Agenda and minutes

County Councillors Steven Holgate and Alan Schofield replaced County Councillors Miles Parkinson and David O'Toole respectively.

The Scrutiny Committee invited County Councillors Margaret Brindle, Susie Charles, Fabian Craig-Wilson, Cynthia Dereli and Yousuf Motala to the meeting.

There were no apologies.

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.

Resolved: That the minutes of the meeting held on 7 November be confirmed and signed by the Chair.

The Chair welcomed Jane Booth, Independent Chair of the Lancashire Safeguarding Children Board (LSCB); Kathryn Grindrod, LSCB Business Manager; Tony Morrissey, Head of Safeguarding Inspection and Audit; Bob Stott, Director for Universal and Early Support Services; County Councillor Matthew Tomlinson, Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Schools; and Detective Chief Inspector Tony Baxter to the meeting.

At the March 2014 meeting of the Scrutiny Committee members asked the Lancashire Safeguarding Board (LSCB) representatives to return to present a number of items when they became available. These items were:

1.  LSCB Annual Report

2.  Findings from a thematic practice inspection of Early Help Services

3.  Update about the information-sharing pilot between the NHS and CYP Directorate.

In addition, the Scrutiny Committee had requested some information about work in Lancashire around the issue of child exploitation, and a report about this had also been provided.

The LSCB had a statutory responsibility to ensure the effectiveness of work undertaken by agencies to safeguard children in Lancashire. The LSCB Annual Report set out the work undertaken in this regard in Lancashire for the previous financial year up to end of March 2014. The report reflected the sheer volume of work across the county and the pressure member agencies were under.

The report set out key successes and also areas for development for all LSCB member agencies during the coming twelve months. The LSCB remained particularly concerned about services for children experiencing emotional and mental health issues. This issue had recently been presented to the Lancashire Health and Wellbeing Board and ongoing development work had been agreed. The LSCB would continue to work with partner agencies to address all areas for development identified in the Annual Report and Lancashire County Council was a key organisation in all this work.

One of the key areas for development and further analysis was continued awareness raising and analysis of the risks presented through use of the internet and social media. DCI Tony Baxter informed Members that an open day for schools had been held in November on how to manage internet risks. He explained that work was also being done through the E-Safety Group. Lancashire Safeguarding Children Board had produced an E-Safety Strategy which set out how effective E-Safety services would be provided in Lancashire.

Another key issue was engagement with private sector children's homes and the Committee was informed that the LSCB had held an event regarding this.

The LSCB also stated it was vital services targeted resources to areas where the needs were the greatest.

Councillors were invited to ask questions and raise any comments in relation to the LSCB Annual Report 2013/14, a summary of which is provided below:

·  Members enquired about the level of engagement with further and higher education institutions. They were informed that the LSCB recognised that there was more work to be done in this area, though through sub-groups it did have contacts with further education establishments. Bob Stott, Director for Universal and Early Support Services, informed Members that he  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

A report was presented summarising the work to be undertaken by the Committee in the coming months, including an update on task group work.

Resolved: That the report 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.

None.

The next meeting of the Scrutiny Committee will be held on Friday 16 January 2015 at 10:30am at the County Hall, Preston.

It was noted that the next meeting of the Committee would be on Friday 16 January, at 10.30 at the County Hall, Preston.