A councillor has resigned from the Liberal Democrats over the failings in Oxfordshire’s special educational needs and disability (SEND) services.

Sally Povolotsky said she wanted to be “unfiltered” to speak up for constituents in the wake of Ofsted’s damning report in September into the county’s SEND system.

It is the latest political fallout from the report, which led to Labour quitting the ruling coalition with Lib Dems and Greens on Oxfordshire County Council.

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County councillors from across the political divide have since pledged to work together to fix SEND issues and a new Oxfordshire SEND improvement group has been created.

But Ms Povolotsky said she had seen no improvement since the Ofsted report.

She told the Oxford Mail: “I have concerns about the administration at Oxfordshire County Council to truly sort the systemic failures in SEND services.

“This hasn’t been an overnight decision.

“Since the Ofsted report I’ve not seen any change, and more importantly parents are showing me it’s getting worse from their side.

“I want to have a free voice to say exactly what residents want me to say and be unfiltered.”

The partnership which runs SEND services, which includes the county council, has claimed that action to deliver and implement improvements has begun.

It said last month that it had committed to continual dialogue with families, children and young people and professionals.

Liz Leffman, leader of the council and Lib Dem group, said she was “very sorry” that Ms Povolotsky had left the party, but added: “I know that she will continue to work hard on behalf of the residents of her division, in the way that she always has done, and I wish her well.”

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But Ms Povolotsky took a swipe at her former party, which she said needed “a greater focus on residents and the next generation."

She added that the Lib Dems should know that "there is more to Oxfordshire than Oxford City”.

Ms Povolotsky claimed there had been “some poor decision making” by the coalition in the two and a half years since it took over power from the Conservatives.

This included the controversial refusal of the major HIF1 infrastructure scheme in July, which she said would “cost millions and millions of pounds to fight” when it goes to Government inspection in February.

She said: “I’ve always said the system needs to change, since I campaigned in 2020/21 and it should be people before politics.

“My residents have faced exponential and continued growth in my locality, and not the matching infrastructure from transport, education to healthcare.”

Ms Povolotsky said she would stand as an Independent on both the county council and Vale of White Horse District Council.

She refused suggestions to call a byelection and insisted her “principles and values are greater than a party line”.