Buckinghamshire’s cabinet member for children’s services has resigned.

Conservative councillor, Angela Macpherson, has stepped down from the role for “personal reasons”, according to Buckinghamshire County Council officials.

Leader of the council, Martin Tett, issued the following statement: “I would really like to thank Angela for her work over the past eighteen months.

“She is a very capable individual and a significant contribution to the talent of the county council.

“I fully understand and respect her reasons for doing so. The portfolio is a very demanding one and will require significant political attention over the coming months.

“I will be considering how best to go forward but do not expect to make any further announcements before next week at the earliest.”

In August, Ofsted published a report into the county’s children’s services, deeming them as “inadequate”.

The following month, council bosses agreed an influx of cash to the tune of nearly £5 million in light of the damning Ofsted report.

Inspectors noted in the report that: “Political leaders and chief officers state that children’s social care is not in the top two priorities for the council.”

The report added: “Failures by Buckinghamshire’s safeguarding services are widespread and serious.

“The result is that children are not being effectively protected. Children and young people do (not) always... receive help when they need it.”

“This limits the effectiveness of those with lead responsibility for children’s social care to drive up standards and sustain longer-term change.”

Linda Derrick, Wycombe Labour’s spokesman for health and social care, said: “I welcome Angela McPherson’s resignation. Wycombe Labour called for her resignation when the Ofsted report was published.

“She was the cabinet member responsible for children’s services which was assessed as inadequate and as putting children at risk.

“The demands on children’s services needed someone who was prepared to insist on extra funding to ensure children’s safety and she was either not prepared not or able to do that.

“We hope that whoever is appointed in her place will ensure that children’s services are now at the top of Bucks priorities and that child protection is now taken seriously by the Tories.”