
Committee received information in relation to the Western Bay regional Adoption
Service Inter Authority agreement as contained within the circulated report.
Members
attention was drawn to the Recommendation and were informed that the second
point of the recommendation be amended from:
‘
To authorise the lead social services officer to make any further amendments to
the Agreement (in conjunction with the Head of Legal and Democratic Services)
necessary following the Agreement being presented to the respective Cabinet
meetings of Bridgend County Borough Council and the City and County of Swansea
Council’
To
read:
‘
To authorise the lead social services officer to make any further amendments to
the Agreement (in conjunction with the Head of Legal Services) necessary
following the Agreement being presented to the respective Cabinet meetings of
Bridgend County Borough Council and the City and County of Swansea Council’
Members
asked if the figures included in the Financial Information be clarified and
Officers confirmed the correct figures would be fed back to Members.
Following
scrutiny, the Committee were supportive of the proposals to be considered at
Cabinet Board.