Cambridgeshire County Council Reaffirms Commitment to Children in Care Amid Criticism Over Councillor's Comments

Cambridgeshire County Council has issued a statement reaffirming its commitment to children in care, following criticism of comments made by Cllr Andy Osborn regarding some children being "evil." The council emphasizes its role as a "parent" to looked-after children and care leavers, supporting their wellbeing to help them "thrive." This stance was also highlighted by Cllr Edna Murphy, chair of the committee, who stated that the council takes its responsibility as corporate parents extremely seriously, aiming to provide the best services and support for children in care.

Key Takeaways:

• Cllr Andy Osborn described some children in care as "evil", which was met with swift pushback from other councillors and the executive director.
• Cllr Edna Murphy emphasized the council's commitment to acting as corporate parents, ensuring all children and young people are given opportunities to thrive.
• The council highlighted the resilience of care-experienced people, but acknowledged that they often face significant barriers that impact throughout their lives.
• The authority spent more than budgeted last year on care placements, with children's external placements overspending by £7.5m.
• Cllr Martin Purbrick stated that any child in care will have experienced early childhood trauma, which can change the way they manage their emotions.
• The council aims to keep as many children at home as possible and offers support to families in need, with the goal of reducing the number of children who need to come into care.
• Plymouth City Council councillor has publicly expressed concern and dismay over Cllr Osborn's comments, highlighting the negative impact on attitudes towards people with care experience.

Statistics:

• £7.5 million: The amount overspent on children's external placements last year.
• N/A: The number of children below the county average who entered care due to the ongoing efforts of the Cambridgeshire County Council.

Sources:

• Hannah Brown, Local Democracy Reporter news@fenlandcitizen.co.uk
• Council statements and comments from Cllr Edna Murphy and Martin Purbrick