The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities has announced the five commissioners and two political advisors that will work to address challenges at Birmingham City Council.
Max Caller CBE has been announced as the Lead Commissioner, being supported by John Coughlan CBE, Chris Tambini, Pam Parkes, Jackie Belton and Myron Hrycyk as they begin crucial work to address Birmingham’s budgetary and organisational issues.
Alongside the commissioners, the government has announced that Lord John Hutton, former Defence Secretary and Business Secretary, and John Biggs, former Executive Mayor of the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, will support the council’s leadership as political advisors.
Council Leader Cllr John Cotton and Chief Executive Deborah Cadman responded to the appointments, saying:
“Max Caller is a vastly experienced local government expert with a strong track record in transforming and improving councils and we welcome his appointment as the lead commissioner. We believe his knowledge of the City and his previous experience as a non-Executive advisor to the authority will be an invaluable asset.
"Our sole focus now is on working with the commissioners in a collaborative way to meet the immediate challenges and set the Council on the journey to long-term sustained improvement.
"That work is already underway and the expert input from the commissioners will be invaluable as we work to transform the council and get the budget back on track."
These appointments come following the issuance of the council’s section 114 notice at the beginning of September, with the Secretary of State announcing that he would intervene and send commissioners to Birmingham.
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