Agenda item

To consider the Executive and Cabinet Member Decisions within the remit of the Committee which have been taken since the last meeting.

The Committee noted that three Executive decisions had been taken within the remit of the Children and Young People’s Scrutiny Committee since the previous meeting.

Members asked a number of questions pertaining to EX12/2020 ‘Review of Children’s Home Provision’ and in response Councillor Lynn Williams, Leader of the Council (Children) clarified that the permanent closure of the residential provision at 331 Bispham Road was as a result of the previous facility not adequately meeting the needs of the children housed there. The property, Councillor Williams explained, was still empty and being maintained by Property Services until such a time as a suitable alternative use had been identified. In response to further questions regarding the possibility of whether the premises could potentially be used by a privately owned company to house children from outside Blackpool, Councillor Williams stated that there was no intention for this outcome as the building was not suitable for such a use. Mrs Diane Booth, Director of Children’s Services clarified that six-bedded units were not suitable to meet the needs of children and that more homely, smaller units were required.

Councillor Mrs Callow, in her capacity as Chair of the Scrutiny Leadership Board stated that residents living in the vicinity of residential children’s homes felt abandoned by the Council regarding their concerns and complaints of antisocial behaviour in the properties. A further question was asked by the Committee on whether the Council planned to create its own smaller residential children’s homes or if the intention was for private companies to manage them. Councillor Williams explained that the long-term plan was for the future development of more suitable options for Blackpool’s children other than placement within residential children’s homes, such as fostering and adoption, reminding Members that as Corporate Parents it was everyone’s role to help create and support a positive culture around the needs of our Looked After Children and their future aspirations and potential.

The Committee sought further details of EX16/2020 ‘Implementation of the Lancashire and Blackpool Regional Adoption Agency’. The Committee raised concerns that the relocation of the adoption agency may cause barriers to Blackpool residents who wanted to access its services. Councillor Williams explained that although the central office would be located in Preston, an outreach service to Blackpool had been implemented. Mrs Booth assured Members that the needs of Blackpool would be included in the focus of the agency and that in her position as Chair of the adoption panel she would be ensuring that Blackpool was equally represented.

Clarification was requested around EX31/2020 ‘Updated Children’s Services Medium Term Financial Strategy’ and Mrs Jeanette Richards, Assistant Director of Children’s Services provided further details of the therapeutic children’s home project which would be receiving funding of £1.2 million per year for two years. The Committee was informed that the project aimed to reduce the need for residential children’s placements via the use of specialist foster placements and formed part of an ambitious five-year strategy to reduce spending in Children’s Social Care by 33 per cent.