Birmingham council faces legal action over closure of day centres

Legal action is being taken over the role of commissioners in Birmingham who were sent to oversee the beleaguered council, after they blocked scrutiny of a controversial decision to close adult day centres.

- Jessica Murray

An application for a judicial review has been brought in the names of Robert Mason, 63, and Jenny Gilbert, 50, who attend day centres for adults with physical and learning disabilities in the city.

The legal bid argues there was an overreach by the lead commissioner, Max Caller, in breach of the Local Government Act when he refused to allow three separate applications by elected council members to "call-in" the cabinet decision to close four day centres for further scrutiny.

James Cross, acting on behalf of his uncle, Robert, who attended a day centre in Harborne for 45 years, said the commissioner had "made a mockery of local government" by overriding the established process and preventing full scrutiny of the closures.