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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?

OP posts:
MrsKeats · 17/05/2025 12:21

You forgot some key information here op-he’s Reform too.
Given that 6 Reform councillors have already resigned I doubt he will last long.

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.

Ankther · 17/05/2025 12:18

To be honest, the person holding that job makes very little difference. Council budgets have effectively zero leeway now - they are stretched beyond the point of reality by legally-mandated SEN/children's services, temporary accommodation, and adult social care spending. There’s nothing left for the person ‘in charge’ to decide.

EarthlyNightshade · 17/05/2025 12:18

So he said this when appointed:
“Some say I’m young. I say that’s exactly what this role needs. I understand the challenges young people face today because I’ve been there. Now, I’m making sure young voices are heard.”

Scentedjasmin · 17/05/2025 12:17

Wow. Still, I'm sure that his older experienced female colleagues will whip him into shape. They'll make mincemeat out of him. I'll give him a week in the role!

JaneGrint · 17/05/2025 12:16

That’s insane. How can any 19 year old possibly have the experience or training needed to successfully run any council department?

EarthlyNightshade · 17/05/2025 12:16

I'm guessing "practically a child himself so loads of experience" of that.

I don't think the people who need to use children's services would generally vote Reform.

REDB99 · 17/05/2025 12:16

What? I’ve worked in education for over 20 years and have lots of experience with SEND provision and when a similar job came up near me I questioned if I was experienced enough and didn’t apply!
FFS.

ZepherinDrouhin · 17/05/2025 12:15

Well this is going to be interesting, let's see how long he'll last. Are there any compromising pictures of him or reports of anti social behaviour since he's only 19 so they'll be easily found on the Internet?!!

whitewineandsun · 17/05/2025 12:15

Fucking hell. That's insane.

Genuinelyenquiring · 17/05/2025 12:14

It makes me feel sick.

S0j0urn4r · 17/05/2025 12:14

Fuuuuuck! 😯

SickofSoup · 17/05/2025 12:14

I hadn’t spotted this but it affects me. Fabulous.

MyOliveHelper · 17/05/2025 12:13

Jesus

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