Essex County Council failing vulnerable children

11.33.00pm GMT Thu 17th Dec 2009

Cllr Tom Smith-Hughes

Essex County Council has been rated by OFSTED as 'poorly performing' in children's services, particularly as regards safeguarding, for the second year running. At this week's meeting of the whole Council there was unanimous support for a Liberal Democrat motion requesting that all county councillors should make the safeguarding of vulnerable children the highest priority.

Liberal Democrat Leader at County Hall, Cllr Tom Smith-Hughes, said:

"There can be no higher priority on a council than looking after the most vulnerable. It is worrying that progress made in the last 12 months in response to concerns about procedures for safeguarding vulnerable children has been disappointingly slow.

"This is an urgent wake-up call to the council, which it was clear at the Council meeting was recognised by the ruling Conservative administration.

"I was pleased that the council accepted the need for all councillors to be regularly informed of steps and progress being made, so that the public of Essex can have some faith that the major shortcomings identified are being rectified as a matter of urgency."