Mark Meredith said in a press release he "had stepped in"

In October, Children's Minister Beverley Hughes said she was sending in experts to run children's services.

A press release from the mayor's office also in October said Mark Meredith had "stepped in" to address the problem.

He acknowledges it was a government decision to intervene but said he had already decided that that was the best course of action.

Under the Freedom of Information Act, BBC Radio Stoke established that Ms Hughes had raised worries in March over "critical weaknesses" in care for young people provided by Stoke City Council.

The letter says a "robust intervention" is necessary Enlarge Image

She later expressed concern the weaknesses were not being addressed.

Ms Hughes wrote to tell the mayor on 19 October that she had invoked powers under the Education Act 1996 to switch the running of children's services to an outside company.

A press release dated 25 October, headlined "Mayor seeks major improvement in children's services" said the mayor had "stepped in after concerns were expressed about the quality of care for vulnerable children".

Speaking to BBC Radio Stoke, Mr Meredith denied intending to take credit for the government's intervention.

'Two choices'

He said: "We've been in discussion with the government for months, and I think I had two choices - either I could choose to engage in those discussions and co-operate with the government, or to live in denial and say that we haven't got any serious problems, to say that we can run these services ourselves.

"Even before the government made the decision for intervention, my position was that intervention by the govt was the best option - the only option, given the failing of our children's services."

I will not apologise for trying to fight for the very best resources for the people of Stoke on Trent Mark Meredith

Mr Meredith also denied a briefing note sent to Labour colleagues on 31 October indicating an "offer" from the government - to send in outside experts - concealed the council's lack of choice in the matter.

"When I sent that note to the Labour group, the actual detail of the type of intervention that the government were proposing was still unclear," said Mr Meredith.