Full powers will not be returned to Rotherham until 2019

Full powers were revoked from the Council after a report from Professor Alexis Jay estimated 1,400 girls had been sexually abused in the region from 1997 to 2013, prompting Communities Secretary Eric Pickles to formally intervene.



Council functions will be gradually returned between now and March 2019, with the improvement board installed last year remaining in place, as well as new measures to ensure there can be no cover ups across local government.



The government response to the Communities and Local Government select committee's report on child sexual exploitation in Rotherham said: “All functions are expected to be returned to the council within four years. The terms of the intervention will remain in force until 31 March 2019, unless amended or revoked at an earlier date.

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New guidance will also be published with safeguarding responsibilities, which will include: “a new expectation that all organisations that have safeguarding responsibilities must have internal whistleblowing policies in place, which are then integrated into training and codes of conduct.”



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