To receive apologies for absence, including notifications of any changes to the membership of the Board.

a)         To receive declarations of non pecuniary interests in respect of items on this agenda

For reference:  Having declared their non pecuniary interest members may remain in the meeting and speak and, vote on the matter in question.  A completed disclosure of interests form should be returned to the Clerk before the conclusion of the meeting.

b)        To receive declarations of disclosable pecuniary interests in respect of items on this agenda

For reference:  Where a Member has a disclosable pecuniary interest he/she must leave the meeting during consideration of the item.  However, the Member may remain in the meeting to make representations, answer questions or give evidence if the public have a right to do so, but having done so the Member must then immediately leave the meeting, may not vote and must not improperly seek to influence the outcome of the matter.  A completed disclosure of interests form should be returned to the Clerk before the conclusion of the meeting.

(Please Note:  If Members and Officers wish to seek advice on any potential interests they may have, they should contact Governance Support or Legal Services prior to the meeting.)

To consider any other items that the Chairman decides are urgent.

To review the service changes at the St Margarets and Spires Hearing Impairment units following the Councillor call for action and to consider the petition on the closure of the unit at St Margarets referred by the Council.

Supporting Documents:

·         Statement from Torbay Council – response to Key Lines of Enquiry

·         Statement from NHS Devon on hearing statistics

·         Statement from The Spires

·         Statement from St Margarets

·         Petition wording

The following people have been invited to attend:

·         Cabinet Member for Children’s Services, Councillor Bye

·         Director of Children’s Services, Nancy Meehan

·         Su Smart, Director of Women and Children’s Improvement

·         NHS Devon

·         Alex Newton, Spires College

·         Katherine Hunt, SENCO, Spires College

·         Nicki O’Dwyer, Head of St Margarets

·         Martin Thacker, National Deaf Children’s Society

·         Felicity Morris, Petitioner

To review the draft Children's Services Self-Assessment which provides an annual position on performance of Children's Services.