Issue - meetings

This report provides an update on the work of the newly established Safeguarding Children’s Board and, including the business plan priorities for the Board for 2007-10, and seeks approval for the adoption of a high level child protection policy for the Council.

RESOLVED: (i)         That the development of the Business Plan 2007-10 of the local Safeguarding Children’s Board (Annex 1) be noted and its contents endorsed.

                        (ii)        That the draft Child Protection Policy for the Council, as attached at Annex 2, be approved.

REASON:      To address the need for a child protection policy and to adopt a policy which sets out clearly the commitment of the Council to the Rights of the Child, together with principles of good practice.

Members considered a report which provided an update on the work of the newly established Safeguarding Children’s Board and sought approval for the adoption of a high level child protection policy for the Council.

The process of establishing the Board, to replace the former Area Child Protection Committee, had been agreed by the Executive in March 2006.  The Board was now fully operational and was embracing the wider safeguarding expectation.  Its first business plan, attached as Annex 1 to the report, had been developed through a clear process of consultation, including shared access to the consultation undertaken for the new Children and Young People’s Plan.

The Board had completed an audit of the Council’s key arrangements for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, under the guidance in Section 11 of the Children Act.  This had identified as a significant deficit the lack of a council-wide Child Protection Policy. In order to address this omission, approval was sought for a draft policy, attached as Annex 2 to the report.

RESOLVED: (i)         That the development of the Business Plan 2007-10 of the local Safeguarding Children’s Board (Annex 1) be noted and its contents endorsed.

                        (ii)        That the draft Child Protection Policy for the Council, as attached at Annex 2, be approved.

REASON:      To address the need for a child protection policy and to adopt a policy which sets out clearly the commitment of the Council to the Rights of the Child, together with principles of good practice.