Extraordinary council meeting to take place following death of Sara Sharif
It follows a damning report that came out last month about the council's failings in protecting 10-year-old Sara Sharif before she was murdered
An extraordinary meeting of the Children, Families, Lifelong and Select Committee will take place on today (15 December) to scrutinise the review and develop recommendations.
It comes following a recent Child Safeguarding Practice Review showed institutional failures leading up to the murder of 10-year-old Sara Sharif
It is part of a motion that was unanimously approved at a council meeting last Tuesday (9 December)
The motion has three key aspects to it, firstly the meeting that is happening today, secondly an independent investigation into improvements made in children's services since Sara's death in 2023.
Thirdly a letter to the Secretary of State for Education and MPs locally to ask for urgent national action on safeguarding legal loopholes and legislative changes.
Jonathan Hulley, who is a cabinet member for Children's services, says he has faith in today's meeting, as well as the following investigation
"I'm quite sure that the work of the select committee and the work of the independent expert will identify what is already good practice which could be made even better."
Hulley also made a point of telling us that the council is entirely united in making sure there is never a scenario like this one ever again
"There is absolute cross-party determination and also determination by the directorate that we will learn the lessons of this tragedy, move forward and do everything we can to ensure this never happens again."
This sentiment was also backed by council leader Tim Oliver at the meeting last week
"We are all as members and indeed as officers here absolutely focused on finding any gaps in the way in which our services deliver but any safeguarding issues to make sure that as much as we're able to that this can never happen again."
Hulley added that the entire process following the motion and the review last month must be open and effective
"It's very important that it is both a thorough exercise and a transparent exercise and I'm confident, given the details and the motion, that it'll be both."