Agenda item

Report of the City & Hackney Safeguarding Children Partnership Board.

The Committee received a report of the City & Hackney Safeguarding Children Partnership Board, concerning their Annual Report for 2024/25 which provided an overview of the partnership’s activities, progress, challenges, and future priorities in safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children in the City of London and London Borough of Hackney.

A Member requested that the Annual Report for 2025/26 include comments on the City Corporation’s Housing Service. It was also requested that it include reflections on the impacts of Awaab’s Law, and actions taken by the City Corporation and London Borough of Hackney. Members were reassured that the City Corporation’s response to Awaab’s Law had been tested by the Board, and the report next year could look to strengthen the narrative in this area.

The accuracy of the figure of 23.2% of children in primary school in receipt of free school meals was queried, as all children in a primary state school in London were eligible for free school meals. The response was that data was provided by the Board’s partners, in this case, from the Aldgate School census. The data likely reflected those children who were eligible for free school meals under a certain criterion, but it was acknowledged that it should be caveated that this figure may be for children who had applied for the free school meals but did not necessarily cover all who were eligible.

It was noted that there had been an increase in contact of the Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO), who was responsible for any allegations made against any professional working with children. This was in part consequence of the LADO’s extended reach, raised level of awareness, and stronger profile in the City of London, as not all reports resulted in formal action. It was acknowledged that the timescales of some assessments had gone beyond the 45 days, but these were small numbers and had been signed off to go beyond this timeframe given the particular circumstances of the families involved.

RESOLVED: - that the report be received, and its contents noted.