During a debate on the second reading of the Bill in the House of Lords, Laming said he had "grave reservations" about the proposed structure of local safeguarding children boards.
The legislation would enshrine local flexibility on who should chair the boards, but Laming said he had recommended they should be chaired by the local authority's chief executive.
"First, I believe supporting children and families must include many of the services provided by the local authority. It is one of the most challenging tasks undertaken by local government," he said. "If it goes wrong, the consequences are serious.
"Secondly, the involvement of the chief executive is likely to influence the level of representation by the other key services.
Register Now to Continue Reading
Thank you for visiting Children & Young People Now and making use of our archive of more than 60,000 expert features, topics hubs, case studies and policy updates. Why not register today and enjoy the following great benefits:
What's Included
-
Free access to 4 subscriber-only articles per month
-
Email newsletter providing advice and guidance across the sector
Already have an account? Sign in here
