Daily roundup: Rochdale resignation, the Scout Promise, and Bristol young offenders in judicial review

The chair of Rochdale's Safeguarding Children's Board has resigned. The BBC reports that Lynne Jones, who was the board’s independent chair for two years, said the time was right to bring in a new chair and “take the board forward”. Jones had been involved with a review following the recent child sexual exploitation trial in Rochdale, which heard girls as young as 13 were abused. The review found that child protection services repeatedly failed to act.

UK Scouting has launched a survey to ask its members whether an alternative version of the Scout Promise should be developed for atheists. Alternative versions of the words “duty to God” exist for faith groups such as Muslims, Hindus and Buddhists, but there is currently no option for atheists. Wayne Bulpitt, UK chief commissioner of the Scouts, said: “We are a values-based movement and exploring faith and religion will remain a key element of the Scouting programme. That will not change. However, throughout our 105-year history, we have continued to evolve so that we remain relevant to communities across the UK.”

A legal hearing into the punishment of seven young people at a young offender institution (YOI) in Bristol will begin today. The BBC reports that the young people’s lawyers will argue that Ashfield YOI ran an “unlawful punishment regime”. It is claimed the young men were unlawfully handed additional days in custody following a sit-in protest. The young people were also allegedly subjected to segregation, had their privileges removed and were restricted access to education and the gym. The hearing will take place at the Administrative Court in London.