Pickles in Rotherham warning as Doncaster intervention ends

Mr Pickles asked Louise Casey, the head of the Government’s Troubled Familes Unit, to inspect Rotherham Council in the wake of the Jay report into the sexual abuse of children in the town published earlier this year.

In a written statement, Mr Pickles said the improvement in Doncaster demonstrated that a “targeted approach to intervention can turn around a dysfunctional mayoral administration”.

He continued: “The government considers that it is of the utmost importance that councils everywhere vigorously and effectively undertake their responsibilities for safeguarding children and young people.

“In the light of Louise Casey’s reports, we will take all actions necessary in relation to Rotherham or councils more generally, and my decision today is of course without prejudice to that.”

The last Government initially intervened in Doncaster in 2009 to oversee the council’s children’s services following the death of seven children in five years linked to abuse or neglect.

The following year, an Audit Commission report said Doncaster Council was “failing” and described the relationship between the elected mayor, cabinet and council as “dysfunctional”.

Following the last General Election, Mr Pickles ordered a team of Government commissioners to oversee the council.

Under new chief executive Jo Miller the council has undergone a dramatic overhaul including most recently the separation of children’s services into a dedicated trust.

Voters also installed a new executive mayor, Labour’s Ros Jones, last year after a narrow victory over incumbent Peter Davies.

A review of the council carried out by a team of local Government experts published earlier this year found it was “functioning well” with staff reporting a “sea change” in the culture of the authority.