To advise on the current co optee membership.  To highlight the changes being proposed, following the annual council meeting and to seek approval to appoint a representative from the teaching sector following a resolution of Council. 

The acting deputy chief executive (solicitor to the council) presented the report to the committee.

The committee discussed the report and questioned the acting deputy chief executive and the interim director for children and families. The suggestion from a member of the public to include an additional co-optee as a representative of families who were or had previously been supported by social workers was considered. Key points raised included

•                  The existing options available to the committee to draw on evidence from experts and lived experience;

•                  The role of Council in appointing standing co-optees and establishing voting rights;

•                  The need to process re-appointments as quickly as possible and a discussion on what the term of service of co-optees should be;

•                  How complaints raised through the code of conduct were dealt with;

•                  The recruitment process for an additional adult co-optee to represent families with experience of the care system;

•                  The need for safeguarding training for all members of the committee, including co-optees;

•                  The role of the participation officer and how the voice of the child could be incorporated in reports to the committee.

Recommendations were proposed and seconded and it was unanimously resolved that:

(a)   the process for the appointment of co-optees set out in appendix one be adopted;

(b)   the process be used to appoint one representative from the teaching sector;

(c)   the term of service of co-optees be reviewed with a view to making appointments for more than one year and up to four years, linking to the election cycle;

(d)   the process be used to recruit an adult representative of families who are or have been supported by social workers and Council be asked to appoint an additional co-optee at its next suitable meeting;

(e)   the induction of co-optees be more structured and include safeguarding training; and

(f)    consideration be given to how the participatory officer could bring the voice of the child to the committee as and when needed.

The cabient member for children and families left the meeting at 16:27.

Cllr Hey left the meeting at the conclusion of this item at 16:36.

To advise on the current co optee membership.  To highlight the changes being proposed,  following the annual council meeting and to seek approval to appoint a representative from the teaching sector following a resolution of Council.