Councillor Liz Simpson reminds us all that Council Policy has run out at the most difficult time for children since the 1950's

 

Councillor Liz Simpson who represents Newbiggin Central and East ward which is home to the largest number of children and families living in deprivation in the whole of Northumberland has reminded the Council that it's time to look at two major time expired policies which drive the Council's view of how to help children achieve and guide their needs going forward.

The Council's policy for early years which ran out in 2021 has had an update applied for the youngest people in society, it is ambitious and attempts to identify the individual needs of children. Its children's plan, covering all age groups, runs out this year. The numbers of children and families requiring to use the services covered by the policies have been very constant and covering consistent numbers for many years.

The recent social and economic changes facing families will scope even more children into categories covered by the policies. Numbers are expected to grow rapidly this year and sit at a much higher level in forthcoming years until wages and benefits catch up with the soaring rate of inflation.

Councillor Simpson said:"Due to the Government's cost of living crisis and the credit crunch we need to think hard and avoid a light touch update to policies that protect children and ensure we grown-ups elected as Councillors design essential change governance that will supply and increase the help to young people in need"

Experienced Councillors from the largest opposition group on the Council, Northumberland Labour, have offered their services to review Council policies but video evidence from the last full Council showed that the Conservative administration have no interest in sharing information and rejected the offer.

Councillor Simpson is rightly concerned that only Councillors from wealthier wards will contribute to the formation of the new policies and Labour will only be involved in the scrutiny of these documents, a very weak position to be in when policies are being designed. 

She also told us " these policies must be altered, possibly redesigned and stiffened to suit the changing needs of children and families at a time when the Council has lost its leading officer from Children's Services, Mrs McAvoy, to another local authority and the Conservative administration have broken into three infighting groups leaving me with no confidence that the correct improvements to help children through this disastrous period will be applied and we will end up with a great opportunity missed for both the Council and those we serve."