Improve your child services or lose them, council told

In a letter to Doncaster’s elected mayor Peter Davies, Mr Gove said Professor Julian Le Grand of the London School of Economics would examine the possibility of an outside organisation taking over.

Doncaster Council has faced repeated criticism of its children’s services, and the notorious Edlington attacks of 2009, in which two young brothers attacked two other boys, led to major concern.

Late last year, a review by Lord Carlile of Berriew of that incident, ordered by Mr Gove, revealed services were still inadequate – a finding backed by a devastating report by watchdog Ofsted.

Yesterday Mr Gove repeated his belief that an earlier serious case review into the Edlington case had been “highly unsatisfactory” and that there had been “insufficient progress” in Doncaster.

“Given the repeated failures to address shortcomings in child protection, more radical action is now required,” he added.

“Sustaining improvement in such complex systems requires stability and, above all, consistent, inspirational leadership. The recent history of Doncaster Council suggests these conditions will not be met.”

Prof Le Grand, assisted by Alan Wood, director of children’s services at Hackney Council in London, would report back to the Education Secretary in May.

Mr Gove added: “They will review whether an independent organisation, delivering children’s services outside of council control, would provide the greatest likelihood of improvement.”

No local authority has ever faced such a threat and the council has also been ordered to find a private sector “delivery partner” to make immediate improvements while the Le Grand review takes place.

Mr Gove said worries over the running of the council also meant it would continue to be run under Government supervision until July 2015. Government intervention first began in 2009 and was meant to end this summer.

On Monday, the Yorkshire Post revealed Chris Pratt, the current head of children’s services, had asked for £2m to tackle his department’s deep-rooted problems.

Neither Mr Pratt, nor the council’s chief executive Jo Miller, made themselves available for interview on Mr Gove’s comments.

Mr Davies last night said he would be “considering the Secretary of State’s proposals and replying to him in due course”.