Children's services chief to quit after four years

CLARE CURRAN IS CREDITED WITH TURNING AROUND THE STRUGGLING SYSTEM

- By EMILY DALTON

SURREY County Council's cabinet member for children's services has announced that she is standing down from the role, and will not be standing for re-election.

Clare Curran has stepped down to become the authority's deputy cabinet member for children's services, with a particular focus on special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).

The news comes after Cllr Curran spent a week in the headlines, including an apparent U-turn on "closing down communication channels" with Surrey MPs for individual cases in which "where a more appropriate alternative route is available", although there is no suggestion that this is behind her move.

At a full council meeting on May 20, Cllr Curran denied that communication was being cut back or closed down, and said she wanted to hear from MPs and work constructively with them.

County council leader Cllr Tim Oliver said: "I will not stand by and allow some members to denigrate the work of this council and our officers who are achieving good and improving outcomes for the residents of Surrey."