CALLS for the resignation senior councillors following a damning Ofsted report into Wirral children's services were rejected during a special meeting of the full council.

Conservatives demanded town hall leader Cllr Phil Davies should stand down along with cabinet member for children and family services Cllr Tony Smith, chairman of the people overview scrutiny committee Cllr Moira McLaughlin, and Labour's "Pledge Champion" for vulnerable children Cllr Treena Johnson.

The strategic director of families and wellbeing and other senior officers were also asked to consider their positions and "honestly assess whether they are the right people to lead and oversee the desperate requirement to improve this service."

The call for heads to roll was made in a notice of motion from the Tory group which also poured scorn on the leadership for "a culture of spin and news management which has pervaded the Labour ranks" since the critical Ofsted report was made public.

The review brought to light a catalogue of serious and widespread failings.

Ofsted rated child safeguarding as inadequate - the lowest category possible - and revealed vulnerable youngsters are being subjected to unacceptable delays leading to them facing ever-increasing risks.

The watchdog found most of the problems disclosed by its review "were known by senior council leaders."

Conservative group leader Cllr Jeff Green said: "The report is truly shocking.

"The Labour party should take responsibility for these failings.

"At the last full council meeting Cllr Tony Smith said Ofsted were currently in social services and the inspection was going well.

"I fail to see how it was going well."

Addressing Cllr Smith he blasted: "You really do need to stand aside."

But Cllr Smith replied: "We are fully aware of the problems in children's services and we are working on these.

"It's not good enough nor is it of the quality of service people expect."

Green Party councillor Pat Cleary said the report highlighted "massive cultural failings in how the council operates."

Conservative councillor Ian Lewis asked: “Are we seriously meant to believe that those who got us into this mess are supposed to allowed to try to get us out of it?”

Labour in reply said the Ofsted report acknowledged many of the changes suggested have already started.

Its own notice of motion said the council should "welcome the quick and clear response of the Labour administration in organising an improvement board...to demonstrate the priority this issue has for the whole authority."

And it stressed £2m is to be poured into the service "to enable immediate changes to happen at pace."

This includes recruiting a new head of service and other key posts, improvements in training and accountability.

Council leader Cllr Phil Davies said: "We do accept that there are negative issues which need addressing.

"Progress has been made and we are working extremely hard..

"I do not accept Cllr Cleary's assertion that this is a culture of failure.

"This administration won't be resigning."