Issue - meetings

[To consider the recommendations of the scrutiny review group and the Cabinet’s response thereto]

[NOTE: The Chair of the scrutiny review group has been invited]     

Cllr Val Gibson reported that child sexual exploitation was a very important issue for Wolverhampton and the whole of the Country and that she was delighted that scrutiny had chosen this topic for a review.  She thanked Cllr Jasbir Jaspal, Chair of the Scrutiny Review Group, members of the review group and the witnesses who came to produce an impressive report.   

Cllr Jasbir Jaspal was in attendance at the meeting for this item.  She gave a brief introduction to the report containing the findings and recommendations from a scrutiny review.  She placed on record her thanks to the members of the review group, witnesses including the Cabinet Members for Education and Children and Young People, partner agencies and council employees who had all contributed to the review.

Cllr Val Gibson reported that Cabinet accepted all of the Review group’s recommendations.  She also reported that she was pleased to report that there would be an enhanced Police resource in Wolverhampton as part of the local response to child sexual exploitation.

Cllr Roger Lawrence asked that progress on implementing the review recommendations be monitored that a clear action plan be developed from the Executive response.

Resolved:

1.     That the report of the Scrutiny Review ofChild Sexual Exploitation and the following recommendations from the review be received:

Recommendation 1.The Head of Safeguarding to produce a six monthly newsletter on safeguarding matters for all Wolverhampton Councillors.

Recommendation 2. The Head of Safeguarding to ensure that the Wolverhampton Safeguarding Children Board Child Sexual Exploitation Strategy is updated to incorporate specific reference to the Board’s commitment to the aims and objectives detailed in the West Midlands Regional Child Sexual Exploitation Framework (July 2015).

Recommendation 3.The members of the CSE scrutiny review group to reconvene in October 2016 to consider progress in implementing recommendations agreed by Cabinet. The findings to be added as an appendix to the update report when presented to Scrutiny Board on 1.11.16.

Recommendation 4. The Chair of the Councillor Development and IT Advisory Group to contact all elected Councillors reminding them of their safeguarding responsibilities and the expectation that they will complete mandatory safeguarding courses.

The level of Councillor non-attendance on e-learning safeguarding courses to be monitored by Future People Manager and reported six monthly to Councillor Development and IT Advisory Group. 

Recommendation 5. The Future People Manager in liaison with the relevant subject matter experts to undertake a review of the effectiveness of mandatory e-learning training course for Councillors to ensure that they meet their responsibilities. The findings to be presented to the Councillor Development and IT Advisory Group with recommendations.

Recommendation 6. Priority Lead – Communicate and Engage (WSCB) to detail proposals for further awareness raising in relation to the issue of CSE. The Priority Lead, Communicate and Engage, to detail plans for raising awareness of the issue among new communities who have moved to Wolverhampton and report findings to WSCB.

Recommendation 7. Wolverhampton representatives of organisations involved in the drafting of the West Midlands Metropolitan  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6