Conservatives' challenge to £8m Stockton SEND investment rejected

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 29 Oct, 03:33 · Archive

Stockton Council's Labour administration and independent members have rejected a Conservative call-in seeking to re-examine an £8m investment in special education services.

Stockton Council's executive scrutiny committee has rejected a Conservative call-in challenging a £8m capital spending programme for SEND services. The call-in aimed to re-examine the decision-making process, with Conservatives questioning whether the investment had been taken 'with the accuracy, evidence and openness residents should expect'. Labour, which has minority control of the council, and independent members voted to reject the call-in, allowing the investment to proceed.

The £8m programme will fund creation of a new 50-place school for students with social, emotional and mental health needs, expansion of an early support nursery in Thornaby, and additional places at Ash Trees Academy, a specialist primary school in Billingham. The council hopes the projects will reduce reliance on expensive out-of-area SEND provision.

Tory councillor Steve Dodds raised concerns that some money had already been spent before the decision was finalised, and alleged the decision record showed no alternative options had been considered. He questioned what he described as 'flawed' paperwork with missing elements. Dodds stated the arrangement had 'all the hallmarks of an arrangement agreed in private and rubber-stamped in public', accusing Labour of failing to properly challenge the details and protect public spending. Conservatives stated they did not oppose the investment itself, but sought to challenge the decision-making process.

How it is being reported

• 'Asleep at the wheel' claim as Tories and Labour clash over £8m Stockton SEND decisionConservatives attempted a 'call in' raising governance and procurement issues, but this was rejectedTeessideLive · 29 Oct, 00:01
• 'Asleep at the wheel' - Tories attack Labour in row over £8m SEND investmentA ‘call in’ led by Conservatives on Stockton Council which aimed to re-examine a planned £8m investment in SEND services has been rejected.The Northern Echo · 28 Oct, 18:00

In this story: Stockton Council · Labour · Conservative Party · Steve Dodds · Thornaby · Billingham · Ash Trees Academy

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