Issue - meetings

This report seeks views from the Executive Member for Children’s Services and Advisory Panel on the priorities for the Children and Young People’s Plan 2007 - 2010.

Members considered a report which detailed the Children’s and Young People’s Plan covering all services provided for children and young people in the city.

It was recognised that there had been a rapid pace of change over the last two years which had resulted in the need to review the plan twelve months earlier than expected.  The advantage of that had been to allow planning for Children’s Services to conform to the same timetable as the Local Area Agreement (LAA) which linked all the plans for the area.

Members were informed that a draft plan would be produced shortly before Christmas for approval by the Children’s Trust in the new year and recommended for implementation from April 2007.

A Consultation Document included as annex one of the report, outlined the nine most important issues identified as priorities for inclusion in the new plan.

Advice of the Advisory Panel

That the Executive Member be advised to endorse the comments of the Advisory Panel.

Decision of the Executive Member

RESOLVED:             That the comments of the Advisory Panel be accepted and endorsed

REASON:                  To progress work in this area.

Members considered a report which detailed the Children’s and Young People’s Plan covering all services provided for children and young people in the city.

It was recognised that there had been a rapid pace of change over the last two years which had resulted in the need to review the plan twelve months earlier than expected.  The advantage of that had been to allow planning for Children’s Services to conform to the same timetable as the Local Area Agreement (LAA) which linked all the plans for the area.

Members were informed that a draft plan would be produced shortly before Christmas for approval by the Children’s Trust in the new year and recommended for implementation from April 2007.

A Consultation document included as annex one of the report, outlined the nine most important issues identified as priorities for inclusion in the new plan.  The document had been circulated to all interested partners and responses had been requested by 27 October 2006.  In parallel, consultation had also taken place with children and young people through the ‘Schools Out’ newspaper and arranged events.

Members were pleased to see that the issue of ‘Healthy Living’ included mental health problems, which had previously been omitted from the children and young people’s block of the Local Area Agreement (LAA).

Members noted the nine issues identified and agreed that although all were vitally important to the wellbeing of children, ‘success for all’ and ‘support for families’ were the bedrock for successful outcomes.  It was reported that the findings would be used to identify the actions needed to achieve the outcomes specified in the children and young people’s block of the LAA. 

Advice of the Advisory Panel

That the Executive Member be advised to endorse the comments of the Advisory Panel.

Decision of the Executive Member

RESOLVED:             That the comments of the Advisory Panel be accepted and endorsed

REASON:                  To progress work in this area.