LIB DEMS PUT SERVICES FOR CHILDREN AT TOP OF COUNCIL AGENDA

10.20.41am GMT Tue 24th Feb 2009

Following the recent Annual performance assessment of services for Children, which showed that Torbay is providing services that meet "minimum requirements", Liberal Democrat Councillors Steve Darling and Jenny Faulkner have tabled 4 questions about how services can be improved.

Cllr Jenny Faulkner, who is the Council's Children's Champion for 'Making a Positive Contribution' has tabled the following questions:

1) The 2008 Annual Performance Assessment of Services for Children awarded Torbay an "adequate" rating.

According to the report, this means "Torbay Council delivers services for children and young people that meet minimum requirements."

Does the Cabinet Member agree that this rating is not a good news story for the Council?

2) Reducing teenage pregnancies was a Conservative election pledge.

Despite this, teenage pregnancies are rising from an already high level. According to the Annual Performance Assessment of services for children, the teenage conception rate is higher than for similar councils.

According to the report, "At the current level the Council will not meet the 2010 target for reducing teenage pregnancies." I understand that Torbay is in the bottom 11% of local authorities on this issue.

What actions is the administration taking on this issue as a result of the Annual Performance Assessment?

3) The recent Annual Performance Assessment of Services for Children highlighted that:

"Standards at the end of Key Stage 1 are below those in similar councils and nationally". Also,

Key Stage 2 results "remain below those nationally and are not catching up fast enough."

What actions are the Council taking to improve this situation?

Commenting on her questions, Cllr Faulkner said, "Providing services to our Children that only meet 'minimum' requirements is not good enough. If our Children do not get a good start in life then it can affect their lives forever. I look forward to hearing how the Council are going to improve services to Children quickly."

Councillor Darling's question is:

"The recent Annual Performance Assessment of Services for Children revealed that under the Staying Safe category, only 63% of core assessments were completed on time. According to the report this is "lower than that found among statistical neighbours and nationally."

The report also found that there is "Inadequate support for families following deregistration from the child protection register, leading to a high percentage of re-registrations especially in the area of neglect and emotional abuse."

How does the Council intend to manage these issues in light of the reductions in the Children's budget?"

Councillor Darling said: "As Councillors we are all corporate parents for the Children in Torbay. By only providing a minimum service the Council we are failing our Children. Slashing the budget for Children's services does not help. I look forward to the Council taking swift action."