Decision

1. 1

The Committee considered a report which brought together a suite of annual reports on, Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) Annual Report, Independent Reviewing Officer (IRO) Annual Report, Fostering Annual Report, Private Fostering Annual Report, Virtual School Annual Update
and updates for the Education, Children and Families Policy Committee.

The report was presented for information, assurance and scrutiny only. It did not seek a decision, delegation, new policy approval, expenditure approval or approval of a service change.

1. 2

RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY: That Education, Children and Families Policy Committee:-

a)    Receive and note the annual reports and annual update listed in Appendices A to E.

b)    Note the progress, assurance, challenges and future priorities set out in the individual appendices.

c)    Use the reports to inform member scrutiny and oversight of Children’s Services activity and outcomes.

d)    aNote that this is an information item only and that no decision is requested from Committee.

1. 3

Reasons for Decision

1. 3.1

So that Members had a clear opportunity to scrutinise activity, assurance, progress, challenges and future priorities across key Children’s Services functions.

1. 3.2

Presenting the reports as one merged information item provided a clear and proportionate route for committee oversight while making explicit that no decision is being sought.

1. 4

Alternatives Considered and Rejected

1. 4.1

Option 1 – Present each annual report as a separate committee item. This was not preferred because it would create multiple agenda items for connected annual assurance reports and may make it harder for Members to consider the overall picture across Children’s Services.

1. 4.2

Option 2 – Present no covering report and rely only on appendices. This was not preferred because Members need a clear summary of the purpose, recommendations and implications of receiving the reports together.

1. 4.3

Preferred option – Present one merged Form 2 as an information item with separate appendices. This provides a proportionate route for committee assurance, scrutiny and transparency while avoiding any implication that Committee is being asked for a decision.