Clark extends oversight at Birmingham amid concerns over pace of progress

Communities Secretary Greg Clark has extended the Birmingham Independent Improvement Panel’s oversight of Birmingham City Council until the end of March 2016, amid concerns over the pace of progress.

The move followed a letter from John Crabtree, chair of the panel, setting out its view of the progress made by the local authority against the Kerslake recommendations.

In his response, which can be viewed here, Clark wrote: “Whilst you have indicated that some progress has been made, the significant risks you and your Panel have outlined in relation to the slow progress in developing a City Partnership and an agreed vision for the City; a long term financial strategy, and in securing the senior management capability required for the size of the Council are concerning.

“In the context of these concerns and the Council’s financial position, I am hereby extending the Panel’s oversight until the end of March 2016, so that you will continue to be available to oversee progress and the entire budget setting process.”

The panel is expected to provide a further update on progress in January 2016, following a public meeting on 14 December.

“At that point I will be particularly interested in your views on how effectively the leadership is working with the Panel, and your judgement on whether the Council has made adequate progress, or whether further measures will need to be taken,” the Communities Secretary said.

Extension of the panel’s role comes shortly after Sir Albert Bore announced that he would be stepping down as Leader of the council at the end of this month.

Commenting on the Panel’s letter, John Crabtree said: “The new Leader will face a crucial few months in which the Council needs to demonstrate to its residents that it has the commitment and energy to drive forward the improvement programme, broker a different and more productive relationship between politicians and the Council’s senior managers, face up to the extremely challenging budget situation and evidence a transformation in its ways of working.

“It will be very important for the new leadership to work constructively with the Panel and we will continue to offer challenge, advice and support to the Council and do all we can to assist the new political leadership as it faces up to the significant challenges ahead.”

The establishment of the independent improvement panel was one of the key recommendations of the review published in December 2014 by Sir Bob Kerslake, then Permanent Secretary at the Department for Communities and Local Government.

The Kerslake review identified a range of problems at Birmingham. These included the council’s size acting as “both a badge and a barrier”, leading to a silo based and council knows best culture.

It also suggested that: there had been a blurring of roles between members and officers; the council’s vision for the future of the city was neither broadly shared nor understood; there was a lack of credible plans to address the council’s significant budget difficulties in the next few years; and the chief executive and corporate leadership team lacked the support and capacity needed to undertake their role effectively.