An independent review into the size, leadership and financial planning of Birmingham City Council has begun today with a call for evidence.

Sir Bob Kerslake – permanent secretary at the Department for Communities and Local Government – will head up the operation, which will run over the next four months.

Council leader, Sir Albert Bore, and communities secretary, Eric Pickles, called for the review in the wake of the ‘Trojan Horse’ revelations earlier this year.

The review will look into the structure and size of Birmingham City Council, which is the largest in the UK with a population of 1.1m.

Further lines of enquiry include: the clarity of strategic leadership and direction, financial planning and sustainability in the medium and long term, performance management and accountability and the council’s approach to partnership.

An advisory panel comprised of council chief executives and local government leaders will support Sir Bob throughout the review, spending five days in Birmingham, conducting interviews and holding evidence gathering sessions.

The panel includes: Carolyn Downs, chief executive of the Local Government Association (LGA), Cllr Mehboob Khan, political adviser of the Labour Group, London Councils and former leader of Kirklees Council, Joanne Roney, chief executive of Wakefield Council and Cllr David Simmonds, Consertvatives Hillingdon LBC.

Sir Bob said: ‘Ensuring that everyone shares in the cities economic prosperity and takes full advantage of all of the opportunities open to them requires strong civic leadership, effective governance and excellent delivery by the council.

‘This is very much an open call for evidence and I’m keen to hear from as many individuals, institutions and organisations as possible to inform the review and its final recommendations.

‘I am extremely pleased that this panel of highly talented individuals, with a wealth of direct experience have agreed to play such an active part in this important work, helping me develop and test the ideas and proposals that emerge over the coming months,’ he added.