SOMERSET NEWS: LibDems call for resignations over damning Ofsted inspection

A CALL has been made for the leader of Somerset County Council to resign after the authority received a damning report from Ofsted which branded children’s services in the county as “inadequate.”

Children’s Services at County Hall have been deemed inadequate since June 2013. Now the Liberal Democrat group at County Hall has said the council’s Conservative leadership has failed to improve standards to an adequate level since the investigation began and the Government has now called in Essex County Council to help them improve standards.

The Ofsted report criticises “oversight, scrutiny and challenge from corporate leaders including the Somerset’s Children’s Trust and Scrutiny panel have not been sufficiently robust.”

The LibDems now want the council leader, Cllr John Osman, and Cllr Francs Nicholson, the council’s children and families spokesman, to both stand down.

LibDem group leader, Cllr Jane Lock, said: “John Osman and Frances Nicholson have overseen the demise of the Children’s Services at Somerset County Council between them for the past six years. They can no longer be trusted to keep our children safe.”

“We are aware of the terrible failings, and it is a tragedy that so much time has been lost since the last inspection and this one is even worse. We welcome the fact that the Government is sending in advisors and the very recent appointment of Julian Wooster, the new director of children’s services.”

“We fear that the director of children services will not get the whole hearted leadership, direction and support of Cllr Osman, and other senior members of the Tory Cabinet.

“I call upon John Osman and Frances Nicholson to resign and to hand over power to a cross party crisis cabinet.”

Cllr Lock added: We need to get all Councillors involved in helping Julian Wooster and his team to take forward plans shaped around the inadequate areas found by Ofsted – leadership, quality, work force, early help and communications.”

PHOTOS: Somerset County Council leader, Cllr John Osman, and the council's spokesman for children and families, Cllr Frances Nicholson. The LibDems  have asked for them to resign because of a damning inspection from Ofsted into the county's inadequate children's services.

FURTHER STORY – Yeovil MP is appalled at council failing Somerset’s children: http://www.yeovilpress.co.uk/blog/2015/03/28/elections-yeovil-mp-is-appalled-at-council-failing-somerset-s-children/ .

FURTHER STORY – Essex County Council called in to sort out Somerset’s failing children’s services: http://www.yeovilpress.co.uk/blog/2015/03/28/somerset-news-essex-county-council-called-in-to-sort-out-somerset-s-failing-children-s-services/ .

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