A TORBAY councillor says she has been "sacked" from her role as a children's champion after she spoke out about failings in the children's services department.

Lib Dem Ellacombe ward councillor Cindy Stocks says she was stripped of her role after she made comments in a statement sent to the local media saying the council had been "found wanting".

Torbay Mayor Nick Bye said he was "disappointed" Councillor Stocks had used the matter as an opportunity for what he said was party politics.

He claimed she did not understand the issues raised by Ofsted inspectors, who recently criticised the contact referral and assessment arrangements for some vulnerable children and said the council was not "adequately safeguarding children".

Ms Stocks said she was "devastated" and she had been made a "fall guy".

In the original press release on the matter, issued by Torbay Council's Lib Dem group, Ms Stocks had said: "The key priority for the local authority should be that our children in need are looked after and safe. This report has found the council wanting. I feared this would happen, and have raised concerns with the council about this on numerous occasions, but my concerns do not appear to have been prioritised."

She said she was called in to see the mayor last Thursday afternoon.

She claimed: "When I went in to see him, he was on about this quote which wasn't even published in the Herald Express.

"I said to him I have spoken about my concerns in overview and scrutiny meetings, Cabinet and full council and he said that I hadn't come to him about them.

"I have spoken to the Cabinet member for children's services Councillor Anna Tolchard. I think I am basically being sacked after speaking out on behalf of the children."

Ms Stocks claimed the move was because she was not a "yes man" and had dared to speak out.

"He is trying to use me as a fall guy and trying to put the blame on someone else rather than on his administration," she claimed.

Ms Stocks claimed officers from all levels had raised concerns with her for the past two years about the "pressure they were under" and that the "capacity" wasn't there to safeguard children "effectively".

Mr Bye announced at a full council meeting on Thursday that he had chosen Councillor Julien Parrott to take on Ms Stocks' role and asked Ms Stocks to be champion for staying healthy because of her teenage conception work.

"There are important points to make about the Ofsted report," said Mr Bye.

"The first is we should work together and not see it as a reason for party political points scoring.

"I am very disappointed Cindy was part of the press release sent out by the Lib Dems and saw it as an opportunity for party politics, which is so unhelpful in this area.

"I think the world of Cindy. I paid tribute to her and her work at the full council meeting on Thursday evening but it's absolutely clear and unambiguous what the areas of improvement are in that particular area of children's services.

"Unfortunately, in conversation with Cindy and then when you read through the Lib Dem press release, I don't believe they understand the issues that were raised about professional practice in the report."

Speaking at the meeting at Oldway Mansion, Mayor Bye said it was "unfortunate" it had become a matter for 'personal comment'.

He reiterated the unitary authority was fortunate to have Dr Carol Tozer and Cabinet member for children's services Anna Tolchard to work with the service's team.

Speaking after the meeting, Mr Bye thanked Ms Stocks for "all that she had done", adding: "Councillor Parrott is very good at challenging, and working in a team to improve performance and to make sure that we have the right service to protect the most vulnerable in the Bay."

Mr Parrott pledged to continue to speak out. He said: "This particular issue is quite straightforward. We need to improve our performance, and we will."

But leader of the Lib Dem group, Councillor Steve Darling, said: "Rather than dealing with the problems that Ofsted have identified in their inspection, the mayor seems more interested in carrying out a political vendetta which he hopes will distract the public from his failings."

Ms Tolchard said: "Basically over the last few years, Councillor Stocks and her party have raised questions about funding of children's services so I don't think it's untrue to say that she on occasion has raised concerns.

She added: "I don't think it is because she has spoken out.

"Councillor Stocks had a wide remit chairing the teenage pregnancy board and the corporate parent forum. She has done a good job and is passionate about young people and children but he clearly felt she had a lot on her plate."