OPEN LETTER TO THE GOVERNMENT: Do the right thing and take 'inadequate' children's services out of Tameside Council control

This week the Government will consider the findings of a review carried out by Andy Couldrick into the failings of Tameside's inadequate children's services.

The former chairman of Birmingham's Children's Trust was appointed children's services commissioner at Tameside following two scathing Ofsted reports into the failures of the service.

His remit includes assessing whether the long-term improvement of the services can be achieved under council control, and advising on alternative arrangements, such as the services being run by a trust. He is expected to report to the education secretary by the end of this month.

On election day, the Tameside Reporter revealed that scores of children were still being let down, despite the appointment of new management in the department.

Every week social workers were leaving children's services and children were being sent hundreds of miles away from their families and support network.

One boy was even intercepted on his way to school and taken to Reading, despite having a long list of complex care needs.

In addition, the council had discussed behind closed doors closing a panel representing thousands of parents and carers in Tameside.

Outside agencies have complained of a lack of communication from the department and many believe the needs of children come at the very bottom of the department's priorities.

For this reason, we urge the Government to take decisive action and remove control of children's services out of the hands of a council, which for years has proved it has little ability to run it properly. Only then, will the most vulnerable children in Tameside receive the care and support they need and deserve.