Conservative Proposals for DBS Checks for Sefton Councillors Finally Agreed

Conservative Proposals for DBS Checks for Sefton Councillors Finally Agreed

Following the news that the Audit & Governance Committee of Sefton Council has agreed that all Sefton councillors should be subject to mandatory DBS checks on taking office, with enhanced checks for those on committees dealing with vulnerable adults and children and for all cabinet members, Conservative Group Leader, Mike Prendergast, has welcomed the news.

Mike Prendergast commented, “It’s genuinely good news that our proposal, originally submitted in 2022, will now likely be put into effect and recommended to full council. Following the conviction of a former Sefton Labour councillor for child sexual offences, the public need to see their elected officials take action, doing nothing was not an option.”

“This measure should have been in place back in 2022 and extended following recommendations in 2023. It’s taken the conviction of a former Sefton councillor for truly heinous and disgusting crimes for this to come about.”

“Sadly, and shamefully, Labour councillors and Liberal Democrat councillors voted against the measures when they were first proposed back in 2022 with them describing DBS checks for councillors as ‘gesture politics’, ‘a misleading gimmick’ and ‘flawed’. “

“I don’t think taking practical steps, which every other profession and vocation dealing with vulnerable people is subject to, is anything other than incredibly important and the only way that Sefton Council can comply with the requirements of the relevant legislation.”

“The public, rightly, hold elected officials to high standards and expect, as a bare minimum, their councillors to be subject to the same checks that they would be.”

“With so many new councillors likely to be elected to Sefton Council in 2026 it’s especially important that this measure is in place before a new influx of elected representatives join the council.”

“This common sense measure is to be welcomed, albeit belatedly, and whilst no system is perfect, it demonstrates that Conservatives on Sefton Council are holding Labour to account and ensuring that the public’s voice on important issues is being heard.”