Last week, in a shock announcement, Hampshire County Council said it plans to end its decade-old arrangement with the Isle of Wight Council to run the Island’s provision of children’s services.
As previously reported by Island Echo, Hampshire County Council said that the move was partially down to funding pressures and growing demand. It has been running children’s social care, school place planning, admissions and special educational needs support, after the Island’s services were ranked by Ofsted to be inadequate.
Councillor Richard Quigley, the Isle of Wight Council’s children’s services, education and skills scrutiny committee chair, said the Island has a lot to thank Hampshire for.
He said he was personally grateful for the tireless work of officers to make the necessary improvements, adding the end of the partnership is a sign of funding pressures on all Councils to manage statutory services, due to lack of government funding.
Cllr Quigley said the announcement represents an opportunity to build on the excellent work already done and to improve areas that aren’t so good like the special education needs provision.
Cllr Suzie Ellis, leader of the Conservative group, said it is a key issue and vital decisions made in the coming months will need to be carefully considered, including being prepared to take difficult decisions when needed.
She said it will be an opportunity to take a wider look at the way the Island provides its services and examine the benefits of running them as an authority instead of partnerships with mainland authorities.
Cllr Andrew Garratt, leader of the Liberal Democrats councillors, said there will now need to be a smooth transition and a chance for the Island to look at how it can deliver services firmly under its own control, which supports the capabilities and life chances of Island children with the excellent staff the Council has.
A joint Council statement said the Island is in a secure position, standards have improved and the Island’s overall leadership of children’s services has strengthened, resulting in a ‘good’ Ofsted outcome.
“Cllr Suzie Ellis, leader of the Conservative group, [said must be] prepared to take difficult decisions when needed”
In other words, make more cuts in line with Tory policy.
Councillor Richard Quigley, the Isle of Wight Council’s children’s services, education and skills scrutiny committee chair
the Island’s services were ranked by Ofsted to be inadequate.
sums it up – labour councillor as chair – no doubt more worried about how he can spend other peoples money, how he can get some more virtue signalling in and how he can personally look ok publicly, with plenty of window dressing and not much substance.
Tories need to cut spending as their millionaire mates need more money to deal with inflation.
Oh dear IWC are taking charge .. oh dear !!
‘Cllr Quigley said the announcement represents an opportunity to build on the excellent work already done’ – what rubbish, Hampshire has done great disservice to many children and families which have been treated like vermin, many forced into care to increase statistics and generate business for private Agencies, schools closing, Social Worker’s forced into high case loads and processes that do not benefit in any way other than give a false impression to Ofsted to look good. The Island is better off out,but probably Ofsted will mark us down again!.
The different political party’s have a go at each other when children are being affected shame on you all , I trust you all will have a good nights sleep
Poor children… If IOW failed before, what changes have been implemented? I’m hoping its all different staff from before when it was inadequate?