Cardiff Post Article September 2008

Following a devastating report on the state of childrens services provided by Cardiff Council, widely reported in the media, my group colleagues and I felt that an urgent debate was needed by Councillors to discuss what measures needed to be put in place to improve performance.

As the Group Leader of Independent Councillors, I contacted opposition group leaders in the Labour and Conservative Groups asking for their support in our calls for a debate.n I was disgusted that neither group wished to have this debate at an Extraordinary Meeting of the Council.n Is it laziness or a dont care attitude?n The Council has a protocol in place which allows Councillors to ask the Lord Mayor to hold a special meeting of the Council when issues of importance arise.n My colleagues and I will continue to monitor the reports, and will ask a series of questions at the next Council Meeting to achieve responses from the Executive Member.n

As part of the furore surrounding Cardiffs dreadful performance, I listened with intent to the Chief Executive of the British Union of Social Workers.n He spoke candidly about the situation in Cardiff with the shortage of social workers and felt that they often worked in a climate of fear and that a lack of support by management was detrimental.n If this is the case, why are we not listening to these professional associations and addressing the problems they highlight?nThis is not the first time that the Council has been hauled up for its social service provision.

I feel that manynCouncillors simply want to put their heads in the sand ifnit makes live easier for them.n We are elected to serve thenpeople and to take and make difficult andnsometimes unpopular decisions.n We must not forget that this report focuses on the lives of vulnerable young people whonoften only have the state to look after them.nnIf wenlet them down, then any support mechanism they have in place seems worthless.

From the tone of this column, readers will appreciate that I am highly frustrated and angry withnsystem, and wished that other groups would put their headsnabove the parapet and hold the Executive to account for failing the most vulnerable people who need our support.n I will continue to highlightngood andnbad practice to try and ensurenthe Council's delivery of services improve.nnn

If any residents would like to talk to myself or my ward colleagues Adrian Robson or Brian Jones about any social services issues or Council issues, my contact details : telephone 029 2062 7757, fax 029 2087 7005, mobile 079 7001 3332,E-Mail jcowan@cardiff.gov.uknor log on to http://www.rhiwbinaward.com/