The ‘clock is ticking’ to find a solution to the authority’s children’s services dilemma, the Isle of Wight Council leader has said.
Cllr Lora Peacey-Wilcox, who is also the new education lead, said the authority has five months until Hampshire’s proposed date to end its partnership with the IW Council – January 31, 2024.
Just one month ago, Hampshire County Council announced it wanted to halt the decade-old deal, which saw the Island’s services and education department run by the mainland authority.
IW Council cabinet members must also agree a formal last day.
The council’s cabinet will meet in the coming weeks to decide the best way forward, while those outside the senior circles say they are in the dark and have no idea what the ruling Alliance administration’s intention is.
Speaking at today’s (Tuesday) meeting of the council’s appointments and employment committee, the IW Council’s chief executive, Wendy Perera, said a lot of options were being considered, including keeping the services in-house; creating a new strategic partnership with a different organisation; or a hybrid option — with some services delivered by the council and others delivered by someone else.
The authority agreed to recruit a new director of children’s services. However, a permanent service director may not be required if cabinet agrees to go into partnership with another authority, so the recruitment process will not start until a decision is made.
If the council has a sole children’s service director, the successful recruit could be on a salary of at least £109,693, according to the council’s current pay policy.
Cllr Geoff Brodie said he was concerned committee members were putting the ‘cart before the horse,’ adding he was ‘in the dark’ about the Alliance’s plans for children’s services.
Former children’s services and education cabinet member, Cllr Paul Brading, said he felt the Hampshire partnership had been very strong for years, adding the Island had missed out on a chance to renegotiate the arrangement, to scale it down.
Instead, the mainland authority ‘dropped us,’ he said.
The committee also agreed to look into interim arrangements for a director, to cover any gaps in services and leadership.
The Island’s service is still being run by Hampshire, under the directorship of Stuart Ashley, the former deputy director for children and families.
It follows the departure of former director Steve Crocker, and Brian Pope, the education and inclusion deputy director.
The termination of the partnership came as a shock to the Isle of Wight Council, with Hampshire saying it was choosing to focus on children in its own county.
Last month, Cllr Peace-Wilcox apologised for the way potential school closure announcements had been made, as she took over the educational lead role, from Cllr Debbie Andre.
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