I WAS horrified to learn of yet another Ofsted report that confirms the inadequacy of children’s services across BCP Council. This is at least the fourth such report in as many years and the latest report seems to be a little more positive than the other inspection reports.

The most depressing thing is that children – often the most vulnerable – continue to be let down by BCP Council.

Yet, all we get are utterings of positive spin and promise of ‘jam tomorrow’.

In August 2021, following another negative report, the portfolio holder for education trotted out “we will be working with our partners to build a set of services to be proud of”.

So here we are a few months later with yet another report that rates BCP Council’s children’s services as ‘inadequate’ and quelle surprise the portfolio holder for children’s social care, Cllr Mike White has commented “we will work with the government and our partner agencies to deliver what is NOW required of us”.

Councillor White, where were you when the previous report was issued? To state “now” is frankly disingenuous when your portfolio holder delivered exactly the same message six months ago. It really is time to remove some of these portfolio holders.

Mike Randall

Catalina Drive, Poole