Special needs row councillor steps down as vice chair

Jeff Morgan (R) has stood down as vice-chair of Warwickshire County Council

A councillor, whose remarks about increasing special needs demand sparked anger and protests, has stood down as vice chair of his local authority.

Jeff Morgan had been in line to become chair of Conservative-run Warwickshire County Council in May.

Leader Izzi Seccombe said Mr Morgan stood down from his position two weeks ago.

He and two other councillors had been accused of making offensive comments about children with special needs. All three have apologised for their comments which were made during a council meeting in January,

The councillors had been discussing the county’s special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) provision.

They have since been removed from the Children and Young People’s Overview & Scrutiny Committee, the panel they made the comments to.

Ms Seccombe told the Local Democracy Reporting Service all three remained as members of the council and Conservative party but “there have been other things that they have resigned from”.

She added the authority was working with Warwickshire Parent Carer Voice, SEND Crisis Warwickshire and Impact to deliver training and workshops for elected members.

"We are just waiting on dates," she said. “I am creating a workshop with SEND Crisis and others to ensure we have a vehicle to capture the voice of the Warwickshire experience.

“In some cases that will be the parent or carer, in others it will be the young person, just to get across those highs and lows," she added.

Council inquiry 'likely to take months'

Labour and Liberal Democrat councillors have put forward a motion for the full council meeting on 19 March calling for annual mandatory training to increase councillors' "shared understanding of the challenges facing parents and children".

Mr Morgan, who represents Bulkington and Whitestone, has been approached for comment.

An investigation has been launched into their comments which the council has said is likely to take “months rather than weeks”.

During the meeting Mr Morgan questioned whether some children receiving funding were "just really badly behaved".

Councillor Brian Hammersley asked if "something in the water" was increasing special needs cases.

A third councillor, Clare Golby, asked whether the increase in cases could be linked to social media sites where "families are swapping tips on how to get their children diagnosed".

This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service which covers councils and other public service organisations.

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