A NEW independent chair has been appointed to head a team tasked with ensuring the council’s children’s services are improving.

Phil Picton has been made chair of the Slough Local Safeguarding Children’s Board.

It follows former chair Paul Burnett quitting just months after the board and the council’s children’s services were slammed in two damning Ofsted reports.

Councillor Pavitar Mann, commissioner for children and education, said: “I am delighted Phil has joined the board. He brings valuable experience from his work with Central Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire and shares the council’s desire to ensure all our children are protected. I look forward to working with him.”