Council rapped by law firm for 'ineffective communication' over nursery closures fiasco

 

Law firm's red light for council over lack of transparency

AN independent review has criticised North East Lincolnshire Council over its handling of last year's  consultation exercise regarding proposed closure  of Great Coates Village Nursery,  Scartho Nursery School and Reynolds Day Care.

Midway through the exercise, the consultation was abruptly terminated to the outrage of bemused parents.

Such was the ensuing furore that NELC's chief executive, Rob Walsh, instructed law firm Wilkin Chapman to probe what went wrong" in the interests of strengthening the governance arrangements of NELC and highlighting the lessons that can be learned".

The solicitors' report could scarcely be less critical.

It states: "The consultation exercise suffered from lack of an effective and consistent plan from the start. 

"Decisions were made which later had to be changed, and this led to the exercise being unclear and confusing for those attempting to engage with it. 

"The exercise was heavily impacted by ineffective communication between council officers and members.

"It came across to the public as being predetermined and largely unsubstantiated.

 "The situation was exacerbated by the refusal of the council to explain the position of each nursery, and their lack of transparent and efficient communication with those raising queries.

The report continues: "The council needs to ensure that its decision-making processes are accessible and understandable to officers and members. 

"It should also facilitate effective communication and decision-making  by providing appropriate training and resources to its members and officers."

The report has put renewed pressure on the portfolio holder for children's services, Cllr Margaret Cracknell, over her role in the fiasco and whether she had a tight enough grip on the reins.

The Wilkins Chapman report is up for discussion at a scrutiny panel meeting on Thursday where, if she attends, Cllr Mrs Cracknell, may find herself facing uncomfortable questions.

There is also a possibility that opposition groups will seek to make political capital of the debacle during the next full meeting of the council on March 14.

* The Wilkin Chapman lawyers who worked on the review were: Jonathan Goolden, Gill Thompson, Harriet Costello and Emily Briggs. It is not not known how much NELC has been billed, but it will not be insubstantial.