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PRIVACY
Economic Development

Watchdog to grill city council leaders again

Next week's meeting of government-appointed improvement panel could be the final one as leaders hope the threat of intervention will finally be lifted

John Clancy and other council leaders will face the watchdog panel next week

Leaders of will be under the spotlight again next week when they face a public grilling from a government-appointed watchdog panel.

Labour council leader John Clancy, his deputy Ian Ward and opposition leaders Robert Alden and Jon Hunt will be quizzed by the Birmingham Independent Improvement Panel in what may be the panel's final public meeting on Thursday.

The panel has been overseeing the council's efforts to overcome deep-seated problems since January last year and will produce a final report for the Local Government Secretary Greg Clark later this month.

It was set up in which found the authority to be dysfunctional with significant weaknesses in leadership, long-term planning and partnership working and in need of a major overhaul.

There is optimism among senior council figures they have made significant progress, particularly in a change of approach

They are also hopeful the panel will be wound up and the threat of a direct government take over lifted by the end of the month.

During his budget speech, Coun Clancy said: "Hopefully, we will wish a fond farewell to the Independent Improvement Panel. We are grateful for their work and commitment to the city.

"But we are now ready to take our plans forward with our partners and the people of Birmingham."