City council improvement panel to hold a second public meeting

THE Birmingham Independent Improvement Panel has announced it is holding a second public meeting.

It will take place on Friday 11th September in Committee Rooms 3 and 4 at the Council House in Birmingham’s Victoria Square between 12 noon and 2pm.

The panel – chaired by well-known local businessman John Crabtree – is monitoring the progress being made by Birmingham City Council in implementing its improvement programme.

It has asked the council to publish the next stage of its improvement plans for 2016/17 as well as a further progress report about the implementation of the recommendations made in the Kerslake Review, published at the end of 2014.

The Kerslake Review was ordered by the Government following well-publicised local authority failings in areas such as children’s services and education.

Sir Albert Bore and Cllr Ian Ward, leader and deputy leader respectively of the council and Mark Rogers, chief executive, will respond to questions from the panel and from members of the public.

Immediately following that session the leaders of the two opposition parties, Cllr Robert Alden (Conservative) and Cllr Paul Tilsley (Liberal Democrat) will, in succession, respond to questions from the panel and the public.

Crabtree said: “At the first public meeting in June, the panel and members of the public present asked the leadership of the city council some challenging questions about progress.

“The public meeting in September will be an opportunity for the council to demonstrate that it is on track with the key changes needed, and to provide an update on its plans to listen more closely and respond to he views and aspirations of its residents.

“I very much hope that anyone interested in the future of the city of Birmingham will take the opportunity to find out more and question the city’s leaders by attending in person or via webcast.”