The Cabinet Member Signing meeting on Tuesday 18 June 2024 saw the re-establishment of the Corporate Parenting Advisory Committee and the confirmation of its terms of reference, along with the appointment of members. The meeting also confirmed the terms of reference for the Community Safety Partnership and appointed members to this statutory body.

Establishment of the Corporate Parenting Committee and Appointment of Cabinet Members to Committees and Partnerships

The meeting resolved to re-establish the Corporate Parenting Advisory Committee and noted its terms of reference, which focus on the council's role as a corporate parent for children in care and care leavers. The committee's responsibilities include ensuring the voice and views of children in care are heard, maximising their life chances in terms of safety, health, well-being, housing, education, and employment, and monitoring the quality of care provided. It will also ensure that young people leaving care have sustainable arrangements for their future well-being. The committee will make recommendations to the Cabinet or the Cabinet Member for Children, Schools & Families and the Director for Children's Services.

Additionally, the terms of reference for the Community Safety Partnership (CSP) were noted. This statutory partnership is responsible for delivering outcomes in the Community Safety Strategy 2023-27, focusing on the prevention and reduction of crime, fear of crime, anti-social behaviour, harm caused by drug and alcohol misuse, and re-offending. The CSP also has a duty to prevent violent extremism. Its work is guided by principles such as solving problems with long-term positive outcomes, balancing risk and harm, and seeking long-term solutions to areas of multiple deprivation. The partnership's priorities include reducing and preventing violence and high harm crimes, violence against women and girls, exploitation of adults and young people, increasing trust and public confidence, preventing and reducing re-offending, and reducing victims of crime and anti-social behaviour.

The following members were appointed to serve on these committees:

• Corporate Parenting Advisory Committee:

  • Chair: Councillor Brabazon (Cabinet Member for Children, Schools, and Families)
  • Councillor Ali
  • Councillor Collett
  • Councillor Johnson
  • Councillor Opoku
  • Councillor Weston
  • Councillor Isilar-Gosling

• Community Safety Partnership:

  • Cabinet Member for Communities (as Co-Chair)
  • Cabinet Member for Children, Schools, & Families
  • Councillor da Costa

The decision to re-establish the Corporate Parenting Advisory Committee was made to ensure a scheduled opportunity for members and officers to discuss the well-being of children in care and to ensure the council meets its corporate parenting obligations. This committee is distinct from the Children and Young People's Scrutiny Panel as it concentrates specifically on looked-after children and care leavers, reporting directly to the Cabinet. The appointment of Cabinet members to the Community Safety Partnership was deemed necessary due to statutory duties, enabling high-level, accountable, strategic oversight of community safety issues.

The meeting also noted the filming at meetings notice, and there were no apologies for absence, declarations of interest, or deputations, petitions, or questions.