The social affairs and health committee of the Local Government Association has warned of a "battle royal" taking place over whether education officers or social workers gain control of children's services.

At the national social services conference earlier this month, several committee members expressed concerns that social care professionals would lose out in the integration of children's care services and education into one department, as recommended by the Every Child Matters green paper.

Martin Candler, from Stockport Council, said: "It is quite clear that education professionals are going to make a bid to control this process. In my part of the world there is a battle royal for control among our officers."

Maureen Robinson, from New Forest Council, said she was "seriously worried about the education take over" and that head teachers particularly were being difficult.

"I am concerned that both the government and some people in local authorities see achievement in terms of education attainment. The wider development of the child has still not taken root. It will be very hard to keep the social care agenda at the forefront of the debate," she said.

The LGA plans an urgent meeting with its education committee to address the issue. They will also discuss the difficulties of an elected "super member" overseeing a department which could account for 80 per cent of a council's budget and 70 per cent of performance targets.

Meanwhile, the new president of the Association of Directors of Social Services Andrew Cozens said the green paper proposals could force the ADSS to review its membership rules.

However, he denied that the proposals amounted to an automatic take over by education or the end of social services directors.

"What the government is saying is we need accountability for children's services - it is not necessarily the same as management," he said.