THE LEADER of Newport council has suggested it was inappropriate for a neighbouring local authority to question its decision to withdraw from a Gwent-wide children's support service.

Cllr Debbie Wilcox has written in response to a motion passed by Monmouthshire council last month, opposing Newport City Council's decision to pull out of the Sensory and Communication Support Service (SenCom).

The motion, put forward by the leader of the Labour group in Monmouthshire, said the authority "strongly disagrees" with Newport's decision and "deeply regrets the level of uncertainty it has created around this essential support network."

Monmouthshire council's cabinet member for children and young people, Cllr Richard John, wrote to Cllr Wilcox after the motion was passed "to express our continued frustration and disappointment" at the decision.

Read more: parents-of-a-blind-newport-boy-speak-out-about-sencom-decision/

But Cllr Wilcox has responded, raising her own concerns over how the motion was presented.

In the letter, Cllr Wilcox says: "I am concerned that it was thought appropriate for one local authority to question and challenge the sovereign decision of another.

"This concern is made more acute by the apparent non-assembly of appropriate views before the debate and the lack of facts within it, notably the reassurance provided by Roger Thurlbeck (head of SenCom)."

In his letter, Cllr John says Monmouthshire councillors were concerned about the impact of Newport's withdrawal "on the resilience of service available within the remaining four authorities."

But Cllr Wilcox says that the head of SenCom has provided an "unequivocal statement", stating that the service will continue to be provided to children in Monmouthshire and the other three local authorities, unaffected by Newport's decision to withdraw.

And the leader of Newport council reiterates that the authority can deliver "an equivalent service", saving around £250,000 by withdrawing from SenCom.

"Rather than challenge Newport's approach it might be beneficial to consider the efficiency implications for SenCom," Cllr Wilcox adds.

The letters will go before a full meeting of Monmouthshire council on Thursday.