To approve the Children and Young People’s Plan 2019 – 2024.

Council considered a report by the cabinet member for children and families containing the children and young people’s plan 2019-2024 for approval. The cabinet member children and families proposed the children and young people’s plan 2019 – 2024 and made the following comments:

·         The Plan was an overview; the priorities outlined in the Plan would be taken forward with actions plans that would be completed following its approval;

·         Tribute was paid to the involvement of the previous cabinet member and support provided in the transition to the new administration;

·         A wide consultation had informed the Plan which had consisted of engagement events with children and young people, partners and other stakeholders;

·         The Plan set out a vision and contained priorities to: keep children and young people safe; keep children and young people healthy including physical and mental health; childhood development and educational attainment; and enabling community participation and the involvement of children and young people;

·         There were challenges faced by the council including reduced funding, the number of looked after children, the cost of special education needs and the recruitment of social workers. There were however a number of positive elements including children’s enjoyment of living in Herefordshire, improvements in educational attainment and jobs and development opportunities that were available.

·         The role of members as corporate parents was highlighted.

Councillor Elissa Swinglehurst seconded the Plan and explained that it provided a sense of direction for the future of services for children and young people in Herefordshire. She explained that the action plans would bring the vision contained in the Plan into reality. The involvement of children and young people in the production of the Plan had been essential.

Council made the points below in the discussion that followed:

·         The risk to children’s health services posed by the potential merger of Herefordshire and Worcestershire Clinical Commissioning Groups.

·         The importance of pastoral care in schools and the need to provide assistance and support to schools to realise an effective level of service. It was felt that provision of pastoral care was inconsistent between schools which needed to be reviewed.

·         The children’s scrutiny committee had considered the Plan and agreed with its priorities and focus. The issue of transport for children in remote rural communities had been identified and the need to ensure that a robust monitoring framework was established to assess the success of the objectives in the Plan and the action plans. 

·         It was important that all partners with areas of responsibility in the Plan were notified once the Plan was approved and that schools were involved in the formal launch of the Plan.

·         It was suggested that the detailed action plans should include mentoring as a method to assist children and young people to achieve their potential.

·         It was important that in five years time a review of the Plan was undertaken to establish if it was achieving its aims.

·         It was noted that there was a small proportion of children and young people in the criminal justice system. It was queried what work was ongoing with the youth offending team to undertake early intervention work designed to prevent young people falling into the criminal justice system.

·         It was reported that the cabinet would be looking at existing assets and the potential of providing accommodation and safe spaces for children and young people.

The Plan was put to the vote and Council agreed it by a simple majority.

RESOLVED: That the Children and Young People’s Plan 2019 – 2024 is approved. 

Councillor Paul Rone left the meeting at 10:51 a.m.