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CHILDREN'S 76 this Committee agree to make provision in revenue estimates for continuing, on a proportionate basis, the financial aid at present being afforded by Middlesex County Council to the extent shown hereunder to the Voluntary Organisations respectively named, viz.: — £ The Middlesex Association for the Blind ... ... 150 approx. The Southern Regional Association for the Blind ... 49 approx. Middlesex and Surrey League for the Hard of Hearing ... 150 approx. 27. Appointment of Deputy Welfare Officer: RESOLVED: That the Com mittee note the appointment by the Establishment Committee (Appointments Sub-Committee) on 16th November, 1964, of Mr. Henry James Vagg to this post (Scales A/B). (The meeting dosed at 9.10 p.m.) c Chairman. CHILDREN'S COMMITTEE: 30th December, 1964. Present: Councillors Mrs. Nott Cock (in the Chair), Cohen, G. Da vies, Mrs. Edwards, Mrs. Haslam, Mrs. Rees, Rouse, Tackley and B. C. A. Turner. PART I.—RECOMMENDATIONS.—NIL. PART n.—MINUTES. 10. Minutes: RESOLVED: That the minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 30th September, 1964, having been circulated, be taken as read and signed as a correct record. 11. Appointment of Children's Officer: RESOLVED: That the Committee re ceive the report of the Town Clerk that the London Borough of Harrow Appointments Sub-Committee on 16th November, 1964, appointed Miss C. L. J. S. Boag, at present Area Children's Officer Middlesex County Coun cil, to the post of Children's Officer in the Department of the Medical Officer of Health with effect from 1st April, 1965, at a salary in accordance with lettered Grades C/D. 12. Allocation of Stanmore Residential Nursery: With reference to resolu tion 7 (30th September, 1964), the Town Clerk reported that the London Borough of Brent had declined to meet representatives of this Committee to discuss the allocation of the Stanmore Residential Nursery and that the Committee's representations that this nursery should be allocated to Harrow had accordingly been forwarded direct to the Home Office. RESOLVED: That the report be received and that the Town Clerk be asked to urge the Home Office to make a decision upon the allocation of these premises. 77 CHILDREN'S 13. Allocation of Children's Service Properties: RESOLVED: That the Com mittee note the representations made by the London Boroughs of Brent and Hillingdon upon the Middlesex County Council's suggested allocation of Children's Service Properties generally and agree to take no action thereon at the present time. 14. Transfer of Responsibility for Children in Care on 31st March, 1965: The Town Clerk reported that among the functions relating to the Children's Service in Greater London which would be transferred to the London Borough Councils on 1st April, 1965, was the statutory responsibility for children in care of the existing authorities immediately before the Appointed Day and submitted a memorandum by the Home Office and a report of the Middlesex County Children's Officer upon the principles involved in such transfer. As the Home Office wished to have the Council's observations by the 21st December, 1964, the Chairman authorised the Town Clerk to inform the Home Office that Harrow considered that the children should be al located on the basis of " area of origin " being the practice currently in force in Middlesex. RESOLVED: That the Committee confirm the action of the Chairman. 15. Children's Services in Greater London: The Town Clerk reported that the Home Secretary had invited the Greater London Council, in common with the Councils of the peripheral Counties and the Local Authority As sociations concerned, to express its view on certain proposals affecting the future administration of the Children's Services in Greater London. The Home Secretary had received suggestions that legislation should be intro duced to change the arrangements which were made by the London Govern ment Act, 1963, for the transfer of the Children's Service in Greater London to the London Borough Councils on 1st April, 1965. The changes suggested would not affect the responsibility of the London Borough Councils for the day to day running of the Children's service or the statutory responsibility of the Borough Councils towards the Children's care. They would however confer on the Greater London Council certain functions in relation to the Children's Service which it has been suggested, could more effectively be exercised over the whole or part of the area by a Central Authority and particularly relate to residential facilities such as remand homes, children's homes and hostels. The Town Clerk submitted a copy of the Home Office memorandum outlining the proposals together with views of the London Boroughs Advis ory Body of Children's Officers and of the Children's Officer of the London County Council. He also reported that the Greater London Council at their meeting on 22nd December, 1964, approved the proposals and that the London Boroughs Committee by a majority vote of 13 votes to 11 votes, with eight Boroughs not represented, accepted the proposals in principle, and that the London Boroughs of Barnet and Hillingdon had strongly repre sented against the proposals. RESOLVED: (1) That the Committee strongly oppose any diminution of the powers granted by the London Government Act, 1963, and resist the suggestion that any Children's powers already granted to the London Borough Councils by the London Government Act, 1963, should be con ferred on the Greater London Council as they consider that the London Boroughs are fully competent to administer this service as a whole. LIBRARIES 78 (2) That the Town Clerk be authorised to convey these views to the Mem bers of Parliament for Harrow, the Harrow Representatives on the Greater London Council and the Under Secretary of State, Home Office. (Note: Councillors Cohen, G. Davies and Mrs. Edwards voted against this resolution.) 16. Appointment of Persons to Employment Involving the Care of Children: RESOLVED: That the Committee receive and note the Home Office circular 250/1964 dated 27th October, 1964, reminding Local Authorities of the desirability of taking up references and consulting the Home Office as to their suitability before appointing persons to Child Care Work. 17. Co-opted Members: RESOLVED: That the Committee receive with thanks and appreciation a letter from Mr. V. G. S. Ashworth, Senior Pro bation Officer in Harrow, offering the co-operation of the Probation Service to the Children's Committee; but defer for the time being the question of the co-option of Mr. Ashworth upon the Committee. 18. Date of Next Meeting: RESOLVED: That, because of a clash of member ship, the Committee agreed that the next meeting of the Committee be trans ferred from Monday, 22nd February, 1965 to Thursday, 25th February, 1965, at 8 p.m. (Note: The meeting ended at 8.10 /> m.) Chairman. LIBRARIES COMMITTEE: llth December, 1964. Present: Councillor Tackley (in the Chair); Alderman Gange, J.P.; Coun cillors Cocksedge, Mrs. Debell, Harkett, M.D. Hartley Hill, Judge and O'Loughlin, C.C. PART I.—RECOMMENDATIONS. RECOMMENDATION I: Public Libraries Act, 1901: Section 3: Byelaws and Regulations Governing Libraries in the Borough. It is essential that the Council should approve, and adopt, prior to 1st April, 1965, Byelaws and Regulations for regulating the use and for the proper con trol and protection of their Public Libraries on and after that date. The draft Byelaws printed in the appendix hereto, follow model byelaws issued by the Department of Education and Science. When considering the draft Byelaws reservations were expressed as to whether in paragraph 1 (d) of the draft Byelaws the definition of the term " book " was wide enough to in clude items such as films, tape-recordings and similar articles; after hearing the Town Clerk we are now satisfied on this point. We also recommend for adoption, the draft Regulations for the conduct and safety of the Public Libraries, a copy of which has been sent to each Member.