Draft Transcript 18.14 The first of these questions is from Mr Harron. Can we have your question please? 18.28 Thank you Madam Mayor. The last time I asked a question was the first time and I realised some of the limitations of the process in that you are limited to 50 words and you couldn’t give the context if you like so it was straight in. My question today is actually the supplementary question from the last meeting. The response from the Leader of the Council was that he would reflect on that in the weeks to come. He also said with respect to my first question that if there were any specific details he would be happy to take a representation. Two days later I emailed him that representation. I am still awaiting a response. I also told him I had submitted this question today so I hope he can give a really good answer. The question is: On 16.12.14 I offered RMBC two days for three months to help improve communication about Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE). Ian Thomas was in the meeting and he said: "There are thousands who want to help in a similar way." So my question again is Will the Leader ask Ian Thomas to give a written report about how he has used this help? 19.55 Mayor: Thank you. Councillor Read can I invite you to respond please. Thank you Mr Harron. I must apologise for missing your email. I was away before Christmas, so it possibly fell into that. I shall chase that up when I get back to the office. In relation to your question clearly I have only got your version of events that happened with Mr Thomas three years ago. My concern would be around the Council’s ability to communicate effectively about CSE which I am sure is a concern you share. My belief is that has improved significantly throughout that period of time. For example, amongst secondary school age children we survey each year about their awareness about CSE. In 2015 about half of pupils reported that they had been taught about CSE. That figure is now around 81% and for older students, Year 10 students the figure is now at 90%. For that reason and for a number of other reasons I believe that our communication is much better and my view is that it wouldn’t be a good use of the Director of Children’s Services time to produce a report in the way that you suggest. 21.11 21.16 Mr Harron would you like a supplementary. I think you have missed the point again. My question isn’t about any of that that you have responded to it’s about the use of people’s voluntary time and the fact that within six weeks of Mr Thomas arriving he claimed that thousands of people were wanting to help. It’s about the fact that in a time of austerity when people are wanting to help – and we know that Rotherham have got a good record of people helping. So I’m afraid you’ve missed the question, but in behind the question what I am asking about really is the integrity of the Head of Children’s Services. It’s about when he says he will do things, does he then actually follow it up. It was one question. So here’s another question about Ian Thomas. Mayor: So which is your supplementary This is my supplementary now. So those were just comments about the reply. So my supplementary question is: We know that Ian Thomas’s deputy was Jean Imray and she sat in this chamber on the 6th of September and presented a report. And councillors know, because I have emailed you about this, that Jean Imray claimed that a so-called independent expert gave her reasons for Rotherham returning fourteen hundred copies of this publication (Voices of Despair Voices of Hope) and this publication was discussed three years ago. So my question is Will you as leader please provide all councillors and myself with the name and position of the so called independent expert that gave these reasons to Ian Thomas? 23.03 23.07 Mr Harron I am familiar with the circumstances that you describe, I am aware that this is information that you have been trying to obtain from the Council. I am also aware that that is information that the Council doesn’t hold. And that you have pursued the appropriate procedure to obtain that information and the Council doesn’t have that information and therefore we cannot supply it to you. I have no reason to believe that anybody has acted in bad faith about that process.