Surrey County Council to debate review following murder of Sara Sharif
A motion calls for an independent expert to review how the authority implements recommendations
Last updated 4 hours ago
A Surrey County Council meeting will debate calls for an external, independent expert to review how recommendations are implemented to improve children's social care following the murder of Sara Sharif in Woking in 2023.
Liberal Democrat Cllr Lance Spence is bringing forward a motion, which has cross party support, to outline the council's formal response.
Following the debate, there will be a vote on the motion.
A recent Child Safeguarding Practice Review into Sara's murder showed institutional failures across several agencies which undermined public trust on the ability of the authority to protect the most vulnerable children.
The review concluded there were several points in Sara's life, where different actions could and should have been taken and the system failed to keep her safe.
The motion, in response to the findings and recommendations of the review, sets out a way forward.
This includes an extraordinary meeting of the Children, Families, Lifelong and Select Committee will take place on 15 December to scrutinise the review and develop recommendation, appointing an external, independent expert to review the culture, systems and processes of the Children's Services directorate, against the findings and recommendations; and a commitment to improvements in quality assurance and workforce development and training.
It also asks the leader of the council to write to the Secretary of State for Education and MPs locally to ask for urgen national action on safeguarding legal loopholes and legislative changes.