Daily roundup 1 July: Coventry DCS, child abuse and Rotherham

Coventry Council has appointed a new director of children's services. Gail Quinton, currently director of children’s services at Worcestershire County Council, is to become the executive director for people at the local authority, according to The Coventry Observer.


The man in charge of Oxfordshire County Council’s children’s services department has warned that a surge in child abuse scandals has resulted in huge pressure on his department. The Oxford Times reports that Jim Leivers, director of children’s services at the council, said a reduction in money from the government to tackle the issue along with the issue itself was leading to a “perfect storm”.


The former police and crime commissioner for South Yorkshire will not face investigation over his knowledge of the Rotherham child sexual exploitation scandal. The Rotherham Star reports the Independent Police Complaints Commission has ruled there is “no evidence” to suggest that Shaun Wright may have committed any criminal act after three complaints were made.


A summit that aims to look at how obesity rates can continue to be tackled is to be held by Medway Council. About 70 delegates, including Diabetes UK and supermarket giant Tesco, will look at what has happened over the past 12 months since the first obesity summit, raise the profile of tackling obesity and set out aims for the next 12 months. The summit will take place on Friday from 10am to 3.30pm at the Brook Theatre in Chatham.


Safeguarding training is not being given by Salford Council to taxi drivers who take children with special needs to school, the Manchester Evening News reports. Home-to-school transport is given to more than 800 pupils, with 81 companies contracted by the council taking young people to 77 schools or specialist centres. The independent audit report also found Disclosure and Barring Service checks are not recorded properly for every driver.