City Council to work towards combined authority as improvement plan green-lighted

THE Government-appointed Birmingham Independent Improvement Panel – chaired by businessman John Crabtree – has today signed off the city council’s improvement plan.

The plan responds to the recommendations made by the Kerslake report, published last December.

One of the Kerslake report’s recommendations was that the council should work with other local authorities in the West Midlands to develop a combined authority.

Chancellor George Osborne is known to favour devolving powers to such bodies and it is widely believed that a lack of one in this region is holding it back from competing with the likes of Greater Manchester where a combined authority has been given budgetary responsibility over key economic sectors and the ability to capture growth in local business rates.

The improvement panel’s report, published today, reveals that this proposal is directly addressed in the improvement plan.

“As a result of discussions with the senior managers involved it is apparent that ambitious proposals are being developed for a combined authority, a joint economic development unit, a dedicated economy director post, and a new vehicle to drive skills and employment,” it said.

In a letter to councillor Sir Albert Bore, leader of Birmingham City Council, Crabtree, notes the progress made so far and draws attention to the risks to implementation of the plan.

He said: “We have discussed the key risks for the council as it moves forward to implementation of the wide ranging plans for change with the leaders of all three political parties on the council.

“We are reassured by the commitments made to embrace the need for change and to involve all councillors and all parties in the process.

“We are very aware that, despite the current difficulties faced by the council, Birmingham has many strengths and that there is a real pride and passion felt by its residents for the city.

“As the Kerslake report states ‘Birmingham is a great city’.

“We know that all the city’s residents and the council’s partners will welcome the council’s commitment to move forward and transform the way it conducts its business.”

The panel will be monitoring the council’s progress in implementing the plan and providing support. It will report to the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government on the council’s progress in July.

Along with the letter to Cllr Bore, the panel has also published the aforementioned report prepared for the panel in relation to its assessment of the council’s improvement plan.

This formed the basis for discussion with the chief executive, leader and deputy leader of the council at the panel meeting on March 18. The panel also met with the leaders of the two opposition parties.

In December  Sir Bob Kerslake published The Way Forward: An Independent Review of the Governance and Organisational Capabilities of Birmingham City Council, following highly-publicised failings in areas such as education and children’s services.