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| Rotherham child abuse: Martin Kimber, council chief exec, to step down | Rotherham child abuse: Martin Kimber, council chief exec, to step down |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The chief executive of Rotherham Council is to step down following a report that exposed the scale of child sexual exploitation in the town. | |
| Martin Kimber will leave the post in December, he has announced. | Martin Kimber will leave the post in December, he has announced. |
| In a statement, he said wanted to reiterate his "sincere apology to those who were let down". | In a statement, he said wanted to reiterate his "sincere apology to those who were let down". |
| A report published last month said at least 1,400 children were sexually exploited from 1997-2013, mainly by men of Pakistani heritage. | A report published last month said at least 1,400 children were sexually exploited from 1997-2013, mainly by men of Pakistani heritage. |
| Mr Kimber, who joined the authority in 2009, said: "I believe that new leadership will enable the town to recover more quickly from the events of the last two weeks, and strongly signal a new beginning at this critical time in its recovery." | |
| Council leader Roger Stone quit following the publication of the report, which was commissioned by the council and detailed gang rapes, grooming, trafficking and other sexual exploitation on a wide scale. | Council leader Roger Stone quit following the publication of the report, which was commissioned by the council and detailed gang rapes, grooming, trafficking and other sexual exploitation on a wide scale. |
| Calls for further resignations have gathered momentum as the spotlight turned to others at the helm of local services during the time of the abuse. | Calls for further resignations have gathered momentum as the spotlight turned to others at the helm of local services during the time of the abuse. |
| 'Blatant' failings | 'Blatant' failings |
| South Yorkshire Police and Crime Commissioner, Shaun Wright, who was in charge of children's services in Rotherham from 2005 to 2010, has so far resisted calls to step down. | |
| In the wake of the Jay Report, Mr Kimber said no council employees would face disciplinary action because there was not enough evidence to prosecute. | In the wake of the Jay Report, Mr Kimber said no council employees would face disciplinary action because there was not enough evidence to prosecute. |
| This despite the report concluding there had been "blatant" collective failures by the council's leadership. | This despite the report concluding there had been "blatant" collective failures by the council's leadership. |
| The Labour Party has since suspended four members, including Mr Stone, ex-deputy leader Jahangir Akhtar and councillors Gwendoline Russell and Shaukat Ali, pending an investigation. | The Labour Party has since suspended four members, including Mr Stone, ex-deputy leader Jahangir Akhtar and councillors Gwendoline Russell and Shaukat Ali, pending an investigation. |
| Investigations | |
| South Yorkshire Police has commissioned an independent investigation into its handling of the scandal. | South Yorkshire Police has commissioned an independent investigation into its handling of the scandal. |
| The inquiry will "examine the role of both the police and council... and address any wrongdoings or failings," Chief Constable David Crompton said. | The inquiry will "examine the role of both the police and council... and address any wrongdoings or failings," Chief Constable David Crompton said. |
| The government is also considering carrying out an inspection of the council. | |
| Home Secretary Theresa May said in the House of Commons last week that Communities Secretary Eric Pickles was "minded" to commission the investigation. | |
| Mr Wright will face questions from MPs on Tuesday about his knowledge of the abuse. | |
| The Home Affairs Select Committee will also hear evidence from Mr Crompton, senior Rotherham Council official Joyce Thacker and NSPCC Chief Executive Sir Peter Wanless, who is leading a review into the Home Office's handling of abuse allegations. |