Child Protection Delay Slammed by Lib Dem

6.40.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Mon 4th May 2009

Bromley's Liberal Democrat Leader Cllr David McBride has slammed an attempt by Tory backbench councillors to slow down the adoption of improved child protection measures in the Borough.

Bromley's Executive had backed the improved measures, with councillors from all parties backing the scheme, which costs around £120 000. This follows a review of child protection procedures in Bromley by the Director of Children and Young People Services. However, some Tory backbench councillors have "called in" the decision, saying they are not sure if the measures are value for money.

Liberal Democrat Cllr David McBride said that the move showed a "huge misjudgement" by the councillors concerned and said they had picked the wrong subject to be awkward on. "These backbench Tory councillors are obviously not happy with their party leadership and are behaving awkwardly to prove a point. However, on this issue they have totally misjudged the situation and have made a horrendous mistake slowing this down," he said.

Cllr David McBride also slammed the Tory councillors for asking for a 'value for money' exercise on child protection, while they voted through the same amount of money to increase councillors' allowances earlier in the year. "It is odd that when it came down to lining their own pockets, these same Tories did not bat an eyelid about the money involved. Now they have an issue with spending £120 000 to improve the safety of the Borough's children. What odd priorities they have," Cllr McBride commented.