PAPER B
Purpose
: for Decision
REPORT
TO COUNCIL
Date : 21
JANUARY 2004
Title : APPOINTMENT OF STRATEGIC DIRECTOR OF CHILDREN’S
SERVICES
REPORT OF THE PORTFOLIO HOLDER FOR
RESOURCES
IMPLEMENTATION DATE : IMMEDIATE
SUMMARY/PURPOSE
1.
The Executive, at its meeting on 17 December 2003, resolved that a post
of Strategic Director of Children’s Services be established. This report
recommends that an Appointments Panel be convened to determine the arrangements
for and making the appointment to that post.
BACKGROUND
2.
At its meeting on 17 December 2003, the Executive considered a report on
the Government’s Green Paper on the future of Children’s Services entitled
‘Every Child Matters’. The Executive considered the report in light of the
Government’s clear intentions contained in the recent Queen’s Speech to
implement the recommendations set out in the Green Paper and considered that an
early start to tackling the implications would be highly sensible.
3.
One of the principal recommendations of the Green Paper is that Local
Authorities will be required to appoint a Strategic Director of Children’s
Services who will be accountable for education and children’s social services
and for overseeing services for children which have been delegated by the local
authority to other agencies. The Executive resolved that such a post be
established and the postholder identified by April 2004.
4.
Clearly, the formation of a ‘Children’s Services Directorate’ has
potential wide ranging HR implications. This is a matter that an Appointments
Panel comprising the Leader or Deputy Leader of the Council, the Portfolio
Holders for Resources, Education and Community Development, Social Services and
Housing, the relevant Select Committee Chairs and representatives from the two
main opposition groups, can determine.