Extra checks for councillors on children’s committees

Dudley councillors with responsibility for children’s services will get extra checks into their background after cabinet members agreed government guidelines.

A meeting of Dudley Council’s cabinet on September 10 voted to adopt measures in a report which calls for enhanced checks by the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) for members of committees or other bodies with responsibility for children’s services or adult social care.

All Dudley councillors undergo a basic DBS check despite there being no legal requirement for authorities to carry out the investigation, which highlights past unspent convictions and cautions.

The enhanced check includes non-conviction information which is deemed relevant by police forces.

Speaking after the meeting, Cllr Kerry Lewis, who campaigned for the extra checks, said: “I welcome cabinet’s decision to introduce enhanced DBS checks for elected members serving in roles and on committees where they have particular responsibilities for children and vulnerable adults.

“In 2024, during my time as chairperson of the Children’s Scrutiny Committee, I put forward a recommendation that elected members holding these positions should undergo enhanced DBS checks. 

“Since then, I have continued to press for stronger safeguarding practices.

“Safeguarding children and vulnerable adults must always be a priority. Those entrusted with particular responsibilities towards them should be subject to appropriate checks and held to the highest standards of accountability.”

Some councillors however feel the current arrangements do not go far enough and all elected members should have enhanced checks.

Cllr Jackie Cowell said: “Each and every one of us can come across vulnerable adults.

“I have dealt with somebody who was very vulnerable, I have dealt with child abuse cases, I’ve dealt with people in old peoples’ homes but what we are saying is that just needs a basic check because I don’t sit on a particular committee.

“If you are going to do it, I think you should do it for everybody because we are all involved with those things and none of us know what is coming up tomorrow.”

The authority’s top legal office, Aftab Razzaq, told the committee the council was going as far as it could under the powers available but there was an option for checks to be enhanced in individual cases.