Agenda item

Karen Robb, Strategic Manager for Looked After and Permanence, presented the weekly looked after children numbers (for copy of report see file of minutes).  It was reported that the number of looked after children as at Friday 7 December was 826. 

Councillor Grant referred to national statistics which indicate that the north east has a significantly higher number of looked after children than similar socio-economic areas of the country and she queried why this is the case.  Stephen Tracey, Corporate Equality and Strategy Manager responded that the national trend has seen an increase in the number of looked after children, however, the figure for London has decreased.  He explained that London boroughs have worked collaboratively, restructuring services and using alternative methods of working in an effort to reduce the number of looked after children.  Councillor Grant suggested that authorities in the north east should investigate whether similar methods could be adopted here.

It was agreed that further analysis would be undertaken on this, and an update presented to a future meeting.

Resolved

That the report be noted.