CHILDREN’S services in the town are on the agenda for this evening's full meeting of Darlington Borough Council.

Following a damning Ofsted report in September highlighting “serious failures” and an overall inadequate rating, scrutiny committees will report their findings so far.

Council documents published before the meeting reveal the number of ‘looked after’ children in Darlington is higher than the North-East and national average – at 190.

In the report, chair of children and young people’s scrutiny committee, CllrEleanor Lister, said: “The scrutiny committee is dedicated to giving children and young people the best start in life.”

However, more under-25s are admitted to hospital with unintentional and deliberate injuries in Darlington than the rest of the region.

Council members will also hear how reviews over the summer found an unmet demand for affordable after-school and holiday childcare for over eight year olds in particular.

And a similar lack of appropriate care for disabled children and young people also exists in the town.

Progress in plans to resettle ten Syrian refugee families announced by council leader Bill Dixon in September will also be heard at the Town Hall meeting.

Archdeacon and Priest of Holy Trinity Church Nick Barker is working with Darlington faith communities to welcome the families.

And a joint-effort by Public Health and the council will also hope to produce a plan to bring awareness to mental health issues in young people.

The proposal would see recommendations from the national Department of Health’s children’s mental health strategy, Future in Mind, brought into Darlington.