The Scrutiny Committee of the Council of the Isles of Scilly met on Friday 12 June 2026 to discuss several key areas impacting the community. Scheduled discussions included an update on the Children's Services Improvement Plan, proposals for the Fire & Rescue Service's Community Risk Management Plan, the ongoing housing crisis, and an update on the new Integrated Health Facility and Adult Care Services.

Progress Update on Children's Services Improvement Plan

A report from the Director of People, Sue Butcher, was scheduled for discussion, outlining the progress made against the Children's Services Improvement Plan. This plan was developed following an Ofsted assessment that judged Children's Services as inadequate in 2023. The report aimed to provide a realistic assessment of current performance, highlighting areas of risk and the actions being taken to address them. The plan focuses on four core themes: The Right Help at the Right Time, Child's Voice and Social Work Practice, Effective Services and Provision, and Leadership, Management and Quality Assurance. Key priority actions included embedding the Working Together to Safeguard Children guidance, implementing a consistent Early Help approach, improving data and quality assurance systems, and strengthening multi-agency safeguarding practice. The report indicated that a revision of the improvement plan had led to a downgrading of many progress ratings, with 43.5% of actions showing little or no progress and 46.15% showing work started but with timescales at risk. The impact of these actions was also assessed, with 87.2% rated as having little or no impact. The report noted that a permanent leadership structure was now in place, with a permanent Director of Children's Services and an on-island Head of Children's Services.

Isles of Scilly Fire & Rescue Service - Proposal to Adopt a 5-Year Community Risk Management Plan

The Chief Fire Officer, Philip Martin, presented a proposal for the Isles of Scilly Fire & Rescue Service (IOSFRS) to adopt a 5-year Community Risk Management Plan (CRMP), moving away from the current 3-year cycle. This change is intended to align with practices in other UK Fire and Rescue Services and is compliant with the National Framework for Fire and Rescue Services. The move to a longer planning horizon is expected to improve strategic planning, provide greater stability and continuity, create efficiency gains by reducing the frequency of plan redevelopment, and enhance alignment with external partners. The CRMP will be produced in-house by IOSFRS to leverage local knowledge and expertise, avoiding external consultancy costs. The report recommended that Full Council approve the transition to a 5-year CRMP.

Housing Delivery: Update on Housing Crisis

Nicola Stinson, Strategic Director of Place, Economy and Environment, provided an update on the housing crisis declared by the Council in January 2022. The report highlighted that the Local Plan identifies a requirement for approximately 105 new homes between 2015 and 2030, but only 26 of the 75 granted permissions had commenced or been completed by March 2026. The housing register indicated a need for 41 homes, with a further 41 people on a self-build register. A commissioned Housing and Economic Needs Assessment (HENA) report found that local housing needs are not being met, with residents experiencing damp, mould, and overcrowding, and a reliance on short-term or makeshift accommodation. The report detailed progress on various housing delivery sites, including the Carn Thomas Secondary School site for 27 social rented homes, land adjacent to Ennor Farm for 12 self-builds, and the Park House redevelopment for 5 flats and 10 bedspaces. Discussions were also underway with a mainland housing association for 2-3 units off-island. The report noted the ongoing challenge of delivery and the subject of a multi-stakeholder workshop in June to discuss new ways of working.

Update on Integrated Health Facility and Adult Care Services

Darren De Lint, Interim Head of Adult Social Care Services, and Debbie Parrett, Registered Manager for Park House & Islands' View, presented an update on the new integrated health and social care facility, the 'Isles of Scilly Health and Care Partnership', due for completion in 2026. This facility aims to modernise service delivery through an integrated model of care, bringing together multidisciplinary teams. Weekly Multi-Disciplinary Team (MDT) meetings are held to coordinate care planning and risk assessment. The new facility, Islands' View, is designed to meet modern care standards, but its transition was delayed following a CQC inspection in March 2026. A revised CQC application was submitted on 1 June 2026. The report also detailed the current provision of Adult Care Services, noting the significant ageing demographic and complex care needs on the islands. The Adult Care Services team is operating with a high proportion of interim agency workers, which is not financially sustainable. A review of pay levels is underway to attract local individuals into the care sector. The repurposing of Park House as staff accommodation was approved to address recruitment barriers. Consideration was given to a day service at Islands' View, but the available space was found to be insufficient for CQC registration. The report also highlighted that due to full occupancy at Islands' View, there is no flexibility for respite or emergency admissions, requiring mainland arrangements. The facility will be registered to provide care for individuals with mild to moderate dementia, but not for advanced dementia. The report acknowledged that community expectations of care services exceed current capacity and that a clear, realistic local offer is being developed.