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Bare cupboards. No bedding. Floorboards saturated with faeces and urine. These were the conditions seven children faced at their filthy Stockport home. Police described conditions as ‘the worst they had seen in a very long time’ when they visited in November 2023. Basics such as running water and heating were missing from the property. And Greater Manchester Police officers found “a bowl of old sick and urine”, dogs running around eating soiled nappies and a dog crate full of faeces. Get news, views and analysis of the biggest stories with the daily Mancunian Way newsletter - sign up here The children were removed from the home. But the family had been known to social services for around a decade. So, what went wrong? And why was it allowed to happen for so long? Local democracy reporter Declan Carey has been looking into a safeguarding report that reveals the extent of the situation. He’s been talking to Councillor Wendy Meikle, Stockport council ’s cabinet member for children’s issues. She says the children’s suffering was known to a number of agencies and partners, but “it didn’t improve sufficiently”. "I heard the police report on it at one of the children’s safeguarding meetings and it turned my stomach,” she said. When Coun Meikle asked why the situation had been allowed to go on for so long, she was told social services worked with the family and told them what was expected. “They would do it, but a couple of months later it would lax back again. You can’t live with someone [the family] for 24 hours and supervise them.” Stockport Children’s Services is currently rated ‘requires improvement to be good’ after it was last inspected by Ofsted earlier this year. And the council says it is taking ‘immediate’ steps to fix problems with children’s services. Coun Meikle says funding is a big part of the problem - and keeping track of the almost 300,000 people living in the borough can be “difficult”. “In a perfect world you’d have one social worker that would see the case through, but we’re not in a perfect world and the government does not give us enough money,” Coun Meikle said. You can read the details of this case here. Meanwhile over in Manchester, the council has become the first in the region to be rated 'Outstanding' by Ofsted. It’s a remarkable turnaround for the local authority's children's services, which was rated 'Inadequate' a decade ago. Back then the town hall was criticised for leaving hundreds of vulnerable children 'potentially at risk' as social workers with high caseloads meant they waited months for help. Since then, despite the level of child poverty in the city increasing, fewer children are in care as a proportion of the population. That’s partly thanks to the council's efforts to intervene early . Our Politics Writer Jo Timan has the details. Robert De Niro was in Manchester city centre sticking a spade in the ground this morning. Yes really. The Hollywood A-lister broke ground on Manchester’s tallest tower. The Taxi Driver star is a key investor behind the Nobu hotel and restaurant chain, which will be hosted inside a 76-storey tower developed by Salboy. The skyscraper will become Manchester’s tallest building at 246m, eclipsing the Deansgate Square South Tower at 200m. Although Mr De Niro admitted he “did not know much” about Manchester, he said the city’s “real character and creative passion” drew him in. “We are proud to be part of it,” the 82-year-old said at a press conference. Ethan Davies has the details here. Liam Gallagher says the latest Oasis tour has saved his life. Since the summer, Liam has avoided cigarettes and alcohol to protect his voice, and now a fan on X has praised him for his dedication. They wrote: "You've done a great job staying healthy for gigs, Liam. I'm sorry u have to live like a monk during the tour - but damn, you're killing it!" Responding to the fan, Liam admitted: "Oasis saved my life it's about time I sorted my nappa out I know how much this means to people so stopping drinking and smoking and snorting Gary baldies are sacrifices that needed to be made thems the rules MCFC." Asked by another if he missed the occasional Guinness, he quipped back: "Yeah I miss talking absolute b****** when I'm bladdered." Wednesday: Light rain and light winds. 14C. Manc trivia: What was Sara Cox’s first broadcasting job? Roads: A665 Devonshire Street North, Ardwick, in both directions closed due to gas main work between A57 Hyde Road and Blind Lane. Until November 4. A6 Chapel St westbound, Salford , closed for long-term roadworks between Blackfriars Rd and New Bailey St until January 19. Also on a health kick is Boltonian Sara Cox - who is currently running five marathons in five days to raise money for Children in Need. Radio 2 presenter Sara will cover 135 miles on foot from Kielder Water in Northumbria to Pudsey, near Leeds. Speaking to our Celebrity Editor Jess Sansome about the mammoth challenge, Sara likened marathon running to giving birth. “When you're pregnant, people look at you with a mixture of excitement and sympathy because you're about to go through something quite painful, even though it'll be a joyous and beautiful thing. “I can't back out,” she said. The answer to today’s trivia question is, she was a presenter on The Girlie Show. Join the Manchester Evening News WhatsApp group HERE
