CIVIC chiefs have unanimously backed plans to continue collaborative working between children’s services in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.

Members of Hampshire County Council’s cabinet supported plans to continue the partnership between the two councils, as the current five-year arrangement was due to end in June.

The scheme, which has already been unanimously backed by Isle of Wight Council cabinet members, was put in place in July 2013 after an Ofsted inspection labelled island services as “inadequate” and “ineffective”.

But since the partnership was set up inspectors have praised the improvements.

As well as supporting the plans, cabinet members agreed that the authority to negotiate and agree terms would be delegated to Hampshire chief executive John Coughlan.