Issue - meetings

To consider the report of the Corporate Manager Policy, Communications and Community Engagement.

Place Scrutiny Committee considered the report at its meeting on 9 June 2016 and its comments will be reported.

The report of the Corporate Manager Policy, Communications and Community Engagement was submitted to seek approval for an updated joint Devon district councils safeguarding policy and provide an update on safeguarding work that Exeter City Council was currently undertaking.

Members agreed that the responsibility for Safeguarding should be placed under the Portfolio Holder for Supporting Services.

Place Scrutiny Committee considered the report at its meeting on 9 June 2016 and its comments were reported.

RESOLVED that safeguarding be added to the Portfolio Holder Supporting Services responsibilities; and

RECOMMENDED that Council adopts the updated Joint Safeguarding Policy.

To consider the report of the Corporate Manager Policy/ Communications and Community Engagement.

The Corporate Manager Policy, Communications and Community Engagement sought the approval and endorsement of an updated and joint Devon District Councils’ Safeguarding Policy, as a result of recent changes in legislation.   Although the City Council has had its own Safeguarding, Children and Vulnerable Adults Policy since 2006, a joint policy had now been developed for all District Councils in Devon to work to and benefit from. Through the Policy, the City Council would be able to continue to fulfil important legal requirements to safeguard adults and children, as well as cover increasingly important and complex areas such as modern slavery, child exploitation, and violent extremism. The joint policy would provide a framework of understanding about what safeguarding was and the appropriate response across the county. The benefits of a Devon wide policy would enable the continuing support of Exeter’s many communities.  The report also outlined the various strands of work including the formation of a group of officers with key responsibility for safeguarding in order to develop clarity around the procedures and share learning and good practice.

A Member referred to the Policy and the approach regarding the individual roles of Devon County Council and the District Councils.  The Corporate Manager agreed to write to the Member to outline the further scope of the Policy.

Place Scrutiny Committee endorsed the Safeguarding Policy and requested Executive support for the adoption by Council of the updated joint Devon Districts Safeguarding Policy.