Wokingham Borough Council's Tories in buck-passing re-shuffle

12.00.00pm GMT Tue 22nd Jan 2008

The Conservatives at Wokingham Borough have sacked Chris Edmunds as Deputy Leader with responsibility for children's social services. At the same time, Frank Browne, the Leader of the Council, has given up the education portfolio. Both the children's social services and the education jobs have gone to Norman Jorgenson, who only came on to the Borough Council last May.

Reacting to the news that Norman Jorgenson will be taking over responsibility for the whole of Children's Services, Councillor Prue Bray (Leader of the Lib Dem Councillor Group and Councillor for Winnersh ward) said, "It is no surprise that Frank Browne is handing over education. Frank has failed in his time in charge of education. There are some huge issues that remain unsolved, not least the question of how to fund the much-needed repairs to the borough's secondary schools. By getting rid of his direct responsibility for education, Frank is attempting to wriggle out of having to take the blame when the chickens come home to roost. Whilst I congratulate Norman on his elevation to what is probably the biggest role on the Executive after the Leader, so soon after coming on the council, I wonder if he realises he is assuming the role of potential scapegoat?

"Norman will have to hit the ground running. The Piggott School has just announced that it is to seek Church of England Voluntary Aided status, in order to distance itself from the Wokingham Borough Education Authority. The Piggott is in Frank Browne's own council ward and he has been a governor there. It reflects pretty badly on the way the Tories have handled secondary education that the Piggott thinks its future prospects will be better served by moving away from the council. For the sake of the children of the borough, I wish Norman every success in sorting out the mess left to him by his predecessor."

Prue Bray added, "The same press release that announced Norman Jorgenson's new role, also announced that Julian McGhee-Sumner is taking over as the Champion for Town Centres. He is another brand new councillor. The press release failed to mention either Chris Edmunds, who has gone from the Executive to make room for Norman Jorgenson, or Chris Bowring, who was Town Centre Champion before this week. Both Chris Edmunds and Chris Bowring appear to have been airbrushed from history. I wonder if the same fate awaits Norman and Julian?"