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New leader pledges safeguards
Benedict Moore-Bridger10.12.08
HARINGEY council has elected a new leader who has made child protection services her priority, after the sackings and resignations of senior figures in the Baby P scandal.
Labour councillor Claire Kober was voted in at a meeting last night after George Meehan resigned. He left in the wake of a report exposing the failings of social services in the borough which was labelled "devastating" by Children's Secretary Ed Balls.
Haringey also elected Lorna Reith to replace Liz Santry as cabinet member for children and young people.
Ms Kober, who represents Seven Sisters and had been chief whip, said: "My immediate priority is to ensure that robust arrangements are in place to safeguard children across our borough. I will introduce whatever changes are necessary to enable this council to regain the confidence of local residents."
Before entering politics she worked in the voluntary sector, managing policy and campaigns on child poverty and domestic violence. Ms Reith, who was council deputy leader, said: "We have taken full responsibility for all the failings in our child protection service.
The councillor, who was elected in Tottenham Hale in 2003, added that she would be working to "make all the improvements necessary".
