CALLS for the Government to step in and tackle Worcestershire county council’s failing children’s services have been rejected in a stormy meeting at County Hall.
The county’s Labour group had called for the Secretary of State to step in following a damning report from education watchdog Ofsted which labelled the service ‘inadequate’.
Inspectors highlighted ‘widespread and serious failures’ in the services in a devastating blow to county chiefs coming just over six years after the council suffered an identical rating from a previous inspection.
Labour leader Councillor Peter McDonald (Lab, Beacon) slammed the findings and told the meeting last week that the blame lay with council leader Coun Simon Geraghty (Con, Worcester – Riverside) and his cabinet.
“This council failed to have the structures in place to set off the alarm bells to ring and without an Ofsted inspection it beggars belief what could have happened to those children in this authority’s care,” he said.
In response, Coun Marc Bayliss, cabinet member for Children and Families, said: “I am sorry the outcome of the Ofsted is not better than it is and I take my share of the responsibility for that.
“We will do better. This council must do better and it’s the number one priority for this authority.”
The meeting descended into controversy after council chairman Coun Tony Miller invited chief executive Clare Marchant to give a statement.
Labour councillors opposed the decision despite the meeting being advised by monitoring officer Simon Mallinson officers could be invited to speak at the behest of the chairman.
A heated debate resulted in the Labour group walking out during Ms Marchant’s statement in which she took responsibility for the failings.
A vote of no confidence in Ms Marchant was submitted following the return of the Labour councillors but was rejected by Mr Mallinson.
The motion asking for the Secretary of State to step in to tackle the problems was overwhelmingly rejected.
