Councillor Ros Freeman has resigned as Chair and Lead of the Isle of Wight Council’s Children’s Services Committee, revealing that she faced ‘continual obstacles and opposition from various directions’ while trying to progress initiatives.
The Lake South councillor has stepped away from the role after spending the past 5 months working with parents, children and families across the Isle of Wight.
During her time as Chair and Lead, Councillor Freeman chaired the Parenting & Partnership Board and sat on additional children’s committees.
She said she had thoroughly enjoyed striving for better outcomes for children, parents and families on the Isle of Wight.
Explaining more about her decision to step away, Councillor Freeman has said:
“My sole purpose in seeking the position of Chair and Lead for Children’s Services was to make a positive and meaningful difference to the lives of children on the Island.
“Unfortunately, it became increasingly evident that, regardless of how hard I worked or the initiatives I sought to progress, there were continual obstacles and opposition from various directions.”
Most recently, Councillor Freeman put forward a motion to explore potential new homes for children in care, which would allow more youngsters to remain on the Isle of Wight.
The proposal aims to reduce stress on children and their families while also saving the Isle of Wight Council money.
Referring to the proposal, Councillor Freeman said:
“I respectfully invite you to read the motion I presented to Full Council on the 16th of September to understand my proposal in full, which will now be considered by the CSES Committee.”
Councillor Freeman said she is keen to see the Children’s Services Committee progress the option in a bid to improve outcomes for Island children.
She has also thanked the Director of Children’s Services and his team for their support and guidance during the past 5 months, describing working with them as a ‘huge pleasure’ and wishing the team well for the future.
Councillor Freeman added:
“I would, however, like to reiterate that throughout this time I had the full support of the Director of Children’s Services and his team, as well as the support of my colleagues at Reform.”
Following her resignation from the Children’s Services role, Councillor Freeman will refocus her efforts on representing residents in Lake South.
She says her attention will now be directed towards ensuring residents have the effective local representation she pledged during her campaigning earlier this year.
“No reason for her departure has been given”
I don’t think that you have to look very far to have some idea why she has resigned.
On 16 September Councillor Love stated to the Full Council:
“he and many members of the LGBT community “no longer feel safe” on the Island” and also “Why do I feel frightened now? You have created hatred and bad feeling.”
On the day that story was published on Island Echo, those hideous remarks of attention seeker Love were endorsed by those well balanced contributors to this site, Wokerati, Sunshine, Marcus and perhaps the icing on the cake Enough is Enough – he of the blancmange brain posts under 10 different identities.
Quelle surprise!
Would not be surprised if another supporter (or 20) found out where Councillor Freeman lives and took it further.
Meantime leave the “No reason for her departure has been given” get out clause up there and the usual suspects will no doubt illustrate THEIR hatred in the usual fashion.
Excuse me?
The piece in question was 22nd Sept, and my comment was to question the fact that 15 councillors had abstained from the vote to remove flags from county hall. Nowhere was Roz Freemans name mentioned. Neither did I endorse Karl Love.
I’m not exactly sure what I and other well balanced contributors are being accused of here, but it smells rather like a dog-whistle shit stir operation to imply that I might be responsible for some form of vigilante action on the woman.
So I’ll state this clearly: I do not, never have, and never would stalk another person, no matter what political persuasion, their transgressions either perceived or real, or their identity either online or in person and target them.
I do not discriminate against anyone or anything. I disagree with much, but treat every single person with the same universal consideration. I do not do hatred in any way shape or form. Neither do I do vigilante-ism.
I’ll leave that sort of behaviour to the likes of you. Apparently.
My own comment on the story in question was:
No endorsement of any Councillor.
But we must remember that Reform UK and their supporters inhabit a Trumpian “post-truth” dystopia where disinformation is king.
Thank you for recognising that my contributions are well-balanced.
It is Reform UK policy to repeal the Equality Act 2010.
That Act protects people from discrimination, harassment and victimisation in the grounds of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation.
With that in mind I can perfectly understand the fear of those people from groups who’ve previously been treated unequally on the basis of protected characteristics feeling concerned for the future.
I can’t imagine why anyone would want to discriminate against another. But some people do. That’s why protections need enshrining in law.
As for Freeman’s departure, it is evident she was unsuited to the leadership role she was in. The responsibility of leadership is to overcome “obstacles and opposition”, not to walk away from them.
Yet another example of Reform UK being unsuited to public office.
It is perfectly clear that Cllr Freeman is another Reform Cllr who has bitten off more than she can chew. Trying to deflect attention from his failure by making a song and dance about the remarks made by Cllr Love which I supported is a red herring. All across the country we are seeing Reform Cllrs standing down in various ways because they have realised they are not up to the job. But deflection a la Trump is Reform’s stock in trade.
Yet more proof Reform haven’t got in in them to lead.
From what I see they cannot even keep their dogs on a lead
when taking their dogs for a walk, many don’t even pick up the
sh*t!
Lol
Could it be that these Deformists don’t actually want to do any work?
I fundamentally disagree with the whole ideology and morality of Reform UK, but I think it’s unkind and unfair to suggest they don’t want to do any work.
I truly believe that they are very strongly motivated to change the UK political landscape.
In their view for the better, in my view very much for the worse, but motivated they most certainly are.
As a new party, what they lack is not will, but strength in depth, understanding of governance processes and procedures and experience of leadership either locally or nationally.
In their desperation to win seats they’ve allowed anyone to stand without ensuring that they have the capability and capacity to deliver on their malign agenda.
So I think they want to do the work. I simply believe they are incapable of doing it.
Lack of education is the reason.
Reformers are not the brightest bunch.
I notice, as per usual, it’s all Leftie comments. The silent majority stay – SILENT!!! The poor woman obviously tried, but felt the loonies are just too powerful… This country is going to rainbow coloured sh**
Perhaps it’s time to start listening to the voices of the moderate left?
It’s hard to argue that the neoliberal economic model pushed by the right and centre for the last half a century or so has been a success.
Maybe it’s time to go back to some democratic socialist ideas that narrow rather than widen wealth inequality and all of the dire consequences of that inequality?
I suspect this is more that the penny has dropped that this job is the one that will have to front up the inevitable school closure decisions that are coming.
It was very noticeable at the annual meeting, when the thinly disguised deal between the independents and Reform became evident from the voting patterns, that despite bagging a batch of top jobs for their small group, the Education Chair was one that they didn’t take, and they were happy to let Reform drink from the poisoned chalice.