Issue - meetings

(i)            That Cabinet approve the reviewed and updated version of the Safeguarding Children and Adults at Risk of Abuse or Neglect Policy for the Borough Council in Newcastle-under-Lyme.

(ii)           That Cabinet approve the reviewed and updated version of the Workplace Domestic Abuse Policy for the Borough Council in Newcastle-under-Lyme.

(iii)          That the Leader of the Council write to the Borough MP’s asking that they raise Data Protection and Safeguarding in Parliament with a view to reviewing the respective laws.

A report was submitted to Cabinet to reaffirm the role of the Borough Council in safeguarding children and adults at risk of abuse and neglect and in supporting staff who may be affected by domestic abuse.

The Portfolio Holder for Community Safety and Wellbeing, Councillor Helena Maxfield stated that this was a revision of the Policy already in place.

Members’ attention was drawn to paragraph 2.1.3 which summarised the amendments to the Safeguarding Policy.

The previous holder of this Portfolio, Councillor Jill Waring advised that this was a statutory duty and that this Council was doing a good job in safeguarding Borough residents and Council staff.

The Leader stated that there were issues with data protection and referred to the Data Protection Act, 1998 and added that Parliament needed to look at the Data Protection Laws.  In respect of this, the Leader proposed an extra resolution (iii), that he write to the Newcastle Members of Parliament.

Councillor Northcott stated that the welfare and safety of children was paramount and barriers should be overcome to intervene when necessary.

A copy of the procedures was appended to the report.

Resolved:     (i)         That Cabinet approve the reviewed and updated version

            of the Safeguarding Children and Adults at Risk of Abuse or Neglect Policy for the Borough Council in Newcastle-under-Lyme.

(ii)          That Cabinet approve the reviewed and updated version of the Workplace Domestic Abuse Policy for the Borough Council in Newcastle-under-Lyme.

(iii)         That the Leader of the Council write to the Borough MP’s asking that they raise Data Protection and Safeguarding in Parliament with a view to reviewing the respective laws.