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Original poster

19 year old in charge of Children’s Services for Leicestershire Council

239 replies

MmeChoufleur · 17/05/2025 12:13

Reform have appointed a 19 year old, Councillor Charles Pugsley, to run Children’s Services for Leicestershire County Council, . How would you feel about this if you lived in the borough and had SEND children?

Does this make a mockery of democracy, handing over such an important role to a person with no experience in the workplace, certainly not at any high level?

Will this make Reform voters sit up and think about the consequences of voting for this party?

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MrsBennetsPoorNerves · 18/08/2025 21:27

mum2jakie · 18/08/2025 19:36

I think this is a different (young) fella? The lad who has gone is a 22 year old with adult social care under his portfolio according to the links above.

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Yes, this is correct. The 19yo is still in post.... for the time being.

mum2jakie · 18/08/2025 19:36

KenAdams · 18/08/2025 16:42

He's no longer in post as of today. Who could have predicted that?

I think this is a different (young) fella? The lad who has gone is a 22 year old with adult social care under his portfolio according to the links above.

Puzzledandpissedoff · 18/08/2025 19:22

soupyspoon · 18/08/2025 16:55

Why whats happened? Has he been grounded or something?

He probably got fed up of being expected to know about ... well, anything really

Wingedharpy · 18/08/2025 17:14

soupyspoon · 18/08/2025 16:55

Why whats happened? Has he been grounded or something?

😂😂 😅

StandFirm · 18/08/2025 16:56

MmeChoufleur · 17/05/2025 12:13

Reform have appointed a 19 year old, Councillor Charles Pugsley, to run Children’s Services for Leicestershire County Council, . How would you feel about this if you lived in the borough and had SEND children?

Does this make a mockery of democracy, handing over such an important role to a person with no experience in the workplace, certainly not at any high level?

Will this make Reform voters sit up and think about the consequences of voting for this party?

It's the DOGE way (at least it's got that 'approach' written all over it, remember Musk's massive financial support): appoint 19-20 something males with zero experience but ideological alignment. If that's not a sign of what's to come if we don't stop them, I don't know what is.
Seriously... Reform is NOT the solution to any of our problems, no matter how real and pressing those issues are. We all deserve better.

soupyspoon · 18/08/2025 16:55

Why whats happened? Has he been grounded or something?

thepariscrimefiles · 18/08/2025 16:45

KenAdams · 18/08/2025 16:42

He's no longer in post as of today. Who could have predicted that?

Resigned or sacked?

KenAdams · 18/08/2025 16:42

He's no longer in post as of today. Who could have predicted that?

GoingNow · 13/06/2025 08:29

mum2jakie · 12/06/2025 22:41

He wouldn't have any involvement or influence over individual children and families and their specific plans.

The risk would be more general - as the councillor would have influence over policy directions, budgets and investment in different parts of the service. So still able to cause damage to Children's Services and its functioning through ignorance or incompetence...

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And council meetings are public. I might tune in online to say just how he reports on, holds to account and questions senior LA officers.

I often watch my local council sessions and read agenda’s, reports and minutes.

mum2jakie · 12/06/2025 22:41

AquarianGirl · 12/06/2025 21:35

There's challenges of maybe not getting your homework done on time and challenges of saying, whether a toddler should be put into care or kept with his heroin addicted parents. What challenges exactly is he talking about? I don't understand how on earth he was appointed to this role.

He wouldn't have any involvement or influence over individual children and families and their specific plans.

The risk would be more general - as the councillor would have influence over policy directions, budgets and investment in different parts of the service. So still able to cause damage to Children's Services and its functioning through ignorance or incompetence...

AquarianGirl · 12/06/2025 21:35

There's challenges of maybe not getting your homework done on time and challenges of saying, whether a toddler should be put into care or kept with his heroin addicted parents. What challenges exactly is he talking about? I don't understand how on earth he was appointed to this role.

Sesma · 18/05/2025 15:10

Gall10 · 18/05/2025 14:34

Wait til Deform get into government and appoint an unemployed rightwing gammon as chancellor of the exchequer or minister of health!

You sound very childish, do you always speak like this

Boredlass · 18/05/2025 15:00

MozartJoy · 17/05/2025 12:55

Mhairi Black was fantastic.

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And maybe he will be too… or don’t think he won’t because he’s a man?

Willyoujustbequiet · 18/05/2025 14:55

AlastheDaffodils · 17/05/2025 12:20

He’s not “running” children‘s services day-to-day. He’s the councillor with responsibility for them. It’s a part time oversight-type role. The department won’t fall apart.

It’s still stupid though.

This.

The council officers are the ones running it.

OhCrumbsWhereNow · 18/05/2025 14:48

Gall10 · 18/05/2025 14:37

I never realized there were so many Deform supporters on this site.

Not a supporter, but it's attitudes and posts like yours that might mean I vote for them next time.

Gall10 · 18/05/2025 14:37

I never realized there were so many Deform supporters on this site.

Gall10 · 18/05/2025 14:35

GoingNow · 17/05/2025 18:45

Don't be ridiculous @MmeChoufleur He can't be running Children’s Services.

Directors of CYPS have graduate training and many years at senior levels in social work or education.

He could be the council member assigned to Childrens Services. All councils have them, regardless of party. In fact, I'm not sure which party our member is part of.

He will have such a lot to learn in his role in holding to account senior LA leaders.

You do have to remember that he has been voted in by the people of Leicestershire. They must have confidence that he has the experience and background to carry out such an important role in being the elected voice for children and families in the area. 🤔

Edited

Is this a satirical post?

Gall10 · 18/05/2025 14:34

Wait til Deform get into government and appoint an unemployed rightwing gammon as chancellor of the exchequer or minister of health!

deusexmacintosh · 18/05/2025 14:30

housinglife · 17/05/2025 15:45

Ah yes, this. My favourite post on this topic was when a MNetter said, ' There is no need to use the word moron when you can say idiot instead.'

And there we have it.

Activists have resurrected the lost meaning of the word moron, and decided to 'educate' people on it, just so that they can recouple the meaning to the word, entirely for the purpose of manufacturing outrage at its use.

I find this a senseless endeavour.

So you carry on using the words you want to and I will use the words I want to.

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Oh yeah? What next? You gonna resurrect historic words like n*gro to describe black people too, because you want to?

If a community tells you to stop using bigoted ableist/racist slurs that have been used to oppress and persecute them for centuries, then you stop. Or else, as Jimi Hendrix put it, one day you're gonna end up on the floor with your teeth knocked out when a member of that minority group overhears you saying it.

Growlybear83 · 18/05/2025 14:26

Apora · 18/05/2025 12:25

I wouldn’t say that couldn’t be bothered to vote is necessarily accurate. Perhaps they thought there was nobody worth voting for. Out of the last few general elections, I mostly didn’t vote for this reason - all options bad.

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Do you really think that 70% of the electorate do t vote because they don’t think there is anyone worth voting for? Most constituencies have candidates representing at least three parties in local and national elections, and a large proportion have many more as well as independents. If you can’t support one party enough to vote for them surely you vote for the party that you feel is the least worst option, or at the very least, make the effort to go to the polling station and make a protest by spoiling your ballot paper. If you don’t vote, you give up your right to complain about anything that the winning party chooses to do.

ethelredonagoodday · 18/05/2025 13:12

PhilippaGeorgiou · 17/05/2025 12:46

😂😂😂
And if there was any evidence needed that they haven't a clue how councils are run. The statutory power (in other words, the person who runs Children's Services) lies with the Director, and that is who actually runs the service. Given budgetary constraints and statutory obligations, he might be "heard" but he won't be "listened to" because the service will do what they must. As with most social services, there simply isn't enough money to provide all that is needed, never mind all that is wanted.

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Yep totally agree.

HollyBerryz · 18/05/2025 13:09

Councillors don't run anything and have naff all power in my experience. Age is irrelevant it depends on his experience and knowledge.

ethelredonagoodday · 18/05/2025 13:05

AlastheDaffodils · 17/05/2025 12:20

He’s not “running” children‘s services day-to-day. He’s the councillor with responsibility for them. It’s a part time oversight-type role. The department won’t fall apart.

It’s still stupid though.

NRTFT yet, but…
Yep agree with this. If it’s anything like our council, most of the lead councillors just do a rubber stamp job on recommendations made by officers. It’ll be an eye opener for him though!

Ihateslugs · 18/05/2025 12:34

I feel so fortunate to be represented on the council by a wonderful guy - I did not vote for him but I certainly will in future. He is youngish ( to me anyway!), has a full time job and a family but finds the time to work tirelessly on behalf of the community.

We have an active local FB group and if he reads about something in his ward that needs attention, he will sort it out and post back the outcome. Recently a bus stop was vandalised overnight and there was glass all over the pavement as well as dangerous exposed metal posts. As well as reporting it to the appropriate council office, he went round and swept up the glass then put tape around the shelter to keep school children who use it safe. He cycles to and from work and regularly highlights dangerous potholes or faulty traffic lights etc to the council.

I don’t know how he finds the time to do as much as he does and keep us informed of what’s going on but I know everyone really appreciates his hard work. People from other wards sometimes comment that they wish he was their representative!