Issue - meetings

Cllr L D Carter

Key Decision identified as Part B of the Final Commission and General Update in the Notice of Key Decisions published on 28 June 2019.

Councillor L D Carter, Cabinet Member for Finance, Commercial Services & the Borough Economy presented the report of the Commissioning Body in conjunction with the reports submitted at minute number CAB-14 and CAB-15.

The Commissioning Body’s previous report presented to Cabinet on 14 February 2019 had explained that the Commissioning Body’s Final Commission would be split into two parts, Part A being the process for the recruitment of the Chair of the Independent Inquiry into Telford Child Sexual Exploitation and Part B being the final Terms of Reference and design of the inquiry process, with input from the Chair of the Inquiry. The Final Commission was split in this way to enable the recruitment of the Chair to proceed without delay, whilst allowing work on Part B to continue, ready to be finalised soon after the appointment of the Chair in order to minimise any possible delay.

The report detailed the Commissioning Body’s recruitment process which had led to the appointment of Tom Crowther QC as Chair and set out a general update on the Commissioning Body’s work to date.

Councillor Carter stated that the Council would do everything it could to facilitate the work of the Inquiry and would provide information as quickly and as efficiently as possible.  He continued by encouraging stakeholders to do the same and witnesses to come forward.  He thanked all those whose efforts had resulted in bringing together this stage of the Inquiry. 

The Leader noted that many, if not all, of the individuals present may give evidence to the Inquiry and, therefore, it was not deemed appropriate for comments to be taken on the three reports covered at minute numbers CAB-13, CAB-14 and CAB-15.  

RESOLVED that the Commissioning Body’s update on the recruitment and appointment of the independent Chair, and the general update on progress with establishing the Inquiry, as set out in the Appendix B Report, be noted.