Issue - meetings

Report of the Cabinet Member for Children and Young People is attached.

Councillor Lucy Smith, Cabinet Member for Children and Young People, presented the report which set out the findings by the Local Government & Social Care Ombudsman (LGO) made against the Council following the Council’s failure to comply with agreed recommendations following an earlier LGO investigation, and the action now taken by the Council to demonstrate that it has complied with those recommendations. Members noted that this complaint related to the Council failing to act properly when a child was out of education causing injustice, and the subsequent remedy not being carried out in agreed timescales.

Decision:

Cabinet noted the recommendations made by the Local Government & Social Care Ombudsman, specifically the concerns expressed about the Council’s failure to implement remedies within a reasonable timeframe.

Reasons for the decision:

A requirement stipulated by the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman is that a copy of its report is considered by the Council at its full Council, Cabinet or other appropriately delegated committee of elected members in accordance with the Local Government Act 1974, section 31(2), as amended.

Other options considered and rejected:

None.

Report of the Cabinet Member for Children and Young People is attached.

Councillor Lucy Smith, Cabinet Member for Children and Young People, presented the report which set out the findings by the Local Government & Social Care Ombudsman (LGO) made against the Council following the Council’s failure to comply with agreed recommendations following two earlier investigations, and the action now taken by the Council to demonstrate that it has complied with those recommendations. Members noted that this complaint related to the Council’s failure to provide appropriate free transport and repeated failure to remedy the situation within agreed timescales.

In response to questions relating to this item and the subsequent item, Councillor Lucy Smith gave assurances that these related to historic complaints and since this time stronger policies and processes had been introduced which clarified staffing leads. It was also noted that the Monitoring Officer was meeting on a three-monthly basis with the LGO which would ensure issues like this would not reoccur.

Decision:

Cabinet noted the recommendations made by the Local Government & Social Care Ombudsman, specifically the concerns expressed about the Council’s failure to implement remedies within a reasonable timeframe.

Reasons for the decision:

The Council must consider the report and confirm within three months the action it has taken or proposes to take. The Council should consider the report at its full Council, Cabinet or other appropriately delegated committee of elected members and we will require evidence of this. (Local Government Act 1974, section 31(2), as amended).

Other options considered and rejected:

None.