Councillor Paul Brading is to take over responsibility for Children’s Services on the Isle of Wight, the Leader of the Council, Councillor Dave Stewart, has announced during a meeting of the Cabinet this evening (Thursday).
The change sees Councillor Chris Whitehouse, who has held the position since January, step down to focus on his studies at Heythrop College, London, where he is preparing for the final stages of a postgraduate Master of Arts in Contemporary Ethics.
Speaking today, Cllr Stewart has said:
“The Isle of Wight Council owes a big ‘thank you’ to Chris for what he’s achieved in just four months: delivering a potential solution to saving secondary education in Sandown, developing and publishing a strategy for improving our schools, Delivering Educational Excellence, and creating a determined consensus to find a solution to the huge budget challenges at Christ the King College, but I fully understand his desire to focus on his studies at this crucial time.”
Cllr Whitehouse added:
“It’s been a pleasure and a privilege to lead on education for the Conservatives for four years now, but I have to admit that finalising four 4,000 word end of year essays by last Friday’s university deadline, whilst going through the local and general elections, was a bigger challenge than I’d ever anticipated. I now have to research and prepare a 15,000 word dissertation on a complex area of international human rights law, national legislation and ethics.
“The project, an analysis of discrimination against disabled babies under British abortion law, is the culmination of 34 years’ work for me, and it’s going to take most of my focus for the next few months. I want to leave it as a legacy to the next generation of those who campaign to defend the sanctity of human life. At the Leader’s request, I’ll also be working on special projects within the Conservative Group to ensure we maintain the momentum necessary to drive the Island forward to achieve its full potential after four wasted years under the previous shambolic ‘Independent’ administration.”
Cllr Brading said:
“Chris leaves a big pair of boots to step into, but I’m determined to give this vital role my every best effort. Our children deserve no less.”
