Issue - items at meetings - Future arrangement for the Children & Young People's Trust Board

That the Board agree:

(1)   To re-constitute the Children and Young People’s Trust Board to meet the requirements of the Statutory Guidance on co-operation arrangements (2010) and establish a new Children’s Trust Board with the membership proposed by the local authority (paragraph 3.9. and Appendix 1).

(2)   The Chair of the Children’s Trust Board will be the Lead member for Children’s Services (paragraph 3.11).

(3)   To adopt the draft Terms of Reference for the new Children’s Trust Board (paragraph 3.12 and attached as Appendix 2)

(4)   The proposal not to establish sub groups of the Children’s Trust Board at this stage (paragraph 3.14).

(5)   The draft work programme for the Children’s Trust Board (paragraph 3.15 and attached as Appendix 3).

(6)   To receive a further report in respect of the necessary transitional arrangements to ensure that the city’s Children and Young People’s Plan complies with Statutory Guidance by April 2011.

(7)   That this will be the final meeting of the Children’s Board in its current constitution. The new Children’s Board will commence business at the next meeting.

54.1         The Board considered a report of the Director of Children’s Service concerning proposed changes to the Trust Board arrangements to meet the requirements of the Statutory Guidance on co-operation arrangements including the Children’s Trust Board and Children and Young People’s Plan and the Roles and Responsibilities of the Lead Member and the Director of Children’s Services.

54.2         The Director of Children’s Service relayed to Members that the report was based upon central government guidance on re-constitution and was the continuation of changes to the Section 75 agreement.

54.3         Members discussed the matter of collective responsibility and individual accountability contained in the Terms of Reference (Appendix 2).

54.4         The Director of Children’s Services informed the Board that she had confidence in all partners’ individual and collective capability to deliver the Children and Young People’s Plan in a challenging fiscal environment with difficult budget demands.

54.5         A Member asked if there was a long-term timetable for the introduction of sub-groups that had been delayed under the proposals.

54.6         The Director of Children’s Service responded that sub-groups for the Board had not yet been ruled out but had been delayed in the interest of safeguarding and strengthening during this period of change to the Board. The Cabinet Member added sub-groups would be used if they were needed.

54.7         In reference to Item 5.4.1 and 5.4.2 of Appendix 2, a Member of the Board enquired how the stated accountability would work.

54.8         The Director of Children’s Services answered that the Local Safeguarding Children Board (LSCB) would give accounts on partners effectiveness via an Independent Chairs Report.

54.9         RESOLVED- That the Board agree the recommendations of the report as follows:

(1)   To re-constitute the Children and Young People’s Trust Board to meet the  requirements of the Statutory Guidance on co-operation arrangements (2010) and establish a new Children’s Trust Board with the membership proposed by the local authority (paragraph 3.9. and Appendix 1).

(2)   The Chair of the Children’s Trust Board will be the Lead member for Children’s Services (paragraph 3.11).

(3)   To adopt the draft Terms of Reference for the new Children’s Trust Board (paragraph 3.12 and attached as Appendix 2)

(4)   The proposal not to establish sub groups of the Children’s Trust Board at this stage (paragraph 3.14).

(5)   The draft work programme for the Children’s Trust Board (paragraph 3.15 and attached as Appendix 3).

(6)   To receive a further report in respect of the necessary transitional arrangements to ensure that the city’s Children and Young People’s Plan complies with Statutory Guidance by April 2011.

(7)   That this will be the final meeting of the Children’s Board in its current constitution. The new Children’s Board will commence business at the next meeting.

54.10    The Cabinet Member conveyed her thanks to all Members for their co-operation and negotiation and passed on her gratitude to those Members that would be stepping down after this meeting for their service.