Issue - meetings

(a) That the Forward Work Programme be noted;

(b) That the Facilitator, in consultation with the Chair of the Committee, be authorised to vary the Forward Work Programme between meetings, as the need arises; and

(c) That the progress made in completing the outstanding actions be noted.

In presenting the report, the Democratic Services Manager outlined the items scheduled for the forthcoming meetings which were attached at Appendix 1 to the report. There were no additional items to be included apart from the item identified by Councillor Andrew Parkhurst and he agreed to consult with the Facilitator to ensure that it was included. Information was then provided on the Member Workshops on the Medium-Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) and Budget 2024-24 and Corporate Parenting.

The Democratic Services Manager then provided an update on the Action Tracking report at Appendix 2. The proposals for compulsory Corporate Parenting Training would need to wait until the results of the Penn Review consultation were known but the Democratic Services Manager confirmed that it was on the Forward Work Programme for the Constitution & Democratic Services Committee.

            Councillor Gladys Healey referred to the online Corporate Parenting Training and felt that in person sessions for Members were better. The Democratic Services Manager confirmed that an online session had been arranged following the request for it to be held prior to the recess and at short notice. The session would provide a generalised view of Corporate Parenting and include the WLGA handbook and attachment outlining what the role entailed. The Council was currently reviewing its Corporate Parenting Strategy and it was proposed to deliver two further sessions, one in person and one remote, in the Autumn once the Strategy was revised and refreshed. The training would include specific themes for Flintshire, and it was also proposed to invite some of the Young People to speak to Members and answer questions.

            Councillor Andrew Parkhurst thanked officers for providing the data for children who were looked after and excluded from school. The figure of 20% was much higher than other pupils and referred to national data which indicated that children who were looked after were more likely to be excluded for exhibiting the same type of troubling behaviour as their contemporaries. As Corporate Parents it was incumbent upon the Council to ensure that children who were looked after were not treated differently.

The recommendations, as outlined within the report, were moved by Councillor Carolyn Preece and seconded by Councillor Gladys Healey.               

RESOLVED:

(a) That the Forward Work Programme be noted;

(b) That the Facilitator, in consultation with the Chair of the Committee, be authorised to vary the Forward Work Programme between meetings, as the need arises; and

(c) That the progress made in completing the outstanding actions be noted.