The political leaders elected to Birmingham City Council in May 2026 will have to operate under a stringent ‘action plan’ set by government-appointed commissioners, significantly restricting their ability to act independently.
Following 14 years of Labour leadership, the city faces a potentially transformative election with new parties like Reform, the Independent Alliance, along with Labour, Conservatives, Liberal Democrats, and Greens competing for control of the 101 council seats. However, no matter the election outcome, all political leaders must abide by the framework imposed by the independent commissioners overseeing the council’s affairs on behalf of the government.
Tony McArdle, the new lead commissioner, highlighted this reality ahead of the upcoming campaigns. A detailed plan outlining the commissioners’ exit roadmap will be published in January. This document will specify the council’s obligations and required actions over the next two years. Only when these criteria are fully met will commissioners recommend ending their intervention.
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Currently under development with input from senior council staff, the plan aims to secure approval from the existing Labour leadership but will be enforced regardless. McArdle leads a team of seven commissioners assigned after the council faced financial distress and was effectively declared bankrupt two years ago.
Among the plan’s priorities are stabilizing council finances, ensuring value for residents, launching a revamped Oracle IT and finance system, and resolving equal pay settlements. The plan also emphasizes recruiting skilled senior staff, particularly in finance, modernizing outdated service areas, and restoring the council’s capacity to budget and deliver efficiently.
Additionally, the plan focuses on improving governance and scrutiny processes, ensuring thorough risk assessment, option evaluation, and cost quantification for all projects. When asked whether a change in political leadership might delay recovery efforts, McArdle said commissioners remain empowered to act irrespective of who holds office.
“Our goal is to restore full autonomy to Birmingham City Council as swiftly as possible,” he explained. “Following the election, our primary message to the 101 councillors will be about regaining the freedoms typical of local authorities elsewhere.”
However, he cautioned that some realities—such as balancing the council’s budget—are non-negotiable. Incoming administrations cannot simply ignore fiscal responsibilities while pursuing political agendas. They must demonstrate the financial feasibility of their initiatives.
For example, the approved waste transformation plan, set to begin in June, is expected to proceed as scheduled. If a new leadership opposes it and wishes to revert to weekly bin collections, they must identify funding sources for the increased costs associated with such a change.
“We aren’t here to dictate every decision,” McArdle said, “but the council must comply with its basic legal duties, which have not consistently been met.”
When asked if council management or commissioners favor the current Labour administration’s continuity, McArdle emphasized their neutrality. Experienced local government officers accustomed to political shifts, they intend to support whichever team is elected, providing them every opportunity to fulfill their promises—within the constraints necessary to recover from past mismanagement.
The priority remains to correct longstanding failures and build a firm foundation for ambitious future plans. While optimism is cautious, McArdle believes the city’s aspirations remain achievable.
“Although many issues that prompted intervention remain unresolved, we expect progress in the coming year. Challenges like the ongoing waste dispute await resolution, but I remain hopeful.”
In his view, Birmingham can ultimately achieve its goal to be England’s second city in every respect, backed by clear understanding, ambition, and intent.