A COUNCILLOR has resigned from his cabinet role after raising concerns about the handling of special educational needs services by civil servants.
Sam Journet, Reform UK county councillor for Vange, said he would quit as cabinet member for education, SEND and skills on Friday, November 6.
He said he needed to focus on his new role as a leader of the opposition at Basildon Council, where he leads Reform’s 12-strong group.
Reform now has the same number of councillors as Labour on Basildon Council after former Independent councillor Valerie Robbins joined the party, making Journet an opposition group leader alongside Labour councillor Gavin Callaghan.
In his resignation letter to Reform county council leader Peter Harris, Mr Journet said: "I made a promise to the people of Basildon.
"I said I would work to transform our council and help make our borough great again.
"I’ve thought hard about how I can give that promise the attention it deserves while carrying three senior responsibilities.
"I’ve decided my focus needs to be there."
He also criticised the handling of some SEND cases during his time on the county council, saying requests to review rejected Education, Health and Care Plan applications had been dismissed.
"Some of what I’ve seen from civil servants has shocked me and doesn’t sit comfortably with me," he said.
"EHCP requests have been refused, and there have been cases where I directed officers that a decision be reconsidered and that did not happen.
"I wasn’t asking for a particular outcome.
"I was asking for decisions to be looked at again because of the struggles SEND children and their families are facing in our community."
He said concerns raised by families mattered “deeply” to him as a “SEND councillor” himself.
"I will not stand idly by whilst that is happening under my watch," he said.
He ended the letter by backing Mr Harris’s commitment to improving services, but added: "I must protect my own morals and integrity whilst working in public life."
Essex County Council confirmed his resignation and thanked him for helping improve SEND services and reducing the EHCP backlog.
An Essex County Council spokesperson said: "We can confirm that Councillor Sam Journet has resigned from his position as Cabinet Member for Education, SEND and Skills.
“We thank councillor Journet for his contribution during his time in the role, particularly in helping to continue our SEND improvement work and supporting efforts to clear the backlog of Education, Health and Care Plans.
“SEND is a complex and emotive issue for many families. We remain committed to improving services, reducing backlogs and ensuring children and young people receive the support they need. Our dedicated officers continue to work hard to deliver that ambition.
“The role of Cabinet Member is demanding and time-consuming. We appreciate councillor Journet’s decision that balancing these responsibilities alongside his role as a leader of the opposition at Basildon Council was not sustainable in the longer term.
“We thank Councillor Journet for his service and wish him well for the future. Arrangements for the portfolio, including a replacement Cabinet Member, will be announced in due course."
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