Agenda and minutes

To receive any apologies for absence.

There were no apologies for absence.

To disclose any pecuniary, other registrable or non-registrable interest as set out in the adopted Code of Conduct. In making their disclosure 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.

There were no declarations of interest.

To confirm and sign the minutes of the meeting held on 19 May 2025.

The minutes of the meeting held on 16 May 2025 were confirmed and signed.

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 either 1 question or 1 statement for each meeting.  You are welcome to attend the meeting in person or via Microsoft Teams to read out your question and to receive the response.   If you submit a statement for the committee this will be circulated to all members of the committee in advance of the meeting as a supplement to the agenda and appended to the minutes for the formal record but will not be read out at the meeting. The first 8 questions and the first 8 statements received from members of the public or organisations for each meeting will be accepted on a first come first served basis in accordance with the deadline set out below.  For further information read Public Participation - Dorset Council

All submissions must be emailed in full to [email protected] by 8.30am on Wednesday, 2 July 2025.

When submitting your question or statement please note that: 

·         You can submit 1 question or 1 statement.

·         a question may include a short pre-amble to set the context.

·         It must be a single question and any sub-divided questions will not be permitted.

·         Each question will consist of no more than 450 words, and you will be given up to 3 minutes to present your question.

·         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 were no public questions.

To receive questions submitted by councillors.  

Councillors can submit up to two valid questions at each meeting and sub divided questions count towards this total.   Questions and statements received will be published as a supplement to the agenda and all questions, statements and responses will be published in full within the minutes of the meeting. 

The submissions must be emailed in full to [email protected] by 8.30am on Wednesday, 2 July 2025. 

Dorset Council Constitution – Procedure Rule 13

There were no questions from councillors.

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 receive a report by the Executive Director of People – Children.

The Executive Director for People – Children introduced the report. He outlined the council’s involvement in the Families First pathfinder and that it was now supporting the national roll-out of the Family First delivery model for Children’s Services. The Corporate Director for Care and Protection highlighted the key parts of the report and the changes that would need to be made by March 2026 to align with the national guidance.

The Committee discussed the report and asked questions of the officers. The following points were raised:

·       There were no details of the funding allocations, although a national amount of money has been announced. The allocations were expected later in the year. It has been raised as a concern with the DfE.

·       There was no indication on timing for the funding allocation. Last year the funding was allocated in late January.

·       A member asked that the committee be updated when the funding allocations have been announced.

·       Child protection conferences had changes made to them to make them more family friendly. Social workers chaired child protection conferences during a pilot; however, this was not favoured by families.

·       The council had been given £190k to support the national roll-out of the Children’s Services reforms.

·       There would be options for contingencies in the Children’s Services budget if there was not adequate funding. Cost efficiencies could be made through early intervention to reduce the number of high-cost placements.

·       There are a new set of regulations for agency social workers. They will need to work in a Local Authority for 3 years before being able to join an agency.

·       Families were finding it difficult to get the support they need with EHCP’s. Officers advised they were reviewing support around EHCP’s and they were also expecting a Government White Paper on their reform.

·       Service levels and quality should remain the same if savings are made. Costs had been taken out of the placement budget due to early intervention.

·       School nurses visit children on a child protection plan, which identifies new health needs.

The Committee would have an informal meeting to discuss contingency options in the children’s services budget.

The Committee noted the report and supported maintaining the local Families First delivery model, alignment to national guidance, and the role as a Pathfinder Local Authority in supporting the Families First Pathfinder national programme.

To consider the Committee's Work Programme and the Executive Forward Plans.

The next Cabinet Forward Plan being published on 30 July will be available on this link: Cabinet Forward Plan

The Committee noted its work programme and the Cabinet Forward Plan.

Members were reminded that they could suggest items for the committee’s work programme.

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.