Councillor to step down from policy lead role

POPULAR Argyll and Bute councillor Mary Jean Devon has announced she is to step down from her role as policy lead for health and social care integration.

Councillor Devon, who lives on Mull, will continue as local councillor for Oban South and the Isles.

She will also remain as a Children’s Champion for Argyll and Bute, a role that she is very passionate about.

She told the Oban Times: ‘I have built up years of experience in that role now and know what’s involved in helping young people in Argyll and Bute.’

Ms Devon believes people speaking up to protect children’s services and education is more important now than ever, with Argyll and Bute Council looking to save £9 million this year and more in years to come.

She said: ‘Some of the additional support needs, ASN, proposals should never have been put on the table and they caused panic.

‘Every child who enters school at whatever stage is assessed and if they are assessed as having additional needs they need to be supported. It’s a statutory obligation.’

Proposals to cut additional support needs in the region saw a public outcry that culminated in children and parents protesting outside the council’s headquarters at Kilmory Castle in November. The heated meeting, where cuts were being discussed, saw the proposed 45 per cent cut to ASN removed from the budget consultation.