Chance to check up on Council’s progress

The Birmingham Independent Improvement Panel, appointed by the government to monitor Birmingham City Council’s improvement programme, has announced plans for its fourth public meeting. The meeting will be held at 12 noon on Thursday March 10th in the Council Chamber.

Fifteen months after the publication of the Kerslake Review the meeting will offer an opportunity for residents to hear from the Council’s leaders about the progress made in implementing the Review’s recommendations. Those attending the meeting will
also have the chance to question the Leader and Deputy Leader of the Council, the Chief Executive and the two opposition leaders.

Commenting on the public meeting the Panel’s Chair, John Crabtree, said: “After fifteen months residents, businesses and partner organisations in the city will expect to hear that significant progress has been made by the Council. This meeting
provides an opportunity to both hear from and question the Council’s leaders and I hope many people will want to take part. For those who cannot attend on the day, there will be the opportunity to watch the meeting via webcast either at the time or later on.”

Members of the public can attend the meeting in person or watch a webcast of the meeting on the Council’s website https://www.birmingham.public-i.tv/core/portal/home 

To book to attend on the day residents can book via Eventbrite https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/birmingham-independent-improvement-panel-10-march-2016-registration-21450795908?aff=BCCwebsite

Following the meeting the Panel will review the Council’s progress and submit a further report to Rt Hon Greg Clark, the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government by the end of March.

ENDS

For further information please contact Louise Wright, PA to John Crabtree Mobile 07828 078 227.

BACKGROUND

In December 2014 Lord Kerslake published The way forward: an independent review of the governance and organisational capabilities of Birmingham City Council. Sir Albert Bore, the then Leader of Birmingham City Council and the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government had asked Lord Kerslake to conduct the independent review.

Alongside the recommendations in the Kerslake report relating to action Birmingham City Council should take, Lord Kerslake recommended that the Secretary of State appoint an independent improvement Panel to work with the Council to provide robust challenge and support.

The Improvement Panel was set up in January 2015. Its members are John Crabtree OBE (chair), Frances Done CBE (vice chair), Cllr Keith Wakefield (former leader of Leeds City Council), and Steve Robinson (chief executive of Cheshire West and Chester Council). Sir Mike Tomlinson, Education Commissioner and Andrew Christie, Children’s Social Care Commissioner are ex-officio members.

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