Hit squad chosen for crisis-hit council

Sir John Harman, who retired from the agency in 2008 and is also a former Labour leader of Kirklees Council, will be joined by South Yorkshire businesswoman Julie Kenny and former Hackney councillor Jessica Crowe in a team of three.

The appointments follow the Government's decision to intervene in the running of the authority after a damning inspection report by the Audit Commission. The watchdog described the report as the worst it had produced in nearly 30 years, with in-fighting and poor leadership undermining services and leaving the authority unable to function properly.

Communities Secretary Eric Pickles is expected to fully ratify the appointments in the next two weeks. The commissioners will have the power to appoint, discipline or dismiss officers and ensure council decision makers do not fail to act or act against the advice of their statutory officers.

They will meet for two days each month and work in conjunction with a non-executive Intervention and Recovery Board, also set up to oversee the authority. Day-to-day management of services will remain the responsibility of the council.

As has previously been announced, Kirklees Council chief executive Rob Vincent will take over from temporary appointee Jo Miller as the senior officer in Doncaster from next month.

Prior to becoming chairman of the Environment Agency in 2000, Sir John Harman was Kirklees Council leader for 13 years. He is also a trustee of the National Mining Museum, near Wakefield.

Julie Kenny was awarded a CBE in 2002 for services to business and industry in Yorkshire. She is managing director of Rotherham-based Pyronix, which provides security products, and a board member at regeneration agency Yorkshire Forward.

She also serves on the board of redevelopment company Creative Sheffield.

Jessica Crowe is the Executive Director of the Centre for Public Scrutiny, an independent charity set up to promote better scrutiny and accountability in decision-making across the public sector.