Issue - meetings

Council notes the increasing pressures on Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) services across Oxfordshire, with rising demand, complex needs, and a need for stronger local support.

Previously, Oxfordshire County Council had a dedicated Cabinet Member for SEND Improvement, reflecting the importance of this area.

This role was recently removed, diluting specific leadership and focus on one of the most challenging areas of Council responsibility.

Council believes that:

1. Children and young people with SEND deserve a dedicated champion at the highest political level within the Council.

2. A single Cabinet Member with clear and focused responsibility for SEND would enhance decision-making, oversight, and transparency.

3. Reinstating this post would demonstrate a renewed commitment to improving outcomes for families who rely on these vital services.

Council therefore resolves to ask the Leader of the Council to:

a) reinstate the Cabinet Member for SEND Improvement as a standalone portfolio within the Cabinet.

b) ensure this role has clear responsibility for SEND policy, provision, and engagement with parents, carers, and stakeholders.

c) provide a written response to this motion, setting out the steps being taken to strengthen leadership and accountability within SEND services.

The motion was lost with 29 votes in favour, 31 against and no abstentions.

The following motion was proposed by Councillor Plumb and seconded by Councillor Walker.

“Council notes the increasing pressures on Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) services across Oxfordshire, with rising demand, complex needs, and a need for stronger local support.

Previously, Oxfordshire County Council had a dedicated Cabinet Member for SEND Improvement, reflecting the importance of this area.

This role was recently removed, diluting specific leadership and focus on one of the most challenging areas of Council responsibility.

Council believes that:

1. Children and young people with SEND deserve a dedicated champion at the highest political level within the Council.

2. A single Cabinet Member with clear and focused responsibility for SEND would enhance decision-making, oversight, and transparency.

3. Reinstating this post would demonstrate a renewed commitment to improving outcomes for families who rely on these vital services.

Council therefore resolves to ask the Leader of the Council to:

a) reinstate the Cabinet Member for SEND Improvement as a standalone portfolio within the Cabinet.

b) ensure this role has clear responsibility for SEND policy, provision, and engagement with parents, carers, and stakeholders.

c) provide a written response to this motion, setting out the steps being taken to strengthen leadership and accountability within SEND services.”

Following discussion, Councillor Walker called for a named vote and was supported by at least six other councillors as required under Council Procedure Rule 17.4.1.

The motion was lost with 29 votes in favour, 31 against and no abstentions.

Councillors voted as follows:

For the motion:

Councillors Ashby, Barlow, Brighouse, Cherry, Coles, Creed, Crichton, Du, Evans, Fenton, Field-Johnson, Fry, Garnett, Henwood, Jones, Kerr, Lygo, Malik, Markham, McLauchlan, Middleton, Philips, Plumb, Pressel, Robertshaw, Sargent, Saul, Snowdon, Walker.

Against the motion:

Councillors Batstone, Bearder, Boucher-Giles, Edwards, Epps, Fawcett, Filipova-Rivers, Fletcher, Gant, Gaul, Gawrysiak, Graham, Greenaway, Gregory, Hanna, Hannaby, Heritage, Higgins, Hope-Smith, Leffman, Levy, Lugova, McLean, Overton, Rawlins, Roberts, Shiri, Smith, Stevens, Thomas, Worgan.

There were no abstentions.