Agenda and draft minutes

The Chair of the Committee to open the meeting and welcome those present.

Cllr D Sowry-House, Vice-chair welcomed everyone to the meeting.

To confirm the minutes of the previous meeting held on 11 December 2025.

The minutes of the meeting held on 11 December 2025 were confirmed as a correct record and signed.

To disclose any pecuniary, other registrable or non-registrable interests as set out in the adopted Code of Conduct. In making their decision councillors are asked to state the agenda item, the nature of the interest and any action they propose to take as part of their declaration.

If required, further advice should be sought from the Monitoring Officer in advance of the meeting.

Cllr C Lugg declared an interest in agenda item 9 as an independent member of the Fostering Panel.  

Representatives of town or parish councils and members of the public who live, work or represent an organisation within the Dorset Council area are welcome to submit up to two questions or two statements for each meeting. Alternatively, you could submit one question and one statement for each meeting.  

All submissions must be emailed in full to [email protected] / by 8.30am on 22 May 2026.   

When submitting your question(s) and/or statement(s) please note that: 

·       no more than three minutes will be allowed for any one question or statement to be asked/read  

·       a question may include a short pre-amble to set the context, and this will be included within the three-minute period 

·       please note that sub divided questions count towards your total of two 

·       when submitting a question please indicate who the question is for (e.g. the name of the committee or Portfolio Holder) 

·       Include your name, address and contact details.  Only your name will be published but we may need your other details to contact you about your question or statement in advance of the meeting. 

·       questions and statements received in line with the council’s rules for public participation will be published as a supplement to the agenda 

·       all questions, statements and responses will be published in full within the minutes of the meeting.   

There was no public participation.

To receive a report from the Corporate Director - Care & Protection

Louise Drury, Head of Service, Children in Care, presented the Corporate Parenting Dataset. The Board noted the information and agreed to ask questions under the next agenda item, the Corporate Parenting Board Annual report.

To receive the report from the Head of Service.

Louise Drury, Head of Service, Children in Care, presented the Corporate Parenting Board Annual Report.

Members asked a number of questions regarding reasons for the increase of the number of children in care over the last 2 quarters, the reasons for the children that had had 3 plus moves in the last 12 months, the classification of unsuitable accommodation, reasons children living more than 20 miles away from home or out of county and the provision of support for boys and young men. Responses were provided by the appropriate officer.

Cllr C Lugg expressed her disappointment that the Corporate Parenting Board had not responded to the Department for Education consultation on Fostering Reforms.  Officers confirmed that the Council had responded to the consultation and had liaised with a number of key stakeholders on the response. The Vice-chair agreed to take Cllr Lugg’s views on board and look at the frequency of meetings.

Cllr J Robinson asked for an update regarding 2 asylum seekers, officers agreed to provide an update on the welfare of those individuals outside of the meeting.        

The report was noted.

To receive the report from the Head of Service - Care Leavers & UASC

Jane Maclennan, Head of Service, Leaving Care, Fostering and Adoption introduced the Fostering Service Annual Report.

Members of the board noted the annual report.

To receive the report from the Independent Panel Chair

In the absence of Deborah Ford, Jane Macellan, Head of Service Leaving Care, Fostering and Adoption, presented the Fostering Panel Chair Report.

Members were advised that laptops would be delivered to foster carers over the coming weeks; the Vice-chair acknowledged that the concerns regarding the delivery of laptops was being addressed by officers.

Members of the board discussed the contents of the report and asked questions regarding: -

The kinship assessment and approval process

The Philomena Protocol

Fostering reforms and regionalisation of fostering services

and detailed responses to the questions were provided by officers. 

The Board noted the report.

To receive the report from the Head of Service - Care Leavers & UASC

Jane Maclennan, Head of Service Leaving Care, Fostering and Adoption introduced the Leaving Care Service Annual Report. 

Members discussed the different categories of care leavers and the different levels of active engagement and service for young people who were in care that went up to the age of 21 or 25.  In response to a comment regarding care leavers in BCHA accommodation not knowing what effect working had on their tenancy agreements, the board was advised that the council had 2 housing officers that were part of the care leavers team providing support around tenancy issues and Jane Maclennan agreed to take this point forward.  Cllr C Jones also raised the issue that there was scope for Family Hubs to provide support for care leavers, the Vice-chair suggested that this issue could be worked on with the Family Hubs to provide better access. 

The Board noted the report.

To receive the report from the Youth Voice Team Manager.

Kaye Wright, Youth Voice Team Manager introduced the report on the Youth Voice Strategy.

The Board noted the report.

To confirm details and deadlines for papers for the next formal meeting of the Corporate Parenting Board which will be held on 26 November 2026. The next informal meeting will be held on 23 July 2026.

The next formal meeting would be held on 26^th November 2026.

The next informal meeting would be held on 23^rd July 2026.

The Chair thanked those members who were not members of the panel but had chosen to attend the meeting, Cllr Bawden, Cllr Brenton and Cllr Florek.   

To consider any items of business which the Chairman has had prior

notification and considers to be urgent pursuant to section 100B (4) b)

of the Local Government Act 1972. The reason for the urgency shall

be recorded in the minutes.

There were no urgent items.

To move the exclusion of the press and the public for the following item in view of the likely disclosure of exempt information within the meaning of paragraph x of schedule 12 A to the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended). The public and the press will be asked to leave the meeting whilst the item of business is considered.  

There are no exempt items scheduled for this meeting.  

There was no exempt business.