...using powers in the Education Act 1996, the children's minister has today written to the council giving them a formal direction:

-to immediately appoint Mr Tony Elson to chair an independent improvement board, which will report directly to ministers;

-to submit an improvement plan to be approved by the new board;

-and to require the council to co-operate with my department to bring in a new senior management team to take over the leadership and management of Doncaster children's services as soon as practicable.

Winter said,

If I thought my behaviour had in anyway contributed to the deaths [of the children failed by social services] I would have no bones about resigning and apologising. I do not believe this is the case.

I thought the elected mayoral system was all about establishing leadership and accountability, so why won't Winter accept responsibility for his lack of leadership in social care for children.

It seems he is more than happy to to wield his power and authority and collect his inflated pay cheque, but somehow is unable to deal with accountability - unless, of course, it's praise not condemnation that is being dished out.

Winter's two terms of office have been an unmitigated disaster for the council and Doncaster itself.