The Children, Families and Skills Scrutiny Committee is scheduled to convene on Wednesday, 16 September 2026. The meeting's agenda includes a review of the committee's constitution, membership, and terms of reference for the upcoming municipal year. Additionally, several key strategies and programmes concerning children and young people in Lancashire are scheduled for discussion.

Constitution, Membership, and Terms of Reference

The committee is set to consider its constitution, membership, and terms of reference for the 2026-27 municipal year. This includes noting the appointment of County Councillor Joanne Ash as Chair and County Councillor Peter Buckley as Deputy Chair. The report also outlines the committee's membership, following the County Council's Annual Meeting, and details the Children, Families and Skills Scrutiny Committee Terms of Reference, alongside the Cabinet Scrutiny Protocol.

Children and Young People's Participation and Co-production Strategy 2026-2029

A significant item on the agenda is the proposed Children and Young People's Participation and Co-production Strategy 2026-2029. This strategy aims to renew the council's commitment to ensuring children and young people are involved in decisions that affect them. It builds upon the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, specifically Article 12, and incorporates a greater emphasis on co-production, with the strategy being co-written by young people. The committee is invited to provide constructive feedback on the strategy before its consideration by Cabinet.

Corporate Parenting Strategy 2026-2030

The committee is also scheduled to review the proposed Corporate Parenting Strategy 2026-2030. This strategy outlines the shared vision, priorities, and commitments for Lancashire's corporate parenting responsibilities over the next four years. It expands the council's corporate parenting priorities from four to six areas, including participation, engagement and co-production; identity; home; preparation for adulthood; health, wellbeing and safety; and education, employment, and training. The committee will consider whether these priorities are sufficiently ambitious and focused on improving outcomes for children in care and care leavers.

Where Our Children Live Programme Update

A briefing note will be presented on the Where Our Children Live (WOCL) Programme, providing an update on progress made since October 2025. This programme is Lancashire County Council's long-term strategic response to national sufficiency challenges in children's residential care, aiming to increase in-house provision and reduce reliance on high-cost external placements. The briefing will cover the findings of a formal review of the programme, the current position, challenges encountered, and the next stages of delivery, with a focus on sufficiency, quality, and outcomes for children in residential care.

Work Programme and Recommendation Responses

The committee will also review its Work Programme for 2025-26 and consider the responses from Cabinet Members to recommendations made at previous meetings. This includes noting formal written responses to recommendations from meetings held on 3 December 2025, 14 January 2026, 25 February 2026, and 14 May 2026.

Furthermore, the committee will review and confirm its Work Programme for 2026-27. This programme outlines the planned activity for the forthcoming municipal year, focusing on children's social care, children's services, and education and skills.