Secretary of State responds to Improvement Panel’s assessment

On 20th July the Improvement Panel published its letter to the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, reporting on the progress the Council had made in implementing the recommendations of the Kerslake Report.

The Panel is today publishing the response to its letter, from Rt Hon Greg Clark MP, Secretary of State.

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, 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, as a children’s services commissioner for Birmingham, is an ex-officio member.