As a local Councillor one of the great pleasures is seeing communities work and interact with each other. I know I am biased but I believe and contrary to popular belief, that Thornhill the ward I represent operates a very successful community.
Typified by fete last weekend.
Education in The city
Diversification to other organisations or providers is not the simple answer for children’s services in the city of Southampton. However it appears ok for the current Southampton city administration. Allowing schools to expand at the detriment to other service providers and continuing the divisive competition culture in schools is, and will only, damage the ability for the city to provide an effective and comprehensive education and social service.
However, this is the fundamental problem with Tory policy on children. It does not recognize that the local authority is no longer in charge of schools but it is ultimately responsible for the welfare of every non adult, from zero to nineteen. This change of approach from a local education authority to a local council as a vast corporate parent is fundamental to the overall well being of every child. The policy, masterminded by a Labour government, states exactly what it is “Every Child Matters”. Labour contrary to popular belief who has not forgotten that society’s major disease is poverty, both social and financial? A malady whose only real cure is prevention, hence the change for local government, from an “overseeing” local education authority to a provider and commissioner of children’s services, whose job is to ensure children are nurtured, guided and protected.
Programs of prevention like; parent support, Family, Children and Sure Start centers are all part of changing how children are cared for and are helped to reach their full potential. Services, it appears, that this Tory administration is cutting and would like to cut further. I find it bizarre that money is spent money giving uniformed volunteers and the over sixty fives council tax discounts, whilst the opportunity to provide all children with free school meals and a healthy diet at a time of recession is rejected, even when money to support it is available from the Labour Government.
I believe that currently children services in the city are not addressing the five major aims set out by the Every Child Matters legislation. These must be at the forefront of everything the city council does, namely that every young person should; be healthy, safe, enjoy and achieve, make a positive contribution and achieve economic well-being. This is not happening as a result of a Tory policy of the “professionals know best” and “we don’t interfere”.
There has been, and will be more, investment in buildings, management structures, responses to population changes and reviews of grants but no investment in what is really needed; the effective integration of schools, youth, social, policing and prevention services. No investment in policy to provide long term goals or organization that would go along way to making disasters like baby P a thing of the past.
This is not the fault of those trying to provide the services but of the failure of leadership and political management. I know from experience that a cabinet member must lead from the front, think long term and realize that the local authority has to be the standard bearer of change.
Talking to Governors in the city has shown how this “stand back” policy can be so erroneous, as the biggest complaint is about how poor the support from the city is for those in the front line of child care and education, particularly in provision of services like human resources, ICT and finance.
The legal responsibilities now laid at the Cabinet Members door means the politicians must be proactive in providing locally centered and integrated; care, social support, health support and education services.
As I write this, the Cabinet Member for Children Services has just resigned and I wonder if his replacements realise the enormity of getting it right locally, as I believe the City’s economic and social future does rely on making Young Peoples and Children’s Services effective.
