Janet Higgins

Children and Families Strategic Partnership - Tuesday 30th September 2025 2:00pm

The Children and Families Strategic Partnership Board convened to discuss and approve the draft Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) and Alternative Provision (AP) Strategy for 2026-2029, receive the Staffordshire Safeguarding Children Partnership (SSCP) Annual Report 2024-25, and review the Children and Young People's Plan. The board approved the SEND and AP Strategy, subject to minor amendments, and accepted the SSCP Annual Report.

Property Sub-Committee - Wednesday 17th September 2025 2:00pm

The Staffordshire Council Property Sub-Committee met on Wednesday to discuss the lease of Blythe Bridge Library. The committee approved the letting of the library premises to Midlands Partnership NHS Foundation Trust (MPFT) for a five-year term at a peppercorn rent. The aim is for MPFT to run the library as a community managed facility.

Cabinet - Wednesday 17th September 2025 10:00am

Staffordshire County Council's cabinet met to discuss local government reorganisation, the visitor economy, and funding for local schools. The cabinet reluctantly voted to approve a proposal for local government reorganisation, and also voted to approve funding for an expansion of Thomas Alleynes High School. They also approved the creation of a framework for the appointment of political assistants.

Safeguarding and Education Overview and Scrutiny Committee - Thursday 11th September 2025 10:00am

The Safeguarding and Education Overview and Scrutiny Committee met to discuss the Staffordshire Safeguarding Children Partnership Annual Report 2024-25, and to review their work programme for the coming year. Councillors requested more detail on specific data points in the annual report, and suggested that future reports include information on the impact of financial pressures and staff shortages on safeguarding capacity, as well as a lessons learned and impact tracker. The committee agreed to form a working group to examine elective home education.

Special Committee Re: Appointment of Children and Families Posts - Friday 5th September 2025 9:00am

The Special Committee Re: Appointment of Children and Families Posts convened to conduct interviews for the Independent Reviewing Officer (IRO) and Child Protection Conference Chair positions. Following the interviews, the committee moved to exclude the public to discuss and make decisions on the appointments.