Issue - items at meetings - Callover

Report of the Strategic Director- People (copy attached).

14.1          The Board considered a report of the Strategic Director, People. The report informed Members of the Board of the arrangements for the collective responsibilities that Members and Officers of Brighton & Hove City Council and it partner organisations have for children and young people in care of the local authority. These included children accommodated by voluntary agreement with their parent(s), those on statutory orders, those in shared care arrangements, those remanded into care and unaccompanied asylum seeking children.

14.2          Councillor Hawkes requested that all elected Members be kept regularly up to date of the implications of the central and local government spending reviews on child care and safety.

14.3          The report author responded that there would be Members seminars held, an elected Member brief and a presentation on the matter that would be distributed to all Members.

14.4          Councillor Fryer enquired upon the details of the virtual school for looked after children.

14.5          The report author responded that the virtual school was an organisational tool to enable effective coordination of educational services at a strategic and operational level for looked after children. The aim was to offer practical support to children, young people and their carers on day to day issues such as support with reading, homework and contacting school. He suggested that the head teacher of the virtual school be invited to a future meeting which the Board Members agreed would be extremely informative.

14.6          RESOLVED- That the Board:

1)     Agree the attached Corporate Parenting Strategy for Brighton & Hove

2)     The Partnership Board accept their responsibilities in furthering the goals as outlined in the corporate parenting strategy within their own organisation and collectively as a partnership

3)     This is a Council-wide and partner agency responsibility and individuals at every level across all service areas in Brighton & Hove must as the Corporate Parent, achieve these tasks.