Victoria Wilson

Safeguarding and Education Overview and Scrutiny Committee - Thursday 16th October 2025 10:00am

The Safeguarding and Education Overview and Scrutiny Committee met to discuss the SEND and Alternative Provision Improvement Plan, the pressures on the High Needs budget, and future work programmes. Councillor Janet Higgins, Cabinet Member for Education and SEND, presented an update on the progress and priorities of the Area SEND and Alternative Provision Improvement Plan. Members expressed concerns about early years intervention, the complexity of the EHCP process, and the increasing High Needs deficit.

County Council - Thursday 9th October 2025 10:00am

Staffordshire County Council met to discuss a range of issues, including the adoption of a new approach to environmental policy, the appointment of political assistants, highways maintenance, and the Community Fund. The council voted to rescind its climate emergency declaration made in 2019, but rejected a proposal to include percentage impact alongside financial impact in budget changes. Councillors also approved changes to the constitution regarding political assistant posts.

Special County Council Meeting, County Council - Thursday 9th October 2025 12:00pm

The Staffordshire County Council convened for a special meeting to bestow honours upon Sir Ian Dudson and sixteen former councillors. Sir Ian Dudson was granted the title of Honorary Freeman, and each of the sixteen former councillors were granted the title of Honorary Alderman, all in recognition of their distinguished service to Staffordshire.

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.