The Director of Children’s Services to present the draft Children and Young People’s Plan (Policy Framework document).

The Mayor and Executive Lead for Children’s Services to answer the Board’s questions.

The Board to make any comments and/or recommendations as part of the consultation process.

The Director of Children’s Services presented the draft Children and Young People’s Plan which was currently subject to consultation.  It was explained that the action plans within the Plan would be populated as a result of the consultation process.

The Board raised a number of points which it would wish to see included in the final version of the Plan, including:

·         Reference to the population of children and young people in Torbay and how that relates to the overall population

·         Ensuring that tackling child poverty is included within the Plan

·         Reflecting the partnership approach to improving practice in Children’s Services through the agreement with Plymouth City Council

The Board also requested to review the final draft of the Plan ahead of consideration by the Council.

To consider the submitted report on a review of the Children and Young People’s Plan (Policy Framework document).

Members of the Policy Development and Decision Group thanked Andy Dempsey – Director of Children’s Services, Rachel Williams – Head of Education, Learning and Skills and Anne Osborne – Assistant Director Children’s Safeguarding and the Children’s Services Team for all their hard work and improvements over the past twelve months.

The Policy Development and Decision Group (Joint Commissioning Team) made the following recommendations to the Deputy Mayor:

(i)         that the draft Children and Young People Plan set out at Appendix 1 to the submitted report be agreed as the basis for consultation with the Council’s partners and stakeholders (including children and young people);

(ii)        that the Director of Children’s Services, in consultation with the Executive Lead for Children and Adults Services, be authorised to develop the action plan with the Children and Young People Plan taking into account the views expressed during the consultation period; and

(iii)       that the final draft of the Children and Young People’s Plan be agreed by the Mayor ahead of it being presented to the Council for consideration.

The Deputy Mayor considered the recommendations of the Policy Development and Decision Group (Joint Commissioning Team) set out above at the meeting and the record of decision, together with further information is attached to these Minutes.