Members were reminded that Brentwood Borough Council had a duty to comply with Section10 and 11 of the Children’s Act 2004 (and by implications sections 157 and 175 of the Education Act), and as part of the Southend, Essex and Thurrock (SET) procedures to work together to protect children, young people and vulnerable adults. The Council also had guidance from the Department of Health ‘No Secret: Guidance on developing multi-agency policies and procedures to protect vulnerable adults from abuse’, 2000.

Members noted that the Council had undertaken a number of self audits for both Children and Young People and Adults which has informed the Council’s Safeguarding Policies and Procedures. The outcome from the 2013 audit identified some areas of improvement, especially around some new emerging issues such as Domestic Violence; Honour Based Abuse and Female Genital Mutilation; Child Sexual Exploitation and Counter Terrorism.

Due to the number of new and emerging issues the Council’s own Safeguarding Policy and Procedures and Safeguarding Action Plan had been reviewed and revised for Member approval.

Cllr Chilvers MOVED and Cllr Mrs Squirrell SECONDED the recommendations in the report and it was agreed unanimously that:

1.  Members agree to the revised Safeguarding Policy and Procedures appended to the report.

2.  Members agree that Officers will implement the Safeguarding Action Plan 2015/16.

3.  Members recommend that the Strategic Safeguarding Lead be assigned to the (Acting) Chief Executive and the Safeguarding Member Champion be allocated to the Leader of the Council, to be agreed at Ordinary Council.