Agenda item

It was moved as a recommendation by Councillor Pantelic,

Seconded by Councillor Anderson,

“That in accordance Procedure Rule 27, Council Procedure Rule16, Rules of debate, Content and Length of speeches, be suspended to allow the Commissioner for Children’s Services to make a presentation to the Council on progress against the Ofsted Report published on 1^st June 2011. 

Following the presentation the debate to return to normal debate rules as set out in Procedure Rule 16 other than the Commissioner for Children’s Services being entitled to reply to points raised during debate without prejudice to her entitlement to speak generally in the debate on any recommendations/ amendments”.

The recommendation was put and carried by 20 votes to 7 votes with 1 abstention.

The Commissioner for Education and Children’s Services made a presentation to Council.

Recommendation 1

It was moved as a recommendation by Councillor Stokes,

Seconded by Councillor Strutton,

“This Council resolves to appoint an all-Party working party to recommend an improvement Action Plan designed to secure the services of an effective Chair of the Slough Local Safeguarding Children Board (SLSCB), attract more senior representatives to membership of the SLSCB, improve member attendance at meetings and introduce effective scrutiny and review procedures to improve the co-operation and performance of inadequate Partners”.

The recommendation was put and lost by 8 votes to 20 votes with 1 abstention.

Recommendation 2

It was moved as a recommendation by Councillor Stokes,

Seconded by Councillor Buchanan,

“This Council resolves to ask the Director of Children’s Services and the Lead Member for Children’s Services to issue a report to all Councillors indicating what reassurances have been given to the Minister’s officials, and also what steps have been taken to “understand the issue”, to improve partner working relationships, to strengthen the LSCB, to appoint a Chair for the LSCB and to facilitate and encourage more member involvement in all Child Protection Policies and practices to safeguard vulnerable children”.

The recommendation was put and lost by 8 votes to 20 votes with 1 abstention.

Recommendation 3

It was moved as a recommendation by Councillor Stokes,

Seconded by Councillor Haines,

“This Council resolves to ask the Director of Children’s Services and the Lead Member for Children’s Services to consider the implications of Thames Valley Police inadequacies in relation to child protection policies and practices, to sue their best endeavours to ensure that the Slough Local Safeguarding Children Board initiates a thorough scrutiny of Thames Valley Police effectiveness in protecting vulnerable children and then issue a report to all Councillors indicating what conclusions they have drawn and what measures for improvement have been formulated”.

The recommendation was put and lost by 9 votes to 20 votes with 1 abstention.

Recommendation 4

It was moved as a recommendation by Councillor Stokes,

Seconded by Councillor Smith,

“This Council resolves to ask the Government to reflect on the current inappropriate recruitment and selection procedure which permits a Children’s Services Officer to take the lead in the appointment and then the dismissal of the Chair of Local Safeguarding Children Board and also to:

Ask the Government to consider the introduction of an independent and more efficient recruitment procedure (possibly through the Appointments Commission) which would enable the appointment of a competent Chair who would feel secure to pursue a constructive and investigative role free from political pressure and interference. 

The recommendation was put and lost by 9 votes to 20 votes with 1 abstention.

Recommendation 5

It was moved as a recommendation by Councillor Stokes ,

Seconded by Councillor Plimmer,

“This Council resolves to ask the Lead member for Children’s Services to report on the form and the outcome of her “morale boosting” session for front line staff”.

The recommendation was put and lost by 8 votes to 20 votes with 2 abstentions.

Recommendation 6

It was moved as a recommendation by Councillor Dale-Gough,

Seconded by Councillor Stokes,

“This Council resolves that in future, any improvement plans that should be drawn up by Education and Children’s Services will trigger the creation of a working party with equal numbers of representatives from each side of the chamber who will work with the relevant offices to draw up the improvement plans, monitor the progress and implementation of those plans”.

The recommendation was put and lost by 9 votes to 20 votes with 1 abstention.