Valid section 20 agreement cannot excuse delay in issuing proceedings (Family Court)

In Re X, Y and Z (Damages: Inordinate Delay in Issuing Proceedings) [2016] EWFC B44, the children were accommodated under section 20 of the Children Act 1989, with the valid consent of those with parental responsibility, for two and a half years before care proceedings were issued. The court declared that the inordinate delay of the local authority and the independent reviewing officer for the children, had breached the children's and mother's Article 6 and 8 rights under the European Convention on Human Rights.