The reaction of Martin Tett, leader of Bucks County Council, and Angela MacPherson, cabinet member for children’s services, following the Ofsted Report which found widespread and serious failures by Buckinghamshire’s Children’s Safeguarding Services, was a predictable response. Whenever in the past an outside inspectorate has drawn attention to the failings of the council they have had a stock reply: “We knew we had an issue and we were taking action.” As if that absolves them from all blame.

They clearly expect that to be seen as a satisfactory response.

But it begs the question that if they have known about the failure of the services they administer on behalf of the people of Buckinghamshire why have they not taken steps to ensure that this group of vulnerable children are properly protected? Why have they allowed a situation to persist where children at risk of harm have no allocated social worker? It is a disgrace that in so called ‘prosperous Bucks’ there are children among us that are at risk and not receiving the basic protection and support that the local authority should provide.

Bucks County Council have failed to grasp the urgency of the matter. They talk about a costed improvement plan being considered in the autumn. It is a response with no sense of urgency and totally lacking in compassion. It shows alarming complacency. Quick and substantial action is clearly needed, Ofsted have told them that children in this county are at risk and are not being properly protected, that cannot be allowed to continue. Children should be the primary consideration.

The cabinet member for children’s services has failed to champion the service for which she is responsible; she should apologise for the harm that has been done to children and their families, stop making excuses and do the honourable thing take responsibility for the failure.

A letter about children’s services would be good. Not once do Tett, MacPherson et al say sorry and not once do they mention the devastating effect on the children and their families if they don’t get the help and support they need from BCC.

Their response is all about improvement plans etc.

Is there anyone in Eastern Branch who would be willing to write?

I’m also going to put the report on the Sept agenda of Hughenden Parish Council.

It spends a lot of time complaining to BCC about BCC’s service on road maintenance and hedges etc in the parish.

Children’s services is a BCC service that also affect residents in the parish but the effect of the poor service is invisible; children do not protest or write letters, they just suffer. — Trevor Fowler, by email