Calls have been made for a total review of Powys County Council’s involvement with a Newtown couple who had their baby die.
At tomorrow’s full council meeting (Thursday, 11 July) Plaid Cymru group leader, Cllr Elwyn Vaughan hopes to be allowed to ask children’s services to explain their relationship and involvement with the parents and baby.
Plaid Cymru group leader, Cllr Elwyn Vaughan, said: “I want a report done with a total review of this case to ensure that Powys has acted as it should. If that cannot be done internally then that should be done externally.
“Last year I highlighted my severe concerns about the support or lack of it for those former looked after children (lac) on leaving care with a motion. Council fully supported that motion.”
Cllr Vaughan said that he had asked to be allowed to ask the questions but has not been given an answer yet as to whether they will be heard.
Among the question Cllr Vaughan wants answered is:
Has the Care Inspectorate Wales (CIW) have been informed?
Was the child a ward of court?
The young parents have taken to social media to address rumours about the death.
They said: “We loved that boy with all our hearts and nothing will come close to the pain of losing our precious smiley little man.”
Dyfed-Powys Police received a report that an infant had died at an address in Newtown on May 20, 2019.
The incident was referred to Her Majesty’s Coroner and as a result a forensic post mortem was conducted to establish the cause of death.
Dyfed-Powys Police say that this was inconclusive.
Further forensic tests are being done to find the cause of death and that specially trained officers are supporting the family.”
Alison Bulman, PCC’s corporate director for children and adults, (social services), said: “We are aware of the death of an 11-week-old infant, which is being investigated by Dyfed-Powys Police and will offer our assistance during the course of their investigation.
“Our thoughts are with the family and we will provide support to them during this difficult time.”
Inquiries into the circumstances are still ongoing.
By Elgarn Hearn, Local Democracy Service Reporter
