Meeting documents

To receive update from the Chair of the Task and Finish Group – ‘Continuity of Children’s Services through Local Government Reorganisation in Somerset’

The Chair provided a brief verbal update on the Task and Finish Group – Continuity of Children’s’ Services through Local Government Reorganisation, which the advisory board noted. It was also agreed that the full statement will be shared with members and is set out below: -

The Task and Finish Group (Continuity of Children’s Services through Local Government Reorganisation in Somerset) met on Tuesday 11 January to consider the current progress made and to think about the next steps. The Task and Finish Group members reflected on the significant amount of work this review would involve and the impending Council elections. The elections and the proximity of the pre-election notice period (beginning on 21 March) meant there were now only 2 scheduled meetings of the Committee before the pre-election notice period begins. 

The group also acknowledged the officer led work already underway in the LGR process. 

After carefulconsideration the Task and Finish Group members agreed that it would be very difficult for them to complete and conclude the evidence gathering aspect of the review, then interpret that information in a timely manner and make appropriate recommendations, as such they strongly believed the review would benefit from a robust process and specific input from children’s services. The Task and Finish Group felt that, in their opinion as members of this group and Children and Families Scrutiny Committee, that it would be more advantageous to the young people and families for the newly formed joint scrutiny committee, to take up and include this Task and Finish review into the transition work for children’s services, in their forward programme of business. 

The members of the group thanked officers and members that went out of their way to help the review.