'Heads should roll' at top of county council after damaging reports (From Western Telegraph)

'Heads should roll' at top of county council after damaging reports

4:20pm Sunday 28th August 2011 in News

Further calls have been made for senior members and officers of Pembrokeshire County Council to fall on their swords in the wake of scathing child safeguarding failures being made public.

Long-standing and systemic issues regarding allegations of professional abuse were uncovered and Pembrokeshire County Council was accused of putting its reputation before the safety of children.

Despite numerous damning issues being identified – including children not being listened to when making abuse allegations – council leader Cllr John Davies ruled out any resignations. He said they would “do what is necessary and not a knee-jerk reaction.”

That has led to four opposition county councillors writing a joint letter calling for the resignation of chief executive Bryn Parry-Jones, Cllr Davies and others.

The letter, signed by councillors Mike Williams, Tony Brinsden, Mike Stoddart and Viv Stoddart, says: “The Western Telegraph editorial in the wake of the two damning watchdog reports correctly says that if the top people at the council were running a business ‘heads would roll’.

“Leader John Davies says that safeguarding children has always been a priority – not so.

“As one report makes clear, the council put its reputation before the safety of children.

“There’s a catalogue of instances when this was the case, all under the watch of the leader Cllr Davies; chief executive Bryn Parry Jones; the director of social services, Jon Skone; and the cabinet member with responsibility for children Cllr Huw George.

“They should consider their positions.”

That position was backed up by Michael Howells, the respected former Pembrokeshire coroner.

In a letter to the Western Telegraph, Mr Howells said: “In the face of such a report, anyone with a shred of moral integrity would have immediately resigned. The events described happened on the watch of the chief cexecutive and the leader of the council. They carry the ultimate responsibility and only their resignations will adequately recognise that they accept that responsibility.”

Mr Howells added: “I also have to express surprise that the First Minister of the Welsh Government has not written to both of them ‘requesting’ their resignations.”