The chair of Tower Hamlets Safeguarding Children Board has resigned following revelations about his role in the council department that failed murdered schoolboy Daniel Pelka.

Colin Green was hired by Tower Hamlets council in June, having earlier resigned from his post as director of children’s services at Coventry City Council.

But it emerged today that leading cabinet members “wouldn’t feel comfortable” working with him due to his involvement in the local authority which was found to have failed four-year-old Daniel – hastening his decision to step down.

A Tower Hamlets spokesman said: “The new chair of Tower Hamlets Local Safeguarding Children Board, Colin Green, has decided to withdraw from the post with immediate effect.”

Mr Green’s former department was criticised following the tragic case of Daniel, who was starved and murdered by his mother and stepfather.

A serious case review found that Mr Green’s department missed key opportunities to intervene, adding that Daniel had become “invisible” to the authorities charged with protecting him. It identified 15 improvements for the department – but did not extend blame to police, the school, or social services.

When news of his background was revealed, several leading councillors in Tower Hamlets raised questions over Mr Green’s suitability.

Cabinet member for children, schools and families, Cllr Oliur Rahman, said he was abroad when the appointment was made, adding: “I wouldn’t feel comfortable working with somebody who was involved in such a horrific case.”

And he welcomed the news of Mr Green’s resignation.

“I think he has taken the right decision,” he said. “I wish him luck in the future.”

Liberal Democrat Stephanie Eaton had called on Tower Hamlets to furnish councillors with the details of what was known about the Daniel Pelka case at the time of Mr Green’s appointment in June.

“It was never feasible that the person coordinating the agencies that failed Daniel Pelka could coordinate the safeguarding of children in Tower Hamlets,” she said.

“I think it is appropriate that Colin Green has resigned and I hope that we can find a Chair of this important body who will have the confidence of the residents of Tower Hamlets.”

Daniel’s killing represented the culmination of a systematic campaign of abuse at the hands of his mother, Magdelena Luczak, and stepfather Mariusz Krezolek.

The schoolboy died of a head injury in March 2012, having previously had his arm broken and been starved to the extent that he raided school bins for food during playtimes.

Coventry MP Geoffrey Robinson had described the appointment of Mr Green by Tower Hamlets as “an affront to public opinion”.