Issue - meetings

(Option A): That the Cabinet adopts the report from the Director of Children’s Services as the Cabinet’s section 5A (8) report, and endorses the response from Children’s Services in that report to address the findings and to implement all the recommendations of the LGSCO.

That the Cabinet notes that all members of the local authority and the Monitoring Officer will be provided with a copy of the Cabinet’s prepared section 5A (8) report as soon as practicable if not already given a copy.

That Cabinet considers the LGSCO report and the Council’s response with regard to the actions undertaken and planned actions to be completed within the timescales stipulated.

The Cabinet Member for Children’s Services, Education and Skills had recently become aware of the matter when taking on her new portfolio and had discussed the matter fully with the Director of Children’s Services. The report would be circulated. All the recommendations from the LGSCO had been actioned, including relevant staff training within the timescales stipulated. The Cabinet Member would be keeping a watchful eye on the matter. The Director confirmed that the matter related to a complex finding at a Special Needs tribunal, where the Council had erred. The findings had been accepted and lessons learnt. Members could be reassured that there had been a recent Ofsted report of the SEN service which was very positive. The findings of the report however had been accepted.

The matter had been published in the media and it was hoped that the Ombudsman case would bring about change. JB had concerns as had been approached by 2 residents raising concerns not dissimilar to this. He had raised with officers and that DA would pick it up. Would need to ensure that all was as it should be.

The media would also get a copy of the report if they had not already to enable good reporting and an understanding of the subject matter. It was confirmed that the report was widely available in the public domain but copies could be supplied if necessary.