Emergency debate after child deaths

Ministers launched a review of Doncaster Council's children's services department in response to "very serious" issues raised by an Ofsted inspection last month.

There are concerns that seven children have died in the area since late 2004 in cases involving abuse or neglect.

Serious case reviews have been commissioned to find out what mistakes were made in each instance, although so far only three have been completed.

Today's meeting, at Doncaster's Mansion House, will "debate and discuss as a matter of urgency" child protection issues in the borough.

Doncaster Mayor Martin Winter said he was fully supportive of the Government-led review. He has voiced fears that councillors will call for his resignation at the meeting.

The new inquiry into failings in Doncaster, South Yorkshire, follows the outcry over the death of 17-month-old Baby P at the hands of his mother, her boyfriend and their lodger in August 2007.

Haringey Council in north London was severely criticised after it emerged that the little boy was on the child protection register and had received 60 contacts with the authorities over eight months before he died.

Children's minister Beverley Hughes wrote to Doncaster Council to express concerns about the Ofsted report's finding that its provision for children was "inadequate".

She said she had instructed her officials to carry out a "thorough diagnostic review" of the local authority's children's services department.