About
Every council with an executive management structure has to have an overview and scrutiny function. Somerset Council has appointed five scrutiny committees to perform this function: · Adults and Health · Children and Families · Climate and Place · Communities · Corporate and Resources The scrutiny committees each fulfil a check and challenge function for decisions and policies made by the Executive. Scrutiny Committee - Children and Families Functional areas that are the responsibility of the Committee are as follows: · Investing in and improving school facilities · Education, Training & Skills · Improving the health of children & young people · Supporting educational achievement and improved outcomes for children & young people · Improving young people’s prospects and skills · Delivery of Personalisation Agenda and Personal Budgets · Protect and care for the most vulnerable · Support and recruit more adopters and fosterers of children · Improve prospects of disadvantaged children and young people and their families, and those at risk of being disadvantaged · Specialist services for children with disabilities · Special Educational Needs · Safeguarding children · School admissions · Academy conversions. · Youth offending and targeted youth work · Early years and children’s centres · Appointment of school governors The membership of the Committee includes 2 co-opted church representatives, 2 co-opted parent governor representatives, 2 school governor representatives and 1 representative from the Schools Forum. These co-opted members have voting rights on education matters. For further details, please see the Constitution or email Democratic Services on democratic@somerset.gov.uk