Improvement panel at Birmingham recommends that it suspend its operation

The Birmingham Independent Improvement Panel has recommended to the Communities Secretary that it should step aside, saying that the city council’s “broad direction of travel is positive” and the prospects of further improvement are good.

In a letter to Sajid Javid, the panel suggested that it should suspend its current operation, with only its vice-chair and adviser staying in touch with the council.

The panel has asked that Birmingham produces a focussed progress report in December 2017. There would then be a more in-depth review and public report about the council’s overall positon and progress within 12 months.

A recent Ofsted monitoring report of children’s services had shown progress, with the panel saying that “such external validation is an encouraging sign”. Ofsted is to return to Birmingham for a further monitoring visit in September 2017.

The letter, signed by chair and former Wragge & Co senior partner John Crabtree, also noted it had been helpful that there had been continued political stability at a time of substantial changes in managerial leadership.

The panel said the council understood that financial pressures remained the most prominent risk, and associated with these were concerns about implementing the council’s future operating model.

It concluded that Birmingham continues to operate in “highly demanding circumstances”.

Cllr John Clancy, Leader of Birmingham City Council, said: “I would like to thank the panel for its hard work now that it has reached the end of its time in Birmingham.

“The latest report to the Secretary of State is the most positive assessment of Birmingham City Council’s performance since the Independent Improvement Panel was established, underlining the council’s strong political and managerial leadership and concluding that our prospects for the future are good.

“This is a significant step forward and an important vote of confidence as we continue our improvement journey.”

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