Further to Cllr Chris Whitehouse’s appeal last month for former CEO Steve Beynon to be held to account for the failed Isle of Wight education system, we understand that Isle of Wight MP, Andrew Turner, raised the subject in the House of Commons yesterday.
Newport West Councillor, Chris Whitehouse, has thanked Mr Turner for raising the issue in the House of Commons adding that senior council officers should be held properly to account “for the profound damage they cause to education and other services when they leave a trail of incompetence and then just wander away”.
Whitehoue: Beynon should answer for his record
Speaking today, Cllr Whitehouse, who is the Education Spokesperson for the Conservative Group of Isle of Wight Councillors, says:
“I am grateful to Andrew Turner for raising in Parliament the principle that senior council officers should not be able to dodge being held to account for their failures.
“I want former Isle of Wight Council Chief Executive, Steve Beynon, brought back to answer for his record to the Children and Young People Scrutiny Panel.”
Raised in the House of Commons
Mr Turner raised the issue in the Commons yesterday (Thursday 18th July) with the Leader of the House, Rt Hon Andrew Lansley MP, as follows:
Mr Andrew Turner (Isle of Wight) (Con): Doctors and other professionals are held to account for failures in their performance. Will the Leader of the House find time for a debate to discuss how senior, highly paid council officers can be held to account for the profound damage they cause to education and other services when they leave a trail of incompetence and then just wander away?
Mr Lansley: I can see how people might feel strongly about particular instances of that, but this is happening in the context of a democratically elected organisation. Councils are accountable to their electors, and the officers of any council are directly accountable to the members of that council and the leadership of that council. It is really to councillors themselves and the leaders of a council that my hon. Friend should look on this matter.
Whitehouse: “Other authorities should be aware of the quality of his advice”
Unhappy with the outcome, Cllr Whitehouse adds,
“I was a tad disappointed by Andrew Lansley’s answer, because in this case Mr Beynon has moved away and is now marketing his services to other local education authorities around the country. I am looking forward to receiving a copy of the Ofsted inspection of the Council’s education services when it is published later this month.
“We should send a copy to the Minister for Schools suggesting that he draws to the attention of other education authorities the role that Mr Beynon played here so that they are aware of the quality of his advice.”
Image: Alan Cleaver under CC BY 2.0
