Skip to content 
Search

Latest Stories

Government commissioners could run Birmingham council for five years

A letter from the government to Birmingham City Council's chief executive points to “broader weaknesses� in the council's environment

Government commissioners could run Birmingham council for five years

A LETTER from the government to Birmingham City Council’s chief executive outlines “serious” finance and governence concerns – and reveals commissioners could be in place for five years, writes Kate Knowles.

It states that government commissioners will take over the running of the council for as long as five years if required and outlines in detail the “severe” situation. The letter states: “Given the scale of the issues, the secretary of state proposes that directions to the authority should be in place for five years, noting that the authority’s situation is severe, and the improvement and recovery is likely to take a number of years.


“If the Secretary of State considers at any time it would be appropriate to change directions or withdraw them, then he will do so. His concern will be to ensure the directions operate for as long, and only in the form, as he considers it should operate.”

Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove confirmed the action on Tuesday (19) in a statement to parliament.

He said: “I do not take these decisions lightly, but it is imperative in order to protect the interests of the residents and taxpayers of Birmingham, and to provide ongoing assurance to the whole local government sector.” He will also launch an inquiry into how Birmingham City Council got into this position and how it can improve.

The letter, from Max Soule, deputy director, local government stewardship to chief executive Deborah Cadman OBE, cites the handling of the equal pay claims and the failed implementation of the Oracle IT system as evidence for Gove’s decision.

It also points to “broader weaknesses” in the council’s environment and detailed criticism in areas of governance, financial governance, leadership, and capability to improve.

These include a very high turnover of senior staff, a culture of “sweeping issues under the carpet or blaming others” and interventions into waste services and special educational needs.

Soule also points to recent, serious concerns raised by social care and social housing regulators.

He writes: “The authority has been beset by systemic failings over several years including poor culture, weak governance, a challenging relationship with trade unions and ineffective service delivery. These failings have been exacerbated by instability and churn at senior officer level.”

He also referred to the 2015-19 intervention following the Kerslake report on the Trojan Horse affair which “found failings in governance, transparency, and financial management”.

Birmingham City Council now has the opportunity to make representations to Gove but given the “exceptional level” of concerns and risk, he has set a shorter period than is standard for these to be submitted. (Local Democracy Reporting Service)

More For You

Brothers deny assaulting police during Manchester Airport brawl

Photo for representation. (iStock)

Brothers deny assaulting police during Manchester Airport brawl

TWO brothers accused of assaulting a man inside a Starbucks and later attacking police officers at Manchester Airport are standing trial, with the prosecution arguing they used "unlawful and extreme violence".

Mohammed Fahir Amaaz, 20, and his older brother Muhammad Amaad, 26, both from Rochdale, are said to have acted aggressively on July 23 last year while at the airport to pick up their mother, who had arrived on a flight from Qatar.

Keep ReadingShow less
Court to review teen's sentence in Bhim Kohli case
Bhim Kohli

Court to review teen's sentence in Bhim Kohli case

THE seven-year prison sentence handed to a 15-year-old boy convicted of the manslaughter of 80-year-old Bhim Sen Kohli is to be reviewed under the UK’s Unduly Lenient Sentence (ULS) scheme.

The Attorney General’s Office confirmed on Friday (5) that the teenager’s sentence will now be considered by the Court of Appeal.

Keep ReadingShow less
Dalai Lama hopes to live 'beyond 130 years'

Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama attends a prayer meet held for his long life at the Dalai Lama temple in the northern hill town of Dharamshala, India, July 5, 2025. REUTERS/Anushree Fadnavis

Dalai Lama hopes to live 'beyond 130 years'

THE Dalai Lama said on Saturday (5) he hopes to live until he is more than 130 years old, two decades longer than his previous prediction, following his assurance to followers that he would reincarnate as the spiritual head of the faith upon his death.

The Nobel Peace Prize winner was speaking during a ceremony organised by his followers to offer prayers for his long life, ahead of his 90th birthday on Sunday (6), and as China insists it will choose his successor. The Dalai Lama told Reuters in December he might live to 110.

Keep ReadingShow less
UK heatwave by mid-July

Daytime temperatures meeting or exceeding set thresholds of 25°C

iStock

Met Office warns of potential third UK heatwave by mid-July

Key points

  • Met Office forecasts rising temperatures by mid-July
  • Possible third heatwave after record-breaking June
  • High pressure system likely to bring hot air from the Atlantic
  • Yellow rain warning and flood alerts issued in parts of Scotland and Cumbria

Possible heatwave to return by mid-July

The UK could experience its third heatwave in a month by mid-July, the Met Office has said. Forecasters expect rising heat and humidity during the second weekend of July, following two weekends of unusually warm weather in late June.

June was officially the hottest on record in England, and the return of high temperatures could mean another heatwave for parts of the country. However, the Met Office cautioned that it is too early to confirm how hot conditions will get.

Keep ReadingShow less
crypto

Two men have been jailed for defrauding investors of £1.5 million through a fake crypto investment scheme. (Representational image: iStock)

iStock

Two jailed over £1.5m crypto investment scam

TWO people who duped investors of £1.5 million by selling fake investments in crypto have been jailed for 12 years, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) said.

Raymondip Bedi, of Bromley, and Patrick Mavanga, of Peckham, conned at least 65 people by cold-calling them between February 2017 and June 2019. They operated companies including CCX Capital and Astaria Group LLP.

Keep ReadingShow less