Issue - meetings

The Board received a presentation on Children and Young People including the Every Child Matters agenda, from the Senior Corporate Policy and Performance Officer.  The presentation covered the following areas:

• Recent activities organised by the Council including U Decide
• Worcestershire Children & Young People’s Plan
• Every Child Matters Agenda
• Every Child Matters Outcomes Framework, which included Stay Safe, Make a Positive Contribution, Be Healthy, Enjoy and Achieve and Achieve Economic Wellbeing
• Upcoming projects and events
• Working in partnership; particularly with the LSP

In response to the presentation, the Board discussed the following in detail:

·        The future funding available for the U Decide project

·        Diversionary sessions carried out on behalf of the Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership (CDRP)

·        Issues relating to CDRP and which may be more appropriately covered by the Joint Overview and Scrutiny Board

·        The work carried out by the TRUNK

·        Drug and alcohol related issues and teenage pregnancies

·        National indicators relating to the Every Child Matters Outcomes Framework

·        Corporate priorities

The Board discussed the inclusion of Children and Young People and Every Child Matters in the Scrutiny Board’s Work Programme and the Scrutiny Officer suggested that the draft terms of reference could be “to review the work of the Worcestershire Children and Young People’s Plan against the requirements of the Every Child Matters Agenda to identify areas where we are delivering well and areas which need further action”.

Members were impressed with the services that the Council already provided for children and young people and suggested that this should receive greater promotion, through an article within Together Bromsgrove.  It was also noted that many Members may not be aware of the wide range of services available.  The Senior Corporate Policy and Performance Officer confirmed that she was investigating the use of a regular Member/staff briefing or newsletter which would provide information on forthcoming events and also look back at what had been achieved.  The Senior Corporate Policy and Performance Officer agreed with Members that the Council should promote its achievements more in the future.  Following this discussion it was

RESOLVED that Children and Young People be referred as a possible item for the Scrutiny Board’s 2010/11 Work Programme.