Children, Families and Skills Scrutiny Committee

Areas of responsibility:

a) Children's Social Care

b) Children's Services

c) Education and skills

In relation to the above areas of work, the committee's functions are as follows:

a) To review decisions made, or other action taken, in connection with the discharge of any functions which are undertaken by the Cabinet collectively or, in the case of urgent decisions which cannot await a Cabinet meeting, by the Leader (or in their absence the Deputy Leader) and the relevant Cabinet Members, or Cabinet committees.

b) To make reports or recommendations to the Full Council, the Cabinet, the Leader, Deputy Leader, or other Cabinet Members as necessary, or Cabinet committees with respect to the discharge of any functions which are undertaken by them or in respect of any functions which are not the responsibility of the Cabinet.

c) To hold general policy reviews and to assist in the development of future policies and strategies (whether requested by the Full Council or the Cabinet, individual Cabinet Members, Cabinet committees, or decided by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee itself) and, after consulting with any appropriate interested parties, to make recommendations to the Cabinet, individual Cabinet Members, Cabinet committees, Full Council, or external organisations as appropriate.

d) To request the Scrutiny Management Board to establish task groups, working groups and panels, as necessary.

e) To request the Scrutiny Management Board to establish joint working arrangements with district councils and other neighbouring authorities, as necessary.

f) To require any councillor, an Executive Director, or a senior officer nominated by them to attend any meeting of the committee to answer questions and discuss issues.

g) To invite to any meeting of the committee and permit to participate in discussion and debate, but not to vote, any person not a County Councillor or any external body whom the committee considers would assist it in carrying out its functions.

h) To draw up a forward programme of work in consultation with key stakeholders.

i) To fulfil all the statutory functions of an Overview and Scrutiny Committee as they relate to education functions of a Children’s Services Authority.