THURROCK Council has reported an improvement in the management of children in its care, particularly in keeping track of young people.

However, in the second quarter of the current administrative year 18 children have still been 'lost' by the council.

The authority came under significant scrutiny over the past year because of the number of children it has been unable to keep track of and that has resulted in tighter management and more liaison with Essex Police to find missing children.

Comparatively, year on year there were 13 less missing children and the number of missing children cases that were investigated has dropped from 110 to 90.

Next week's meeting of the council's corporate parenting committee will be asked to note the improvements along with a raft of other information about the performance of its children's services department in dealing with children put in care of the council.

That number of children includes a significant number of unacompanied asylum seeking children.

The full report on missing that will be put before the meeting on Tuesday, 5 January - when a full report on children's social care compiled by business intelligence analysts Anna Watkins will also be reported, can be found here.

Overall the committee will hear that the council provides a service to approximately 300 looked after children and approximately 275 care leavers. It is reported there is good overall performance in the service.