This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/england/south_yorkshire/7837111.stm
The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Mayor loses 'no confidence' vote | |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| The elected mayor of Doncaster has lost a vote of no confidence after a government inquiry was ordered following the deaths of seven children. | |
| Seven serious case reviews are under way in the town into the deaths of children involving neglect and abuse. | |
| The council voted in favour of a motion that Martin Winter should quit and accept responsibility for "the failure of the children's service". | |
| It was passed by 46 votes to 6, but Mr Winter has not yet made any comment. | |
| Despite the vote, Mr Winter cannot be compelled to resign. | |
| Last July, the mayor remained in office despite losing a vote of no confidence which said his style of leadership conflicted with the best interests of the council. | Last July, the mayor remained in office despite losing a vote of no confidence which said his style of leadership conflicted with the best interests of the council. |
| 'Honourable thing' | 'Honourable thing' |
| Councillor Joe Blackham, the leader of the council's Labour group, has proposed the latest attempt to oust Mr Winter. | Councillor Joe Blackham, the leader of the council's Labour group, has proposed the latest attempt to oust Mr Winter. |
| His motion, seconded by Labour councillor Mick Jameson, says: "This council calls upon Martin Winter to accept full responsibility regarding the failure of the Children and Young People's Service that has occurred within his period of office. | His motion, seconded by Labour councillor Mick Jameson, says: "This council calls upon Martin Winter to accept full responsibility regarding the failure of the Children and Young People's Service that has occurred within his period of office. |
| "We request he does the only honourable thing and resigns with immediate effect." | "We request he does the only honourable thing and resigns with immediate effect." |
| Last month, an Ofsted report called children's services in the area "inadequate". | Last month, an Ofsted report called children's services in the area "inadequate". |
| It said of the 317 children on the local protection register, one in four had not been allocated a social worker. | It said of the 317 children on the local protection register, one in four had not been allocated a social worker. |
| It also said that most of the town's children's homes failed to meet minimum national standards. | It also said that most of the town's children's homes failed to meet minimum national standards. |
| Children's minister Beverley Hughes wrote to the council earlier this month to express concern about the situation. | Children's minister Beverley Hughes wrote to the council earlier this month to express concern about the situation. |
| Her letter said: "It is crucial that the root causes of these failings are fully explored and that the capacity and capability of the council and its key partners to drive improvement in these areas is fully assessed." | Her letter said: "It is crucial that the root causes of these failings are fully explored and that the capacity and capability of the council and its key partners to drive improvement in these areas is fully assessed." |
| Of the seven deaths being examined in serious case reviews, two of the children were murdered by their fathers and four were under the age of one at the time of their deaths. | Of the seven deaths being examined in serious case reviews, two of the children were murdered by their fathers and four were under the age of one at the time of their deaths. |