The Children's and Culture Scrutiny Committee met on Friday 17 July 2026 to review performance across various council services, including libraries, children's services, and safeguarding. Key discussions included the performance of the library service contract, service level performance reporting for the 2025-26 financial year, and the proposed performance framework for 2026-27. The committee also reviewed the Lincolnshire Safeguarding Children Partnership's annual report, the final evaluation of the Young Carers Scrutiny Review action plan, and the committee's work programme.

Library Service Contract Performance

The committee received an update on the tenth year of the library service contract with Greenwich Leisure Limited (GLL). The report highlighted strong performance across core, mobile, and digital services, with over 1.12 million visits and 2.44 million items borrowed. For the first time, digital interactions exceeded one million. Community use of libraries also reached a record 11,509 hours. While most Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) were met or exceeded, Public Network (PN) sessions saw a decrease, attributed to the introduction of a new printing solution and increased Wi-Fi usage as people use their own devices. The report also detailed the significant social value generated by the library service, estimated at over £26 million in the 2025-26 financial year. Councillors praised the report and the continued success of the library service, with particular attention given to the importance of computer access for residents and the social value calculations. The committee noted the ongoing development and proposed new contract for the library service.

Service Level Performance Reporting (2025-26 Quarter 4)

The committee reviewed the service level performance for children's and culture services as at the fourth quarter of the 2025-26 financial year. For children's services, performance was largely positive, with five measures exceeding targets and five achieving them. However, the rate of children in care and those subject to a child protection plan remained above target, though still lower than national and regional averages. Permanent exclusions also exceeded their target. For culture services, four out of five targets were exceeded, with significant growth in website visits and community use of libraries. The committee noted the underlying reasons for the unmet targets in children's services, including socioeconomic factors and the legacy of the COVID-19 pandemic, and discussed strategies for addressing these issues.

Scrutiny Committee Performance Framework (2026/27)

The committee considered the proposed performance framework for children's and culture services for the 2026-27 reporting period. The framework includes 13 targeted indicators, with eight relating to Children's Services and five to Culture Services. The proposed targets for children in care and child protection plans acknowledge the current increased demand, while still reflecting Lincolnshire's comparatively low rates. The framework aims to maintain continuity and allow for tracking of trends over time. Councillors raised points regarding the inclusion of specific areas such as SEND support, SEND transport, and EHCP processing times within the performance framework, and requested that these be considered for future reporting. Comments from the committee's discussion were to be shared with the Executive Councillor for Children's Services prior to the framework being determined.

Lincolnshire Safeguarding Children Partnership Annual Report (2025-26)

The committee reviewed the annual report of the Lincolnshire Safeguarding Children Partnership (LSCP), which details the partnership's activities in safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children in Lincolnshire during 2025-26. Key achievements included strengthened multi-agency oversight of child exploitation, increased involvement of the education sector, and a focus on enhancing emotional wellbeing through trauma-aware practices. The report also highlighted challenges, such as gaps in domestic abuse data and the need to embed neglect tools more effectively. The committee was assured of the partnership's activity and commitment to safeguarding children, and noted that a further annual update would be received in July 2027.

Young Carers Scrutiny Review Action Plan - Final Evaluation

The committee received the final evaluation of the implementation of recommendations from the Young Carers Scrutiny Review. Significant progress was noted in improving awareness, identification, and support for young carers across Lincolnshire. This included developing promotional materials with young carers, updating website content, and strengthening the Young Carer Champions network. Partner agencies, including GP practices and schools, have also enhanced their identification and support mechanisms. The committee endorsed the proposed communication strategy and agreed that the scrutiny action plan had been successfully delivered and could now be signed off, with ongoing support continuing through established business-as-usual arrangements.

Children's and Culture Scrutiny Committee Work Programme

The committee reviewed and agreed its work programme for future meetings. The programme included planned items such as the performance of the library service contract, service level performance reporting, the proposed performance framework for 2026/27, the Lincolnshire Safeguarding Children Partnership annual report, and the final evaluation of the Young Carers Scrutiny Review action plan. The committee also discussed potential future scrutiny activities, including the Lincolnshire Archives Development and the conclusion of the Lincoln Museum Development. The proposed work programme was agreed.