Agenda item

This report enables the committee to review the progress being made to implement the Committee recommendations following the Task & finish Inquiry.

(a)  Councillor Sue Lent (Cabinet Member, Early Years, Children and Families and Deputy Leader) will be in attendance and may wish to make a statement;

(b)  Tony Young (Director, Social Services) and Officers from the Directorate will present the report and be available to answer any questions members may have; and

(c)   Questions from Committee Members

The way forward for this item will be considered at the end of the meeting.

The Committee was advised the report provided an update on the progress being made to implement this Committee’s recommendations following its Task & Finish Inquiry into Child Sexual Exploitation.

The Chairperson welcomed Tony Young, Director Social Services and Jan Coles to the meeting.

The Committee was advised of the strands of work in place to support the process.  The CSE Prevention Strategy and implementation plan not only addressed all 13 of the Committee’s recommendations but also identified actions and timescales under five clear aims, namely:

• Understand
• Raise Awareness
• Identify
• Support
• Disrupt and prosecute

The Committee heard how the Council worked alongside partners to support the CSE Prevention Strategy along with the CSE interest Group.  Work was on-going in schools across the city to raise awareness and provide advice and support if required.  The night time economy was also a critical part of this process and work alongside taxi drivers were taking place to communicate information on CSE.

Members of the Committee were concerned with children using taxi’s and fare’s not being accepted, a current issues taking place in the city.  In response Officers’ explained that messages were being communicated to all organisations working in the night time economy along with alert issues.  Work was also on-going with Youth Services and NHS staff to flag and identify areas of concern.  Further work was required with all hotels in the city to raise awareness and how reporting mechanisms were supported.

The Home Office had visited Cardiff as part of the National Working Group (NWG) and positive feedback had been provided.

The Committee was advised that all communities and groups were being encouraged to engage in the process.  This was about building and developing trust in order to embrace safeguarding and protect the vulnerable.

AGREED – That the Chairperson writes on the Committee’s behalf to the Cabinet Member to convey their comments and observations.