Agenda item

The Council received the Corporate Parenting Panel Annual Report April 2019 – March 2020 (for copy see file of Minutes).

The Annual Report was due to be agreed by the Corporate Parenting Panel at its meeting on 17 July 2020, however due to the Covid 19 pandemic it was agreed by the Chair and Vice Chair, then circulated by email to the Corporate Parenting Panel for wider agreement.  The Annual Report 2019-20 was endorsed by Cabinet on 14 October 2020.

Councillor Jewell, Chair of the Corporate Parenting Panel informed Council that the report covered the period April 2019 to March 2020 and was presented to Council later than usual due to the ongoing pandemic.  Councillor Jewell thanked Members and Co-opted Members of the Corporate Parenting Panel, officers and young people for their continued work and commitment throughout the year.

Councillor Jewell reminded all Members that they had responsibility as Corporate Parents, even if they were not Members of the Corporate Parenting Panel.  Young people were an important part of the overall process and it was important for them to feed into the process from a child and young person in care perspective.  The Panel had worked hard to improve the offer for children and young people in care and Councillor Jewell outlined the Panel’s priorities for 2020/21.

Councillor O Gunn, Cabinet Portfolio Holder for Children and Young People’s Services placed on record the council’s thanks to Members of the Corporate Parenting Panel for their excellent work and also to the Children in Care Council for their input and contribution.

Councillor Hopgood requested that the Council’s thanks to Councillor Brookes, who was Chair of the Panel for the majority of the time the report referred to, be formally minuted.