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Leader ousted after school report Date set for council leader poll
(about 16 hours later)
Denbighshire Council's leader and her cabinet have been ousted following a damning report into local education. A special meeting has been set for 6 November to elect a new leader of Denbighshire County Council.
Independent councillor Rhiannon Hughes, said she was "disappointed" to lose the vote of no confidence by 23 votes to 20 and pleaded with the assembly government not to step in. It comes after independent councillor Rhiannon Hughes and her entire cabinet were ousted following a vote of no confidence on Monday.
Ms Hughes had been blamed by opponents after a critical report into the county education service by inspectors Estyn. Ms Hughes had been blamed by opponents after critical reports into the county education service by inspectors Estyn and a consultative body.
The cabinet could be re-instated, but under new leadership.
Ms Hughes, said she was "disappointed" to lose the vote of no confidence by 23 votes to 20 and pleaded with the assembly government not to step in.
A council spokesman said a new leader must be elected within three weeks.A council spokesman said a new leader must be elected within three weeks.
In the meantime, the council's chief executive Ian Millar has been delegated responsibility to make executive decisions, which would have been taken by the council cabinet.In the meantime, the council's chief executive Ian Millar has been delegated responsibility to make executive decisions, which would have been taken by the council cabinet.
He tried to distance himself at the time the reports came out but he cannot because he is the chief executive Ann Jones AM on Ian Millar
He will be drawing up the education recovery plan with his senior management team, which has a deadline of 5 November.He will be drawing up the education recovery plan with his senior management team, which has a deadline of 5 November.
But Ann Jones, Labour AM for the Vale of Clwyd who called for Ms Hughes to go before the vote of no confidence, said she believed Mr Millar should also consider his position.
"He tried to distance himself at the time the reports came out but he cannot because he is the chief executive," she said.
"It is not for me to say whether he should go or not but I think he should be honest with himself as to whether Denbighshire local education authority can provide for the children of Denbighshire and, at the moment, I don't think they can."
Ms Jones also continued her call for the assembly government and the education minister Jane Hutt to intervene.
On Thursday, the council, which is run by a coalition of Independents and Conservatives, received a notice of motion signed by 13 members expressing a vote of no confidence in Ms Hughes and her cabinet.On Thursday, the council, which is run by a coalition of Independents and Conservatives, received a notice of motion signed by 13 members expressing a vote of no confidence in Ms Hughes and her cabinet.
It was the second such motion within a year.It was the second such motion within a year.
DENBIGHSHIRE COUNCIL Independents: 18Conservatives: 9Labour: 7Plaid Cymru: 7Democratic Alliance of Wales: 3Non-aligned: 3
Ms Hughes survived the previous vote against her, but she recently lost the support of her coalition partners after the Conservatives joined with Labour and Plaid Cymru.Ms Hughes survived the previous vote against her, but she recently lost the support of her coalition partners after the Conservatives joined with Labour and Plaid Cymru.
I think the blame lies at her door and I don't think she can pass it anywhere other than her door Vale of Clwyd AM Ann Jones Speaking after the result, she said that good work had been done in Denbighshire's schools, and she would "do the same again".
Speaking after the result, she said she was "disappointed," but added that good work had been done in Denbighshire's schools, and she would "do the same again".
Asked whether the Welsh Assembly Government should step in and take charge, she said: "I'm making an absolute heartfelt plea to the assembly - please don't intervene in Denbighshire."Asked whether the Welsh Assembly Government should step in and take charge, she said: "I'm making an absolute heartfelt plea to the assembly - please don't intervene in Denbighshire."
She added: "We're now at a position where we have all the information that's needed to move forward. There are lots of really good educational things going on in Denbighshire."She added: "We're now at a position where we have all the information that's needed to move forward. There are lots of really good educational things going on in Denbighshire."
She added she "felt sorry" for council officers who "will not have political direction in the next few weeks".She added she "felt sorry" for council officers who "will not have political direction in the next few weeks".
A crisis meeting held by the council last week accepted "radical change" was needed to improve education in the county and said it would "rigorously implement" the Estyn action plan.A crisis meeting held by the council last week accepted "radical change" was needed to improve education in the county and said it would "rigorously implement" the Estyn action plan.
"Ineffective leadership"
Two recent reports have criticised the education service and its "ineffective leadership".Two recent reports have criticised the education service and its "ineffective leadership".
DENBIGHSHIRE COUNCIL Independents: 18Conservatives: 9Labour: 7Plaid Cymru: 7Democratic Alliance of Wales: 3Non-aligned: 3
In September, a highly critical report by Estyn found failures at the council to address poor performance.In September, a highly critical report by Estyn found failures at the council to address poor performance.
It followed a consultants' report, which criticised standards in schools.It followed a consultants' report, which criticised standards in schools.
Estyn's 35-page report said children's educational performance was below average at the ages of seven, 11 and at 16 when they take their GCSEs.Estyn's 35-page report said children's educational performance was below average at the ages of seven, 11 and at 16 when they take their GCSEs.
In 2006, Denbighshire also came 19th of the 22 authorities in Wales for the percentage of students gaining two AS/A levels.In 2006, Denbighshire also came 19th of the 22 authorities in Wales for the percentage of students gaining two AS/A levels.
The council said it had already begun to address some of the issues and had begun to invest £470,000 a year from 2006-07 on to improve attainment at key stage level 3.The council said it had already begun to address some of the issues and had begun to invest £470,000 a year from 2006-07 on to improve attainment at key stage level 3.
'Clear vision needed'
It also said it had improved partnership working with the social services and tackled leadership problems at schools with the worst under attainment.It also said it had improved partnership working with the social services and tackled leadership problems at schools with the worst under attainment.
Earlier, Ann Jones, Labour AM for the Vale of Clwyd, said she believed Ms Hughes should go.
Speaking before the vote, she said: "I think the blame lies at her door and I don't think she can pass it anywhere other than her door.
"It might have been a good idea had she thought about her position a lot sooner than now."
Eryl Owens, a teaching union official, said he hoped any action taken would help improve education.
"What is currently needed is a clear vision for education within Denbighshire," he said.
"The report has stated that education hasn't been given enough priority within the council so far, and currently the expenditure for education is far lower than what it should be and what it needs to be."