Government commissioners to stay at Birmingham until 2028

Government-appointed commissioners are expected to remain at Birmingham City Council until late 2028, overseeing its recovery from the financial crisis that led to its effective bankruptcy three years ago.

Why commissioners were sent in

In September 2023 the council issued two section 114 notices, linked to equal pay liabilities and an in-year gap in its budget. The then Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, Michael Gove, appointed commissioners to exercise certain functions of the council and lead an improvement programme.

What commissioners do

Commissioners do not run the council day to day, but they have powers over important areas such as finance, governance and the appointment of senior officers. Major financial decisions need their agreement, and they report regularly to the Government on the council's progress.

Progress so far

The council says it is no longer under a section 114 notice. It set a balanced budget for 2026 to 2027 with the backing of its chief finance officer and the commissioners, and says it has closed a 300 million pound budget gap and dealt with its equal pay liabilities.

What still needs to change

Recovery involves more than balancing the books. The council is working to improve its services, its IT systems, its management of property and the way decisions are made. The new minority administration has acknowledged that the council remains subject to an unprecedented level of Government intervention.

What happens at the end

When the intervention ends, the council's powers will return fully to its elected councillors. Ministers can extend or shorten the intervention depending on progress.

Keeping track

The council publishes information about the intervention, the commissioners' reports and its improvement plan on its website, and commissioners' letters to the Government are also published.