READING Borough Council is considering bringing children’s services back in house, following a recommendation by the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA)
Ahead of the end of the contract with Brighter Futures for Children, the council received a recommendation , which undertook a detailed review of options, that the council recommence operating it’s own management and delivery of the services.
Commenting on the potential decision, Cllr Rob White, Green Party leader, said: “Eight years ago Labour-run Reading Council’s children’s services were rated inadequate.
“The council set up a company to handle children’s services saying that this was the future.
“Green councillors were sceptical of this approach which created more layers of expensive bureaucracy and gave councillors less oversight of what was happening.”
He explained: “Since then costs incurred by this company have spiralled including multi-million pound overspends.
“We welcome that Labour have u-turned on this important area. Greens will do everything we can to put Reading’s children first and make sure they get the support they need.”
The Green Party is the largest opposition party sitting on the council.
A report will be presented to a meeting of the Council’s Policy Committee on Wednesday, December 18, with a final decision set to be made by the council at the end of January.
