To receive a report on the Change for Children and Local Performance Improvement Agenda and the next steps locally.

To agree arrangements which will support the change/improvement and the preparation for JAR (Joint Area Review) now provisionally set by the Audit Commission for autumn 2005.

Cabinet agreed:-

·         to work with partners to establish a Children's Partnership Board which may well form the groundwork for a Herefordshire Children's Trust;

·         in principle to set up a Change/Improvement/Development Team to support the Children's Services Directorate Leadership Team and the short-term investment needed;

·         that the costs of the Change Team be met from Reserves; and

·         to introduce lead roles for School-Strategy and Change, and Adult Social Care/Strategic Housing as described in paragraphs 13 and 14 (noting that the Cabinet Member for Children has already signed a decision notice to agree the Schools leadership role be undertaken by the Head of Inspection Advice and School Performance). 

To keep Cabinet informed on the change programme looking ahead.

There are no alternative options.