Trafford cannot fix its Children’s Services without new leadership

Trafford Liberal Democrat Leader Cllr Shaun Ennis and Deputy Leader Cllr Will Frass have called for Council Leader Tom Ross to resign following the disastrous Ofsted report into Trafford’s Children’s Services.
The report found that vulnerable children were left at risk of serious harm. It also exposed serious failures in leadership, with senior leaders failing to understand the scale of the problems.
Things are now so serious that Children’s Services could ultimately be taken out of Trafford Council’s direct control.
At the extraordinary Council meeting on Wednesday 26 August, the Liberal Democrats backed a motion calling for Cllr Ross to resign. The vote was close, but Labour councillors chose to keep him in place.
Cllr Shaun Ennis said:
“I do not believe we can turn around our Children’s Services without a change of leadership. If the same leadership that oversaw these failures remains in place, how can residents have confidence that the necessary changes will be made? Trafford’s vulnerable children deserve better than more of the same. ”
But the concerns about leadership go beyond Children’s Services.
Under Tom Ross, Amey has repeatedly failed residents, yet Trafford Labour issued the contractor with just three fines last year and three the year before. Motions passed by Full Council have also not always been implemented.
Cllr Will Frass said:
“When services are failing, contractors are not being held properly to account and decisions made by the Council are not being acted upon, serious questions must be asked about who is actually in control. Once again, Trafford Labour put its party before residents.”
We will not fix Trafford without a change of leadership. Tom Ross must resign.