Leaders falling short again

MORE questions over whether LCC should have done more to lead schools during the pandemic, especially over whether schools should reopen.

Ultimately, the government made the decision - but not before lots of schools had gone back for a day.

The day before schools went back, County Hall said that, following advice from its public health experts, it would not be issuing a blanket closure notice – because infections in the area had not reached levels seen in the South East, where a new variant of coronavirus is spreading rapidly.

But, Conservative cabinet member Phillippa Williamson said it was ultimately for individual schools to make the decision, because they “know their circumstances best”.

So, essentially, piling yet more pressure on headteachers.

Labour’s Azhar Ali accused her of an “abdication of responsibility” – and said the very least parents deserved was confirmation they would not be fined if they chose to keep their children at home when their school opted to open.

“This is a total fudge – what’s the point of Lancashire County Council and what’s the point of County Cllr Williamson as the cabinet member when she can’t even say to parents that they will not be fined if they do not send their children in because of health and safety worries?”

No doubt the Tories will accuse Labour of turning the pandemic into a political row, but to do so would be a cop out on the part of the leadership.

At times of crisis, leaders (especially those paid to do so by the public purse) should step up and lead. Not for the first time, LCC’s leaders have been found falling short - and Cllr Ali is quite right to ask what they are doing.