CHILD sexual exploitation training for councillors will not be made compulsory despite just 10 of the 57 elected representatives having attended a session highlighting the problem.

At last Wednesday's council scrutiny committee, at the Town Hall, the poor turnout at the session at the end of last year was revealed.

A significant factor in the majority of councillors not attending was down to political party commitments, including Labour members, who had a meeting which took precedence.

Solutions including making attendance compulsory was highlighted at last Wednesday's meeting but chairman of the committee, cllr Higgins (LAB - Fairfield and Howley), insisted that is not the solution.

"I would not like that to happen - they should go because they want to," he said.

Two child exploitation training sessions will take place next Wednesday to allow councillors to attend during the day or night - a measure the council hopes can provide the assistance needed for a full turnout.

"The executive board is keen to encourage elected members to raise awareness on it," said Jean Carter, executive member for children and young people's services.

"Raising awareness on it is very important to the council and the two sessions will help do that."

In September, the council said that there were 64 children in the town considered vulnerable to exploitation, with officials warning over the possible danger over social media platforms such as Facebook.

Next week's meeting is the latest move to help combat the problem to avoid a spate of damaging cases which have taken place in other parts of the country, notably Rotherham.