Fears for children ‘scaremongering’

Leaders hit back in shake-up row

NORTH YORKSHIRE: Claims that vulnerable children could fall through the gaps if the region does not adopt a single unitary council have been dismissed as “scaremongering”.

Ryedale Council leader Keane Duncan criticised Prof Maggie Atkinson after she raised concerns over the proposals as part of the devolution process.

CLAIMS that vulnerable children could fall through the gaps if North Yorkshire does not adopt a single unitary council have been described as “scaremongering” by a district council leader.

Ryedale Council leader Keane Duncan criticised Professor Maggie Atkinson after she raised concerns over the proposed creation of two authorities in the county as part of the devolution process.

After being told by Ministers that the two-tier system of local government must end, North Yorkshire County Council favours a single authority being set up, while district leaders are pushing for two authorities either side of the A1.

Professor Atkinson, the independent chair of the North Yorkshire Children’s Safeguarding Board, and Sir Martin Narey, chair of the North Yorkshire Coast Opportunity Area, both threw their weight behind the single unitary plan last week.

The Barnsley-born former Children’s Commissioner for England told The Yorkshire Post that if two or more unitary authorities were created, it would mean appointing new heads of service and splitting departments. “I can see no sense, not least about expense in this situation, but very importantly in terms of the ongoing quality of service, particularly for vulnerable children and to vulnerable families,” Prof Atkinson said.

“If you then split what you’re doing, what you inevitably have to do is, for example, decide who gets the children’s home, who gets which social workers, who gets which senior staff, and what happens to county-wide resources that have to be split in however many different directions, which is a massive distraction from offering services as offered now.”

But speaking on behalf of the seven district council leaders in North Yorkshire, Coun Duncan accused Prof Atkinson of “spreading fear by using vulnerable children”.

“Not only is it unwise for Professor Atkinson to become embroiled in the hottest of political issues, it’s extremely premature to do so before anyone has published their proposals,” he said.

“We should be sharing best practice across the whole area, listening to our parents and children, and most importantly, reassuring rather than scaremongering.”

In response, Prof Atkinson said she was “disappointed” by the councillors’ comments and that they had “chosen to do so in somewhat personal terms”.

“Given he is also a county councillor, Mr Duncan in particular will be aware I do not work for the county council, or any other safeguarding partnership organisation,” she said.

“By law, I am required to be independent and questioning, a status I go to some lengths to maintain. The same law requires that as independent scrutineer of the partnership, in which role I chair the executive, I make clear and when necessary public judgement calls on matters that may impact on children’s wellbeing. This is one such circumstance.”

Council leaders have until next month to submit their proposals to the Government.

It is unwise to get embroiled in the hottest of political issues. Ryedale Council leader Keane Duncan.