A proposal for all Blackburn with Darwen’s councillors to undergo enhanced security checks for criminal convictions is to be debated tonight.

A report to the authority's Council Forum meeting, recommends the move in response to an independent review of the Disclosure and Barring Scheme (DBS) initiated by the government in February 2022.

It recommended all Unitary and Upper Tier local authorities (of which Blackburn with Darwen Council is one) undertake DBS checks on all elected members who are being considered for appointment to any committee involved in children’s services or services for vulnerable adults.

When the full 51 councillors meet at Blackburn Town Hall tonight they are being asked to agree to have an enhanced disclosure and barring service (DBS) check within three months of the scheme’s implementation.

Members are also being asked to consider lobbying the government to make Enhanced DBS Checks for all elected members of councils a legislative requirement.

The report advises councillors should be checked given their position in the community and the potential for vulnerable adults and children to share personal documents and information with them.

It says: “As part of our ongoing commitment to safeguarding and transparency within our local governance, the council is recommended to introduce enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks for all elected members.

“This new measure is hoped to help build public trust and ensure that those in positions of authority are held to the highest standards of integrity and accountability.”