Former Tameside Council leader set for key role

THE FORMER leader of Tameside Council is set to return to a frontline role by becoming chair of a key panel.

Cllr Brenda Warrington has been on the back benches since standing down in May 2022 after what she called a ‘hostile challenge’ by current head, Cllr Gerald Cooney.

But The Correspondent understands the Denton West representative will be back in a leadership role as head of the children’s services scrutiny panel, subject to a vote among the Labour group.

A new chair is being sought after Cllr Teresa Smith became executive member for children’s services following Cllr Bill Fairfoull’s resignation.

And it is believed Cllr Warrington will take the role, with Conservative Cllr David Tilbrook remaining as deputy.

The children’s services scrutiny panel has been in the spotlight following a withering report from government-appointed commissioner Andy Couldrick into the department, which is rated ‘inadequate’ by Ofsted.

Chief executive Sandra Stewart questioned the evidential basis for claims of a ‘toxic’ and ‘bullying’ working environment.

And she did not hold back in her verdict on how it does its job at its meeting on Wednesday, September 18.

Put simply, it and its members must do better.

She said: “Some of the things I’ve come across in the report is there is a real view that Tameside is very critical but not necessarily supportive or challenging.

“It’s about how do you recognise the good work while at the same time asking those questions in a supportive way as to why is that area not as good and what does that mean?

“It might be we need to put more resources into something, rather than expecting people to just work harder or flog themselves on something.

“What would be really good as a scrutiny panel is how we can ensure you’re fully briefed, so you’re able to hold people to challenge.

“If it was the bins, we’d be all over it, whereas this is one of those areas where it can be quite complex at times and we’ve not always necessarily – and I include myself in that – been so involved and understanding of it.

“So that’s what we’ve got to do. Rather than being critical, we need to be supportive and challenging.

“That’s what you see in the report – we’re not always challenging enough about some performance or understanding of it, why it’s not good and what we can do to improve it.”

The Correspondent understands Tameside’s ruling Labour group is also in crisis talks over a way forward, for both children’s services and the authority as a whole.