Bradford Council has changed its planning procedures after proposals to open two private children’s homes were accepted without the approval of the senior director for children’s services.

Liberal Democrat group leader Councillor Jeanette Sunderland is furious children will be homed in “inappropriate” buildings, leaving the Council exposed to criticism from independent education inspectors in the future.

The homes will open in her ward, Idle and Thackley, in the empty main building of the former Nook residential home and the old Red Cross offices, both in Leeds Road.

Approval for both plans was given by the Bradford Area Planning Panel in October.

The Council is held responsible for safeguarding children yet the local authority’s director of children’s services, Kath Tunstall, was not consulted on either plan.

Coun Sunderland believes this was wrong and her motion calling on the Council to adapt its procedures to close the loophole was accepted by the local authority at a full Council meeting this week.

Julian Jackson, the Council’s assistant director for planning, transportation and highways, said: “The planning service will be reviewing their consultation procedures to ensure the strategic director for children’s services is consulted on planning applications involving the care of children and young people so their view can be taken into account.”