Jan 20, 2009
Labour Resignation Welcomed – but their Attitude hasn’t Changed
The Liberal Democrats on the Council have welcomed the announcement that Cllr Pete Ruhemann, Labour lead councillor for Children’s Services, is to resign after the devastating JAR Report on his department. However, they have criticised the manner of his departure and the personal attacks made by several leading Labour Councillors on their Liberal Democrat and Conservative opponents.
Speaking at the Cabinet meeting of Reading Borough Council, Cllr Gareth Epps, Liberal Democrat Group Leader on the Council, said,
“We welcome the opportunity of moving on, above all for the staff. However graceless, Cllr Ruhemann’s resignation offers that opportunity.
“The Council now needs to make sure the action plan is delivered, and that the staff involved feel supported, listened to and valued. I pay tribute to the way Michael Coughlin as Chief Executive has taken personal charge of implementing the action plan. We want to see the programme of external auditing continued to really make sure these problems are sorted out.”
Responding afterwards to comments by Labour councillors made during the meeting, Cllr Epps said,
“The statements of several Labour councillors at the Cabinet meeting were shameless and bring their office into disrepute. They continue to try and mislead the public rather than taking responsibility for what was a shocking lapse in standards.
“Our single goal throughout has been to ensure the highest possible standards in terms of child protection. We are determined to make sure the children in Reading are as safe as possible. Labour’s attitude on this shows how little they have changed.”
Cllr Kirsten Bayes, Liberal Democrat spokesperson on Education and Children’s Services, said:
“It is a shame that Cllr Ruhemann could not accept responsibility for the staggering decline in performance of the service which happened under his watch”.
Editors’s Note:
It is being claimed by Labour Councillors that there is an inconsistency in the approach to the JAR report in neighbouring Wokingham Borough Council, and in particular that Liberal Democrat Councillors in Wokingham have failed to call for the resignation of the respective Lead Member. In fact, the Lead Member for Children’s Services in Wokingham at the time of the inspection, Cllr Norman Jorgensen, is no longer in his post.
