Agenda item

To agree the ambition for Rotherham to become a Child-Centred Borough, the establishment of a member-led working group to develop the actions and the publication of the Voice of the Child Lifestyle Survey report.

Report of the Strategic Director of Children and Young People’s Services

Cabinet Member:     Councillor Watson  and Roche

Commissioner:         Bradwell

Consideration was given to a report which set out the aspirations for Rotherham to become a borough which was recognisably child centred in the development of its policies, its community developments, its sports and leisure facilities and its service delivery.

It was reported that the aspiration was for Rotherham to become a place where it was clear that children and young people represented the most important investment that could be made to secure a vibrant, healthy and productive future for its people and for generations to come. The declared ambition for Rotherham sought for every child o have a positive start in life and a good childhood in order that they could grow into well adjusted, emotionally resilient individuals who would enjoy healthy and mutually respectful relationships in adulthood, become responsible citizens and be able to be good parents to their own children in time. It was noted that the first group of children who would need to benefit from the proposal were the children in the care of the Council and for whom the Council was the ‘Corporate Parent’.

It was noted that the Lifestyle Survey could provide insights into the experiences of children and young people and measure the success of plans to become a Child-Centred Borough. The paper set an aspiration for a Child-Centred Borough around six principles:

·         A focus on the rights and voice of the child;

·         Keeping children safe and healthy;

·         Ensuring children reach their potential;

·         An inclusive Borough;

·         Harnessing the resources of communities; and

·         A sense of place

Cabinet Members broadly supported the recommendations within the report and the six principles on which the Child-Centred Borough would be based. It was noted that the reduction in funding from central government for Public Health would impact on the support that could be provided to address such issues. Following a query, it was explained that three schools had not responded to the Lifestyle Survey due to workload issues and that those responses would be followed up.

Commissioner Bradwell indicated that there were excellent ideas within the report, but it would be imperative to avoid complacency for the vision to be achieved. It was considered essential to involve vulnerable young people in progressing the ideas within the report and the Member Working Group would need to seek to involve vulnerable young people who were not in formal education.

Commissioner Bradwell agreed:

(1)  The ambition for Rotherham to become a Child-Centred Borough.

(2)  The six priority principles of a Child-Centred Borough.

(3)  The establishment of a member-led working group to develop the actions to achieve the priorities for a Child-Centred Borough, including how impact would be measured.

(4)  The publication of the Voice of the Child Lifestyle Survey report, as a benchmark for future years’ monitoring of the success of the Child-Centred Borough ambitions in changing the experiences of children and young people in Rotherham.

(5)  A report on progress at regular intervals, commencing with a follow up report in October 2016.

(As this is a Commissioner decision, it is not subject to ‘call in’.)