Agenda and minutes

No apologies were received.

Members are asked to consider any Pecuniary and Non-Pecuniary Interests they may have to disclose to the meeting in relation to matters under consideration on the Agenda.

None were disclosed.

The minutes of the meeting held on 19 June 2015 were agreed to be an accurate record.  

The Chair introduced Jane Booth (Independent Chair of Lancashire Safeguarding Children Board), Louise Taylor (Corporate Director, Operations and Delivery), Paul Hegarty (Business Manager, Lancashire Safeguarding Children Board), Stasia Osiowy (Head of Safeguarding, Inspection & Audit) and Tony Baxter (Lancashire Constabulary), to the meeting. The Committee considered a report from Lancashire Safeguarding Children Board following a request in December 2014 for an update to be provided to the Committee. It was elucidated that the update would outline additional information around a number of key safeguarding activities which had been referred to in December 2014.

Members were informed that, following a diagnostic exercise carried out by the Lancashire Safeguarding Children Board (LSCB), detail had been provided to the Committee delineating the findings of the exercise, along with information around Police operations, however it was stressed that specific details could not be provided around the Police data. It was also explained that detail had been provided regarding the information sharing pilot and the progress of the amalgamation of the business unit which supported the LSCB with that of the Lancashire Safeguarding Adults Board.

Members were informed of the diagnostic exercise around child sexual exploitation (CSE), which had been catalysed by the desire to undertake a considered exercise following events in recent times involving CSE. It was explained that a task and finish group had been convened which had completed the diagnostic exercise, and that their report had been provided to the Committee as set out within Appendix A of the agenda document. It was conveyed that in undertaking the diagnostic, it had provided the opportunity to reassess strategies, policies and procedures, which had been concluded to be robust. However, it was stressed that strategies, policies and procedures would be continually updated to reflect national good practice and the results of research outcomes.

It was explained that the diagnostic exercise had identified strong initiatives around prevention and that there was a large amount of work being undertaken by the young people's service, and others, in terms of preventative measures.

Members were informed that within Lancashire there were a large number of collocated multi-agency teams present in the County which were nationally recognised, such as the Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH) in Accrington, which had advantages in terms of communication between agencies.

The Committee noted that they had recently visited the MASH in Accrington and explained it was good to see verbal communication between staff, noting the use of the software systems as an aid rather than staff relying solely upon the system. It was also highlighted that the Committee had noted strong leadership around the significance and important of the CSE agenda, and that the partnerships in place were strong.

It was explained that the scale and diversity of the service arrangements in Lancashire were challenging and complicated, noting the two tier nature of the local government system with District Councils responsible for enforcement in areas such as taxi licensing which were deemed to be key in terms of management of CSE.

The Committee was informed  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

Resolved; That the work plan and task group update be noted.

An item of urgent business may only be considered under this heading where, by reason of special circumstances to be recorded in the Minutes, the Chair of the meeting is of the opinion that the item should be considered at the meeting as a matter of urgency. Wherever possible, the Chief Executive should be given advance warning of any Member's intention to raise a matter under this heading.

There was no urgent business

The next meeting of the Scrutiny Committee will be held on Friday 18 September 2015 at 10:30am at the County Hall, Preston.

It was noted that the next meeting of the Scrutiny Committee would be held on Friday, 18 September, 2015, at 10:00am at the County Hall, Preston in Cabinet Room 'B'.