This discussion document supports the collection of views from key stakeholders on the optimum delivery and governance arrangements for children’s services should the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government decide that there should be a reorganisation of local government in Northamptonshire.
On 10 May 2018, the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government issued Directions to Northamptonshire County Council. The Directions provided for Commissioners to exercise functions of the Council associated with governance and scrutiny, appointment of statutory officers and strategic financial management.
On 30 November, the Secretary of State for Education issued a Direction to the Council following the Ofsted focussed visit of 17 and 18 October 2018 which had concluded that services had significantly deteriorated since inspection in 2016. The Commissioners in a letter of 2 November 2018 also set out a number of concerns about the performance of children’s services and requested additional capacity for the Commissioner team to provide oversight of the operation of children’s services.
The Secretary of State has appointed Malcolm Newsam CBE as Commissioner for Children’s Services in Northamptonshire in brief to:
- secure immediate improvement in the authority’s delivery of children’s social care services;
- bring together views on the optimum delivery and governance arrangements for children’s services should the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government decide that there should be a reorganisation of local government in Northamptonshire.
On 29 November 2018, the government commenced a formal consultation on the proposed re-organisation of local government in Northamptonshire. This consultation seeks views on the proposal that Government received in August 2018 from seven of the eight Northamptonshire councils (the exception being Corby Borough Council) for local government reorganisation.
Please find the full discussion document on the PDF...