Fury as SEND debate ‘sabotaged’ at Hertfordshire County Council

“Wrecking tactics” have been blamed after “timewasting” speeches forced the cancellation of a key council debate on special educational needs. 

Lib Dem opposition councillors say Conservatives deliberately sabotaged a motion aimed at making the SEND process fairer for families. 

They made a long series of near-identical speeches on the same agenda item, about winter fuel payments. 

It meant there was no time left to consider reforms for special educational needs. 

SEND has become a sore point for Conservative County Council leaders, after Ofsted found “systemic failures” in Hertfordshire’s provision. 

The Lib Dem motion aimed to avoid the need for tribunals, where parents challenge a refusal to provide extra school help for children with disabilities or learning delays. 

Hertfordshire County Council currently loses 96% of tribunals. 

Lib Dem opposition councillors argue that instead of contesting tribunals, the council should use those resources to give SEND pupils the support they need in the first place. 

But the debate was never held - due to timing rules - after the previous item overran. 

Amid fury in the council chamber, one Lib Dem councillor, Laurence Brass of Bushey North, was ejected after complaining about the ‘filibuster’ Tory tactics. 

Cllr Steve Jarvis, leader of the Liberal Democrat group said: 

“The Conservatives lined up half a dozen speakers to make almost exactly the same speech on winter fuel payments. 

“They wanted to make sure there was no time to discuss the vital issue of SEND tribunals. 

“These tribunals matter because the county council loses almost every case. It should simply provide what pupils need, instead of trying to wriggle off the hook by contesting them. 

“This wastes public money and cause parents and children unnecessary stress. 

“Today should have been the chance to put this problem right, and help hundreds of families across Hertfordshire. 

“But it was deliberately sabotaged by Conservatives who are desperate to avoid scrutiny of their diabolical record on SEND. 

“As ever, they put politics ahead of the needs of children - even those who most deserve support”.