Council chiefs have written to new communities secretary Greg Clark seeking talks on ‘delivering more radical devolution deals relating to fiscal powers, economic growth and public service reform'.

Mark Rogers, president of the Society of Local Authority Chief Executives (SOLACE) sent a letter to Mr Clark yesterday immediately after prime minister David Cameron picked the former cities minister to replace Eric Pickles after the Conservative's general election triumph.

The Birmingham City Council chief executive called for top-level discussions with ministers on key areas - including a review of local government finance, accelerating house building, ‘ramping up the integration of health and social care systems' and ‘ensuring a rigorous response to tackling child sexual exploitation'.