Councillors have been left waiting for months for a decision on key information on improvements to Sefton's troubled children's services.
Last year, Sefton Council's children's services were placed in special measures after a dire Ofsted inspection which found a series of failings that left some of the borough's most vulnerable children at risk. Among measures taken in the aftermath of the report, which brought government appointed commissioners into the department, was the setting up of an improvement board, tasked with overseeing key changes.
Following a review carried out by then commissioner Paul Moffat over the summer, some concerns were raised about the structure and membership of the board, with recommendations made to reduce the number of people on the board and to make some replacements.
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This included appointing an independent chair, Paul Boyce - who has since also been appointed as the new commissioner tasked with transforming the service. Members of the borough's overview and scrutiny committee also raised concerns at the lack of transparency over decisions taken by the board - with multiple requests for minutes of board meetings to be made public.
At a meeting held in July, concerns were raised by Liberal democrat deputy leader Cllr Leo Evans around a "lack of transparency". Other councillors also expressed concern there was so little information about the activities of the improvement board that it made it difficult for the committee to scrutinise what was being done.
In July, the issue was raised by Sefton Conservative leader Cllr Mike Prendergast at full council, where cabinet member for children's social care, Cllr Mhairi Doyle said one of the issue was the possible inclusion of "sensitive information."
At an overview and scrutiny meeting held in September, the issue was raised once again, with councillors being told the request would be raised at the next meeting of the improvement board.
However, at a further meeting of the overview and scrutiny committee held just before Christmas, councillors once again expressed their concern that little progress had been made on providing the minutes or even an update.
It was noted: "The Committee has again requested receipt of copies of reports and Minutes of the Improvement Board, together with a request for the Chair of the Improvement Board to attend a meeting of the Committee, and the Committee has not yet been notified of the outcome of the requests."
Speaking to the LDRS about the issue, Cllr Leo Evans said the situation was "very frustrating."
Cllr Evans said: "The improvement board that clearly has a big impact on what the future direction of children's services is, a board that councillors and opposition councillors haven't been given an opportunity to participate in and scrutinise so not even getting the minutes on it has made it very difficult and very frustrating.
"Successive Ofsted reports have shown there is a cultural problem within Sefton social services. I am hopeful a new leadership team can start ot make changes on that.
"However, it's the level of secrecy that just doesn't make any sense, and it's something we've raised time and time again that if you're going to improve children's services you need to be upfront and honest.
"Those of us who are members of the overview and scrutiny committee are there because we're passionate and we care. It's hard for us to scrutinise the decisions being made when we're not even being given the minutes.
"I know they are making a difference in that the chair of the committee is now on the board, but it's not the same thing as being able to see what's actually being discussed.
"I can understand if there are issues or safeguarding concerns but you can redact those minutes, there is also an avenue for councillors to be given access to confidential information that isn't given to the public or press but time and time again they have refused to acknowledge the issue, if they have to acknowledge it don't move it forward."
Sefton Council was approached for comment about why the minutes had not been released or whether they would be made available to councillors and the public. A spokesperson said the council were declining to comment on the issue.
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