This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/wales/7055277.stm
The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 4 | Version 5 |
|---|---|
| Leader ousted after school report | Leader ousted after school report |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Denbighshire Council's leader and her cabinet have been ousted following a damning report into local education. | Denbighshire Council's leader and her cabinet have been ousted following a damning report into local education. |
| Independent councillor Rhiannon Hughes, said she was "disappointed" to lose the vote of no confidence by 23 votes to 20 and pleaded with the assembly government not to step in. | Independent councillor Rhiannon Hughes, said she was "disappointed" to lose the vote of no confidence by 23 votes to 20 and pleaded with the assembly government not to step in. |
| Ms Hughes had been blamed by opponents after a critical report into the county education service by inspectors Estyn. | Ms Hughes had been blamed by opponents after a critical report into the county education service by inspectors Estyn. |
| A council spokesman said a new leader must be elected within three weeks. | A council spokesman said a new leader must be elected within three weeks. |
| In the meantime, the council's chief executive Ian Millar has been delegated responsibility to make executive decisions, which would have been taken by the council cabinet. | |
| He will be drawing up the education recovery plan with his senior management team, which has a deadline of 5 November. | |
| On Thursday, the council, which is run by a coalition of Independents and Conservatives, received a notice of motion signed by 13 members expressing a vote of no confidence in Ms Hughes and her cabinet. | On Thursday, the council, which is run by a coalition of Independents and Conservatives, received a notice of motion signed by 13 members expressing a vote of no confidence in Ms Hughes and her cabinet. |
| It was the second such motion within a year. | It was the second such motion within a year. |
| Ms Hughes survived the previous vote against her, but she recently lost the support of her coalition partners after the Conservatives joined with Labour and Plaid Cymru. | Ms Hughes survived the previous vote against her, but she recently lost the support of her coalition partners after the Conservatives joined with Labour and Plaid Cymru. |
| I think the blame lies at her door and I don't think she can pass it anywhere other than her door Vale of Clwyd AM Ann Jones | I think the blame lies at her door and I don't think she can pass it anywhere other than her door Vale of Clwyd AM Ann Jones |
| Speaking after the result, she said she was "disappointed," but added that good work had been done in Denbighshire's schools, and she would "do the same again". | Speaking after the result, she said she was "disappointed," but added that good work had been done in Denbighshire's schools, and she would "do the same again". |
| Asked whether the Welsh Assembly Government should step in and take charge, she said: "I'm making an absolute heartfelt plea to the assembly - please don't intervene in Denbighshire." | Asked whether the Welsh Assembly Government should step in and take charge, she said: "I'm making an absolute heartfelt plea to the assembly - please don't intervene in Denbighshire." |
| She added: "We're now at a position where we have all the information that's needed to move forward. There are lots of really good educational things going on in Denbighshire." | She added: "We're now at a position where we have all the information that's needed to move forward. There are lots of really good educational things going on in Denbighshire." |
| She added she "felt sorry" for council officers who "will not have political direction in the next few weeks". | She added she "felt sorry" for council officers who "will not have political direction in the next few weeks". |
| A crisis meeting held by the council last week accepted "radical change" was needed to improve education in the county and said it would "rigorously implement" the Estyn action plan. | A crisis meeting held by the council last week accepted "radical change" was needed to improve education in the county and said it would "rigorously implement" the Estyn action plan. |
| Two recent reports have criticised the education service and its "ineffective leadership". | Two recent reports have criticised the education service and its "ineffective leadership". |
| DENBIGHSHIRE COUNCIL Independents: 18Conservatives: 9Labour: 7Plaid Cymru: 7Democratic Alliance of Wales: 3Non-aligned: 3 | DENBIGHSHIRE COUNCIL Independents: 18Conservatives: 9Labour: 7Plaid Cymru: 7Democratic Alliance of Wales: 3Non-aligned: 3 |
| In September, a highly critical report by Estyn found failures at the council to address poor performance. | In September, a highly critical report by Estyn found failures at the council to address poor performance. |
| It followed a consultants' report, which criticised standards in schools. | It followed a consultants' report, which criticised standards in schools. |
| Estyn's 35-page report said children's educational performance was below average at the ages of seven, 11 and at 16 when they take their GCSEs. | Estyn's 35-page report said children's educational performance was below average at the ages of seven, 11 and at 16 when they take their GCSEs. |
| In 2006, Denbighshire also came 19th of the 22 authorities in Wales for the percentage of students gaining two AS/A levels. | In 2006, Denbighshire also came 19th of the 22 authorities in Wales for the percentage of students gaining two AS/A levels. |
| The council said it had already begun to address some of the issues and had begun to invest £470,000 a year from 2006-07 on to improve attainment at key stage level 3. | The council said it had already begun to address some of the issues and had begun to invest £470,000 a year from 2006-07 on to improve attainment at key stage level 3. |
| 'Clear vision needed' | 'Clear vision needed' |
| It also said it had improved partnership working with the social services and tackled leadership problems at schools with the worst under attainment. | It also said it had improved partnership working with the social services and tackled leadership problems at schools with the worst under attainment. |
| Earlier, Ann Jones, Labour AM for the Vale of Clwyd, said she believed Ms Hughes should go. | Earlier, Ann Jones, Labour AM for the Vale of Clwyd, said she believed Ms Hughes should go. |
| Speaking before the vote, she said: "I think the blame lies at her door and I don't think she can pass it anywhere other than her door. | Speaking before the vote, she said: "I think the blame lies at her door and I don't think she can pass it anywhere other than her door. |
| "It might have been a good idea had she thought about her position a lot sooner than now." | "It might have been a good idea had she thought about her position a lot sooner than now." |
| Eryl Owens, a teaching union official, said he hoped any action taken would help improve education. | Eryl Owens, a teaching union official, said he hoped any action taken would help improve education. |
| "What is currently needed is a clear vision for education within Denbighshire," he said. | "What is currently needed is a clear vision for education within Denbighshire," he said. |
| "The report has stated that education hasn't been given enough priority within the council so far, and currently the expenditure for education is far lower than what it should be and what it needs to be." | "The report has stated that education hasn't been given enough priority within the council so far, and currently the expenditure for education is far lower than what it should be and what it needs to be." |