The People Scrutiny Committee of Derbyshire Council was scheduled to discuss the Derbyshire Safeguarding Adults Board's Annual Report for 2024-2025, a consultation on the future of the Derbyshire Adult Community Education Service (DACES), and proposed redesigns to the Children's Services Home to School Transport Policy. The committee was also due to review its work programme for the upcoming year.

Derbyshire Safeguarding Adults Board's Annual Report 2024-2025

The committee was scheduled to consider the Derbyshire Safeguarding Adults Board's (DSAB) Annual Report for 2024-2025. The report details the board's activities, strategic priorities, and achievements over the past year. Key areas of focus included Making Safeguarding Personal (MSP), prevention strategies, performance monitoring, and quality assurance. The report outlines the DSAB's vision and mission to support and enable people in Derbyshire to make choices to stay safe and live free from harm, abuse, and exploitation. It details the work of various subgroups and working groups, including those focused on Safeguarding Adult Reviews (SARs), Mental Capacity Act (MCA), Policy and Procedures, and Financial Abuse. The report also presents safeguarding data for 2024-2025, showing an 11% increase in safeguarding adult referrals to 7,467, with 2,420 S.42 enquiries undertaken. It highlights that in 93% of cases, the risk of harm to the adult was completely removed or reduced. The report also includes assurance reports from partner agencies such as Derbyshire County Council Adult Social Care and Health, Derbyshire Constabulary, and Derby and Derbyshire Integrated Care Board, detailing their contributions and safeguarding efforts.

Derbyshire Adult Community Education Service (DACES) Consultation

A consultation regarding the future of the Derbyshire Adult Community Education Service (DACES) was scheduled for discussion. The purpose of this consultation, running from 15 December 2025 to 22 February 2026, is to gather public and stakeholder input on how further education and skills should be delivered in the future to ensure it is responsive, inclusive, and impactful for Derbyshire residents, particularly those who need its services most. The consultation explores priorities such as gaining essential skills for meaningful employment, supporting residents with skills gaps and complex needs in disadvantaged communities, and providing clear progression pathways into work. Three potential options for the future delivery of DACES were outlined: the Council directly delivering services and working with partners; the Council directly delivering alongside targeted commissioned programmes; and the Council ceasing direct provision and commissioning all learning programmes externally.

Children's Services Home to School Transport Policy Redesign

The committee was set to review proposed changes to the Children's Services Home to School Transport Policy. The aim of the policy redesign is to ensure fairness, transparency, support for independence, and compliance with legal requirements. The current transport service operates 1,140 routes daily for 10,000 children, with specific support for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) and low-income families. The review follows updated government guidance, with a 10-week public consultation planned. Proposed changes include renaming the policy to reflect wider coverage for all compulsory school-age children, revising charges for the Spare Seat Scheme, introducing pick-up points to reduce door-to-door transport, and clarifying eligibility criteria. For post-16 travel, there are proposals for enhanced support for SEND learners through Personal Travel Budgets (PTBs) and Independent Travel Training (ITT), alongside transport and cost adjustments. The consultation period was scheduled to exceed the statutory minimum, with final policies expected by April 2026.

Work Programme

The committee was also scheduled to review its proposed work programme for 2025/26. Potential items for discussion included a review of residential care homes and their impact on residents, issues surrounding the Youth Service and offending, placements for children in care, social services staff retention, and a comprehensive review of SEND and Inclusion, covering the Inclusion Framework, EHC plans, transitions to work, excluded pupils, attendance policies, SEND training, and the backlog of EHC plans.