A senior York councillor with responsibility for children’s services has been replaced on the council’s executive committee after a poor Ofsted report.
Cllr Ian Cuthberston, executive member for children, young people and education for the last three years, will no longer sit at the top table of councillors. Cllr Andrew Waller, currently economy and strategic planning chief, taking his place.
An Ofsted report published earlier this month found that the council’s children’s services department ‘requires improvement to be good’.
Inspectors said the pace of change at the council, which got the same rating in 2016, was too slow and that some children remained in neglectful situations for too long.
Cllr Cuthbertson will take on the role of licensing committee chairman after annual council on Thursday.
He said: “The past few years have posed significant challenges for children’s social services, for schools and our support staff both in dealing with Covid and in making big changes to our working arrangements.
“In 2020, I also found myself dealing with a serious health problem, but our amazing NHS helped me to overcome it. I am enormously proud of the work we have been able to carry out to improve children’s services in the city and also of our very capable staff.”
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The opposition York Labour group said Cllr Cuthbertson had been sacked from his education post.
Labour’s spokesperson for children, Cllr Bob Webb, said: “Once yet another bad Ofsted inspection confirmed children’s services in York were failing across many areas, I’m afraid the writing was on the wall for Cllr Cuthbertson.
“Holding political office must come with accountability and if someone is being paid public money and failing in their job, they must be replaced.”
“What’s most important is that these services are turned around as a priority,” he added.
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Cllr Waller said: “Having been a local school governor for 31 years, I am well aware of the challenges being faced by schools and children’s social care across the country. I look forward to continuing the vital improvement journey of the council’s children’s services.”
Cllr Ashley Mason, who has undertaken the historic civic role of the Sheriff of York for the past year, is the only new face on the executive.
He replaces Cllr Waller as executive member for economy and strategic planning.
Cllr Mason, who is also health services manager at St Peter’s School in Clifton, said: “Having had the opportunity to engage, listen and support local businesses and entrepreneurs over the past few years, I am well aware of the challenges facing our local economy. It is a crucial time for our city as we continue our recovery, building a sustainable and inclusive economy.”