At Tuesday night’s Children and Young People Scrutiny Panel meeting, outgoing Chief Executive Steve Beynon claimed that unfounded allegations posted in the media were to blame for the breakdown of discussions with another local authority to provide services to failing Island schools.
“We were in negotiations with one particular county council, but sadly due to unfounded allegations that have been circulating within the media, that county council has had to withdraw for reputation reasons,” he said.
“I think it’s very sad that unfounded allegations that can find their way into the media are actually going to deprive Isle of Wight primary schools from an effective school improvement support service and we’re now struggling to find an alternative provider for that service.”
Beynon denies job offer
He went on to say, “I also feel it is appropriate to deny that I have been offered a position with that particular county council from 1st April. That is wholly untrue.
“I do have to say that the next county council that I have a discussion with may clearly feel that actually it’s not worth the risk and I think that is something that needs to be addressed, frankly.”
Cllr Mazillius: “a bit of a naive approach”
Later in the meeting former Cabinet member Cllr Mazillius brought the subject up again.
Starting with, “I can’t resist the opportunity of asking the Chief Executive,” he continued, “Following his remarks about the probable withdrawal of school improvement partner, due to various comments that were made on a particular Website, in a way, don’t you think that if one reads those comments – and there weren’t that many that were focused on the matters that you repel against – usually by anonymous people just floating spurious daft comments that have no truth.
“If you looked at that would you really say, ‘Oh I can’t come here because of that’? It does seem to me, with respect to the people concerned, it would be a bit of a naive approach. There is rough and tumble which we are used to, but surely they can see, what does that matter really?”
Beynon: “I believe we become rough and tumble to it”
Steve Beynon responded, “I believe we become rough and tumble to it, I’ve had false accusations made about me in various sources. My view is, if you can’t take the heat, don’t stay in the kitchen. I’m sufficiently well rewarded by the council for this work that I do and if that is something that goes along with my job then I take it and accept that I’m going to be subject to those sorts of comments.”
He went on to say, “I think though for a new organisation potentially wanting to work with us, they have taken the view that that they didn’t wish to be associated in that way and I think that’s a risk.”
He went on to make a more general point saying, “I think there is an issue that if we’re not careful, the image of the Island that is portrayed to the outside world is one that will detract from inward investment and put off international companies coming to the Island because they will see the way that people are treated and spoken about in those sort of forum is something that they wouldn’t wish their staff to be subjected to.”
