I first raised concerns about the council’s cavalier approach to home to school transport for our most vulnerable children in early June.
We as Conservatives have spoken up on behalf of the children and their families who are suffering as a result of the Labour administration’s approach to this crucial service.
We have also been unhappy about the undemocratic way the council handled the procurement process.
It was railroaded through behind the scenes and children and families are now paying a high price for that negligence.
The Labour administration say their chaotic changes will save £290,000 from the council’s budget over two years.
The two special schools worst hit by these changes estimate the new arrangements will cost them about £840,000 – money better spent on teaching and caring for hundreds of our most vulnerable children.
What has upset many parents – beyond the unsettling chaos – is that money is effectively being taken from those schools and those children to line the pocket of consultants.
As Conservatives we have raised this at numerous meetings since June. We have attended parents’ briefings where we were not allowed to ask questions or comment.
We have been frustrated at every turn when we have tried to speak up for children without a voice as their families try to find out how this would affect them and their education.
We have submitted letters and spoken out at two council committees. There was a public apology at one committee and agreement that officers would ask colleagues from another council to look into what went wrong.
But when we asked for a genuinely independent investigation overseen by elected councillors, this was refused by the Green and Labour coalition running the council.
As an aside, any contract which the council awards over £500,000 must be approved by elected councillors. Then the details can be properly scrutinised and key decisions take place in public.
It may be no surprise that this contract is worth £499,000 over two years so all the decisions could be made behind closed doors by the Labour administration.
It allowed no public scrutiny about how taxpayers’ money would be spent – or the potential damage this could inflict on our most vulnerable children.
Councillor Steve Bell is the leader of the Conservatives on Brighton and Hove City Council.
