'Substantive progress' is being made to turn around failing children's services by Bromley Council, though the Government noted it is "still failing to perform to an adequate standard".

Ofsted branded Bromley’s child services inadequate in all areas in April 2016, citing a “corporate failure by the local authority that leaves too many children in neglectful and abusive situations for too long”.

This was followed by a further report published on August 31 which looked at how well local authorities have done in three key areas.

It looked at the experiences and progress of children who need help and protection, the experiences and progress of children looked after and achieving permanence and leadership, management and governance.

Out of 127 local authorities that were inspected, only 10, including Bromley, were deemed inadequate overall across the three key sections.

But a report published on September 7 following an Ofsted visit the previous month, said: "The local authority is making substantive progress in improving services for children and young people at risk of sexual exploitation, and some progress for those who go missing. In the cases reviewed on this visit, no inadequate practice was found and aspects of good practice were identified."

A statutory direction from the Department for Education published last week said acknowledged the council had improved and should keep control of its child services.

Yet it added: “Despite certain improvements noted by the secretary of state’s commissioner, the secretary of state remains satisfied that the council is still failing to perform to an adequate standard [in some of its functions]”

Former council leader, Councillor Stephen Carr, said: “We are pleased that the minister has accepted the commissioner’s recommendation that Bromley Council should continue to provide children’s social care services to the people of the borough.

“This decision indicates a real confidence in what we are doing to continue our stated trajectory towards providing excellent services to our young people.

“I should like to offer my thanks to Frankie Sulke for her advice and support and to members, officers and partners for the relentless work they have put in to enable us to achieve this position.”

Executive Member for Education and Children’s Services, Cllr Peter Fortune said:  “This is very positive news and I am delighted with the progress that has and is continuing to be made.  The Ofsted reports are positive and helpful and whilst we are mindful of the need to continue this important work, the fact that Government has said that control of children's services should remain with the council reflects what has happened here, with this achievement being virtually unprecedented.

Councillor Fortune added: "Bromley has placed children at the heart of its Building a Better Bromley principles and we are fully committed to ensuring that residents who need our support have the right type of help at the right time to keep them safe and allow them to achieve their full potential.

“The new management team, under Deputy Chief Executive Ade Adetosoye OBE, is making good progress in social work practice, borne out by the latest positive Ofsted monitoring report  I have no doubt we now have the commitment, enthusiasm and the appropriate management in place to go on further strengthening our children’s social care services for the people of Bromley.”