Birmingham City Council leader Sir Albert Bore has promised citizens and organisations will notice big changes in the way the authority communicates and works with them in future.
He announced that the council is now involved in a new group called Birmingham Partners through which it is working with other public services, voluntary groups and businesses to improve the city and would launch a new “What Makes Birmingham Great” campaign.
Details emerged in his update to the which has been sent in to oversee the council’s changes following a damning report by .
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The council’s tendency to dictate to rather than work with others was a key criticism by Kerslake. He also including a council-knows-best culture, lack of ability to change, short term financial planning and poor community leadership.
A Birmingham Independent Improvement Panel, set up to oversee the council following the Kerslake report, is . In June the panel raised concerns over the slow pace of change.
But now Sir Albert says that progress has been stepped up with not only Birmingham Partners but also the establishment of a .
Sir Albert said: “We have been working hard to make significant and sustainable progress at speed over the summer. Although it has been necessary to focus on change within the organisation, residents and our partners will also start to see improvements in the way we communicate and engage with them.
“One of the key challenges mentioned by Lord Kerslake’s report is the way we work with others and we are absolutely committed to working constructively with partners in setting up the combined authority and ‘Birmingham Partners’; we have not sought to take control but have worked collaboratively and supportively.
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"Where we have taken the lead this has been at the behest of others.”
The council has also appointed an interim assistant director of communications in answer to criticism.
“The political will to change remains strong and we are working harder and smarter to deliver the new type of local government the city needs and deserves. We will continue to work together to ensure we provide the best possible services for all our citizens, secure increased powers and funding for the region and improved community governance,” he added.
to cover the costs of its Future Council programme including the recruitment of new staff.