Portfolio Shake-up follows Children's Services Scandal

Local news sources are reporting Cllr John Ennis (Lab, Southcote) is set to take over responsibility for the children's services department following Cllr Ruhemann's resignation - pending confirmation at tonight's meeting of the full council.

Cllr Ennis has a long track record in the similar position for housing, where it is mooted he would be replaced by his ward colleague Cllr Deborah Edwards.

The precarious nature of Labour's minority control means that tonight's meeting could be a protracted affair and this decision is far from cut and dried. Conservatives are still considering whether to wirthdraw the motion of no confidence and it could be used to topple the Labour party from power if a deal with LibDems is struck.

Full Council meetings are open to the public, so why not go along and see the action unfold for yourselves!

Oranjepan asks:
with a wide-ranging review of policy in Cllr Ennis' current portfolio only just announced this week, suggesting Cllr Ennis failed to fully carry out his duties while in that post, is he really competent to take over?

Is tonight the night when we see democracy return to Reading for the first time since it's inception as a Unitary Authority?

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For full coverage of the events which have rocked Reading since the death of Child T, go to the Special Report on Children's Services in Reading (see sidebar).