IMPROVEMENT

Birmingham commissioners revealed

The team tasked with turning round Birmingham City Council has been announced – including a former Labour minister and a serving council chief.

The team tasked with turning round Birmingham City Council has been announced – including a former Labour minister and a serving council chief.

As expected, former Hackney LBC chief executive Max Caller will lead the Government's intervention team in the city.

The other commissioners are:

  • Bexley LBC chief executive Jackie Belton
  • Former Hampshire CC chief executive, John Coughlin
  • Former director of corporate resources at Leicestershire CC, Chris Tambini
  • Director for people and transformation at Essex CC, Pam Parkes
  • The Cabinet Office's Crown Representative for Oracle, IBM and Microsoft, Myron Hrycyk

Birmingham's politicians will also be supported by Peer and former Labour defence and business secretary Lord John Hutton and former Tower Hamlets LBC mayor John Biggs.

Mr Coughlin will be responsible for driving wider improvement and sustainability at the authority. The post comes in addition to his existing role as commissioner for special educational needs and disability which he has held since 2021.

Former president of the Society of County Treasurers, Mr Tambini will focus on the financial recovery of Birmingham, including dealing with the section 114 notices and the city's equal pay issues. He will also oversee governance, process and capacity in its financial management.

Ms Belton, who has a background in housing, will support the city with its housing function, while Mr Hrycyk will focus on the council's disastrous Oracle contract. Ms Parkes will support the council with its human resources and organisational design, including resolving its equal pay issues.

IMPROVEMENT

On the track to growth

By Ann McGauran | 20 May 2025

Steve Rotheram speaks to Ann McGauran about Liverpool City Region’s growth prospects, tackling the challenge from Reform UK, and the need for the Spending Re...

IMPROVEMENT

Why the Total Place bandwagon should roll again

By Michael Burton | 15 May 2025

John Denham was Labour’s communities secretary 15 years before Angela Rayner. He tells Michael Burton why he would not have embarked on wholescale local gove...

IMPROVEMENT

Harrow appoints environment director

By Martin Ford | 14 May 2025

Calvin McLean has been appointed as Harrow LBC’s permanent director for environment.

IMPROVEMENT

Regeneration: Opportunity knocks

By David Blackman | 14 May 2025

David Blackman talks to leading figures about the prospects for regeneration following the proposed fundamental reorganisation of local government, and how t...

Heather Jameson

Popular articles by Heather Jameson