LOUISE Goldsmith, leader of West Sussex County Council stepped down on October 4 after a damning report on the future of children’s services was leaked.

Services were rated inadequate by Ofsted in May and a Department for Education appointed commissioner is overseeing improvements.

The report by the commissioner recommended children’s services could be delivered by a trust rather than West Sussex County Council.

Mrs Goldsmith had been leader for 10 years.

She said she put her “heart and soul” into the job, but it was important to know when “to take a step back” and apologised that the service was a “very long way off from being good enough”.

It is expected a new leader will be elected at the next full council meeting on Friday, October 18.