By Matt Jarram, Local Democracy Reporter
Nottingham City Council has paid out more than £200,000 to victims of sexual abuse after a highly critical report into its failure to protect children.
In July 2019 the Independent Investigation into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA) found both Nottingham City Council and Nottinghamshire County Council failed in their duties to protect children from abuse.
The inquiry had examined the sexual and physical abuse of youngsters in several children’s homes and foster care from the 1960s onwards, including the former Beechwood Children’s Home in Mapperley.
The crimes, dating back decades, first began to be made public in 2013 after several victims came forward. This led to hundreds of claims and several criminal trials.
In September 2019 IICSA called on the local authorities to draw up an action plan to ensure the best possible protection for children in the future.
On Thursday, July 29, the Children and Young People’s Scrutiny Committee met at Loxley House to determine if the plan was working – and if “lessons had been learnt”.
Catherine Underwood, corporate director of people at the council, told members the authority had reviewed all its carers, current and former, to ensure they pose no risk to children.
She said the review would be an ongoing process, with any notification of concern passed on to relevant authorities including the police.
Ms Underwood told the committee there was no evidence carers posed any risk to children.
The council also looked at external fostering provided by other agencies to make sure an independent review was carried out.
The meeting was told there have been 83 “incidents of concern” made since 2010, 75 of which have been “referred to one or more organisations”.
None of these related to an allegation of sexual abuse, the council said.
But Ms Underwood said since the inquiry the council has paid out £210,000 in damages as part of civil claims made against the authority.
The local authority says a further £374,368 will be used to support abuse survivors over the next three years, including offering therapy services.
Councillors at the meeting agreed the authority was addressing the problems highlighted in the IICA inquiry.
