That the revised safeguarding partnership arrangements for Torbay as set out in the submitted report be noted and that the establishment of a dedicated Safeguarding Children Partnership for Torbay be approved.

The Children and Social Work Act 2017 legislated for new arrangements for safeguarding children.  The new arrangements for Torbay replace the current local safeguarding children boards with a new Safeguarding Children Partnership.  The Act names the statutory partners as the local authorities, the police and clinical commissioning groups.

There were no alternative options considered.

This decision will come into force and may be implemented on 24 August 2020 unless the call-in procedure is triggered (as set out in the Standing Orders in relation to Overview and Scrutiny).

The Plymouth and Torbay Safeguarding Children Partnership was established to provide the statutory safeguarding function to the Plymouth and Torbay Council areas at a time when the social care services were accountable to one integrated Director.  An independent review of current arrangements recommended changes in light of Torbay and Plymouth assuming their own statutory responsibilities.  Further the new arrangements comply entirely with the most recent government guidance on the future of safeguarding arrangements set out in revised legislation.

Councillor Steve Darling proposed and Councillor Cowell seconded a motion that was unanimously agreed by the Cabinet as set out above.

None.