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It may seem odd to cite a social security problem as relevant to planning and the environment. But the death of Victoria Climbié led to a major report on why the bureaucracy had failed. The main conclusion was complexity and muddle were the prime causes. In his final report, Lord Laming said on publication of report into death of Victoria Climbie
“Whilst it is easy to condemn the poor practice that was so apparent in Victoria's case, it is harder to understand how it could have been allowed to occur. It is with this question that much of the report is concerned. This is important not least because I have concluded that the current legislative framework is fundamentally sound. I am persuaded that the gap is in its implementation. Having considered all the evidence it is not to the hapless front-line staff that I direct most criticism for the failure to protect Victoria. True their performance often fell well short of an acceptable standard of work. But the greatest failure rests with the senior managers and members of the organisations concerned whose responsibility it was to ensure that the services they provided to children such as Victoria were properly financed, staffed and able to deliver good quality services to children and families. The front-line staff were all employees acting on behalf of the organisations which employed them. Those in senior positions carried, on behalf of us all, the responsibility for the quality, efficiency and effectiveness of the services delivered. They must be accountable for what happened. That is why their posts exist.
“Alas far too often that simple and easily understood fact was either not understood or not accepted by those in these top positions. Too often they attempted to distance themselves from matters of service delivery. Too often they claimed to be ignorant about what happened at the front door. Too often they attempted to justify their position in terms of bureaucratic activity rather than in outcomes for children. I am in no doubt that this Inquiry Report must have as its primary objective that it will bring about a major change in the way these key public services are managed. No longer should it be possible for senior staff to make a defence for service failure out of what often seemed to be inward looking and self serving procedures.”
A similar failure; an identical inability for anyone to accept overall responsibility not only puts the environment at risk, but also prevents effective planning and development.
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