Issue - meetings

(1)       The Chairman reported and welcomed the news that Beverley Hughes MP, the Minister for Children and Young People, had made an announcement on reducing the placement of young people outside their home area, a move for which the Board had lobbied.

(2)       The Chairman and Democratic Services Officer reported the receipt of enquiries and compliments from other councils on the forward-looking way in which Kent had established its Children’s Champions Board four years ago, and on the work it had undertaken since.  Other councils admired Kent’s pioneering approach and were now starting to look at establishing similar boards.  This was a great tribute to the work that Members and officers had put into the Board.  The Democratic Services Officer would send the enquirers copies of the Board’s past Minutes and reports to illustrate its work.

(3)       There followed a brief discussion on how the Board could spread the message about its work to other County Council Members.  For example, the Board had tried to encourage the Children, Families and Education Policy Overview Committee to show the presentation it had seen on child pornography.  Although this issue had since been taken forward and was being addressed in other ways, it remained an area of concern for the Board and would continue to be monitored.