A SENIOR councillor has attacked the leadership of Warrington borough council over the damning report on children’s services by Ofsted.
Coun Colin Froggatt, Labour’s spokesman on children’s services, says the council leader, Coun Ian Marks, the executive member for children’s services, Coun Sheila Woodyatt and the chief executive, Diana Terris should be “considering their positions.”
He said: “If I was in their position I would be resigning. Heads should roll.”
Coun Froggatt claimed the leadership of the council had failed in its duty to the most vulnerable children in the borough.
“They have starved the safeguarding and looked after children’s services of money, resources and attention,” he said.
Coun Froggatt (pictured) said the Ofsted findings – reported by Warrington-Worldwide yesterday (Friday) – clearly showed the failings which resulted in the authority being judged as “inadequate” in 15 key areas were not by frontline staff but by leadership and management.
He said the Labour group on the borough council would support the new director of children’s services, Kath O’Dwyer, who had joined the authority only days before the Ofsted inspection which led to the damning report.
“We hope she will be able to resolve the situation for the benefit of the children of Warrington,” he said.
Mrs O’Dwyer and interim head of safeguarding children Gill Rigg arrived in Warrington at the same time.
They both have previous experience of “turning around” failing children’s services in other areas.
Mrs O’Dwyer has admitted the Ofsted report makes “grim reading” but says all its recommendations for immediate action have already been implemented.
All other recommendations will be complied with in accordance with an Ofsted timetable.
She said: “We will take whatever action is necessary to ensure we have safe, supported and successful children and young people.”
Warrington currently has 260 children in care and 121 being safeguarded.
