Residents can submit questions for council meeting on CSE report

The special council meeting, which will be held on Monday, June 27, has been called to discuss the issues raised in the report, which was released earlier this week.

It will give both residents and councillors the opportunity to ask questions and find out more information.

The independent review was taken on by child protection specialist Malcolm Newsam CBE and former senior police officer Gary Ridgway. 

Its findings included the fact some children had been failed by the agencies which were supposed to protect them because child protection procedures had not been properly followed.

There were serious failings in the handling of some cases, such as that of ‘Sophie’, who was raped just hours after being turned away from Oldham police station to report that she had just been raped.

The report found no evidence of an orchestrated cover-up by senior managers or councillors nor of widespread CSE in residential settings, shisha bars or the local taxi trade. 

Cllr Amanda Chadderton, leader of Oldham Council, said the council accepted the findings of the report and was "deeply sorry" for the failings.

She added: "I can never fully understand what those girls went through, and I also know that an apology now will never make up for what happened in the past.   

"I do hope, however, to offer some reassurance that, as a Council, we haven’t stood still since the time period the review refers to."

The council meeting will be held at 6pm in the council chamber at the Civic Centre on Monday and will also be screened on the council's website.

Members of the public will be able to ask questions of Council representatives and Chief Superintendent Chris Bowen, District Commander for Oldham.

Support will also be on hand for those affected by issues raised in the report.

To submit a question for the meeting, visit Oldham Council's website.

The deadline for submissions is 12pm on Sunday, June 26.