A panel set up to investigate child protection procedures following the deaths of three children from the same family has not met, 14 months after it was set up.

Now councillors from Brighton and Hove City Council have demanded it convenes within the next month.

The seven-member panel was organised after concern was voiced last year over the measures in place to protect children at risk from abuse.

Action was taken after the deaths of the three children were highlighted in a court case.

The Argus campaigned for a public inquiry into the case, which involved a Brighton couple who subjected their children to a catalogue of cruelty between 1992 and 1997.

The mother was convicted on five counts of wilful neglect after her common-law husband had earlier admitted the same charges.

The couple and their seven children had been seen several times by health and social workers, GPs and police but the neglect had continued.

Three of the babies in the couple's care died, sparking calls from The Argus for a public inquiry. These were rejected.

Instead, the area child protection committee undertook a review of procedures. The scrutiny panel was set up following complaints the authorities had been slow to react to concerns about protecting the youngsters and other children.

The panel was supposed to assess what staffing was available for child protection and whether there were enough people to implement new procedures introduced after the case.

However, the scrutiny management committee was told the timetable for the panel had to be reviewed because of the high number of investigations.

It should have started in January this year and had to be put back indefinitely because of staff shortages.

Opposition Tory councillor Geoffrey Theobald said: "No issue could be more important than child protection. We should get on with this."

Tory councillor Jenny Langston, a member of the panel, said she was deeply concerned about the delay.