PLANS to improve children’s services in Southampton are to come under regular scrutiny over the coming months.

Members of the Children and Families Scrutiny Panel at Southampton City Council are set to scrutinise  progress on the council’s plan aimed at improving the children’s service department.

The news comes as members of the panel quizzed civic chiefs for more than three hours on Thursday night as they discussed the outcome of an investigation into children’s services.

As reported, an independent inspector found “failings”within the services as well as a “culture of fear” and “unrealistic caseloads”.

The findings were revealed after a whistleblowing complaint.

At the special scrutiny meeting, panel members were presented with a number of actions set to be taken.

City bosses renewed their apologies over the “failings” found by the inspector and stressed that a number of changes have already been put in place.

Members of the panel quizzed civic chiefs over the findings, the current caseload and future budget as well as the further development and implementation of an action plan.

Both Cllr Lisa Mitchell and Cllr Mark Chaloner stressed the need to ensure that the panel will receive all the information available.

Cllr James Baillie also asked Cllr Darren Paffey, the cabinet member for children and learning, whether he was aware of the issues within the department.

Panel member Cllr Sharon Mintoff asked reassurance over the budget that will be available for the service in the future and repeatedly asked for the action plan to become a fixed item on the panel’s agenda.

Civic chiefs told members that work on the action plan is in progress and it aims to be co-produced with input not just from the directorate but also from managers and staff.

Members have been reassured that the caseload is reviewed daily.

John Harrison, director of finance, said: “There’s no way that there will be a budget put forward that leaves children with an unsafe system.”

Sandy Hopkins, the council’s chief executive, stressed the authority’s commitment to improve children’s services.

She reassured councillors that they will be given all the information needed in the future and that a more detailed action plan continues to emerge as managers and the chief executive meet regularly.

“The biggest concern will continue to be caseload and that is something that the current management team and director are very very keen to focus on. That has to be our absolute priority,”she added.

Cllr Darren Paffey said he was made aware of the whistleblowing complaint when it was appropriate for him to be informed.

He added: “I take responsibility for the political steer, for ensuring that there’s sufficient budget and I am clear that that is the responsibility that I carry. We are sorry for what happened and for what the report has found. We accepted the findings and have taken on board the recommendations.”