BRADFORD Council must not become a “backseat driver” when a new trust takes over the District’s Children’s Services.

Earlier this year it was announced that the services would be taken away from Bradford Council following years of poor performance and critical Ofsted reviews.

It will instead be run by a trust.

Although Bradford Council will remain legally responsible for the service, it will no longer be in charge of its day-to-day delivery.

The trust will “go live” in April, and the Council recently announced that Eileen Milner has been appointed as the Chair of the Trust.

The Trust was discussed at a meeting of Bradford Council’s Executive this week.

Chief Executive of the Council Kersten England said the Council had recently discussed the future of the service with staff. She said: “Feedback from staff has ranged from excitement at the possibility of a fresh start to concerns about employment.”

She described the formation of the Trust as a “complex, technical piece of work” and revealed PriceWaterhouseCooper was helping with its establishment.

This support was being funded by the Department for Education.

Referring to the April deadline for the establishment of the Trust, she said: “The deadline is accepted to be a challenging one – it would be the fastest time any such trust has been established. Apart from Birmingham it would be the largest trust of its type that has ever been established.

“We’re committed to making this Trust work.”

The youth justice and early help and prevention services would also be tied into the new trust.

Council Leader Susan Hinchcliffe said: “We’re keen for a fresh start for staff and children. We know Eileen is a capable, experienced leader who will put Bradford first.

“There is a very short time frame we’re working to but we’re keen to get on with it as quickly as possible.”

Councillor Geoff Winnard (Cons, Bingley) is the chair of the Council’s Children’s Services Scrutiny Committee. He said: “We’re pleased progress is being made.”

However, he raised concerns that with focus on the future trust, the current Children’s Service department might be neglected.

He said: “It is important that our foot is not taken off the gas when it comes to our improvement plan.”

Cllr Winnard also warned that the Council needed to let the trust do its job, adding: “We can’t, in any way, have the Council as a backseat driver trying to steer this trust. It is important they have freedoms to operate.”

He urged Council leaders to let the Trust establish itself, and not be too eager to take back services too soon after they improve.

Councillor Kyle Green (Cons, Ilkley) said: “This is not about the Labour group or the Conservative group, it is about the Council coming together to make this work. Conversations have been constructive so far – it must remain that way. We all rise and fall together.”

Cllr Hinchcliffe said she felt the introduction of the trust would help boost recruitment of social workers, as potential staff may prefer working for a trust to a local authority.

She added: “It could give Bradford a competitive edge when it comes to recruiting.

“The most important people in this District are our children, and we need to ensure we have the best service for them.”