Blog by Sean Houlston
The resignation of the Labour Council Leader and now the Executive Director of Children's Services has highlighted a severe crisis within the Labour-led Cheshire East Council.
Under Labour’s leadership, the Children's Services department not only accrued an enormous £80 million Special Educational Needs debt but also earned a damning "inadequate" rating from Ofsted. This failure represents a profound betrayal of the vulnerable children and families who rely on these essential services.
The financial mismanagement within Children's Services is alarming. The Local Government Association's peer review report has indicated that the council is close to bankruptcy. This dire situation shows the Labour-led council's inability to manage our taxpayers’ money and the impact of this crisis on our community cannot be overstated.
As a School Chair of Governors, I know that children with special educational needs are among the most vulnerable members of society, and they rely on the council to provide the support and services they need to thrive. The council's failure to do so not only hampers these children's development but also places an immense strain on their families, who are left to navigate a system that is clearly failing them.
The council's response to this crisis has been shameful but it is refreshing to see former Labour leader, Cllr Sam Corcoran accept some responsibility and resign. The lack of decisive action and clear direction from the council's leadership is a major cause for concern. At a time when our community needs strong, effective governance, the council has been unable to provide it.
The Children’s Services crisis in Cheshire East is a clear indication of the Labour-led council's incompetence and mismanagement. The resignation of key figures, financial mismanagement, and failure to provide essential services highlight a council that is failing its most vulnerable residents. Immediate and decisive action is needed to address this crisis and restore trust in the council's ability to serve our community.
The children and families of Cheshire deserve better than this.