Birmingham City Council has been given a year to improve its children's services after 15 children died through abuse or neglect since 2005.Children's Minister Beverley Hughes said she was "very concerned" after Ofsted inspectors said four out of five cases were inadequately dealt with.
She said she might use her "statutory powers to direct a solution" if the council did not make enough progress.
The council said it welcomed the government's help.
In a letter to council leader Mike Whitby, Ms Hughes said she recognised the council had taken action to address its weaknesses. But she said government action was needed to ensure progress was made "swiftly and decisively".
Two new assistant directors have been sent to the department and an external monitoring team has been put in place which will send monthly reports back to the minister.
A review of the department will be held in six and then 12 months' time, she said.
Ms Hughes added: "I am keen to see swift improvements in Birmingham and for children, young people and families to receive the service they deserve.
"I have decided to underpin the improvement measures and progress I expect, with an improvement notice.
"This will give Birmingham City Council 12 months to demonstrate robust and sustained progress, with a review after six months."
Duty of care
The government-appointed monitoring team will provide monthly reports on the council's progress.
Tony Howell, Birmingham City Council's director for children, young people and families, said: "I am very pleased with the response from government and welcome the support they are making available.
"The elements of the package are built around areas of support we asked the department for towards the tail-end of last year."
The council said then it was the largest local authority in Europe, catering for 250,000 children and teenagers, and that the number of deaths had not increased annually.
Birmingham Perry Barr MP Khalid Mahmood, who raised the inquiry in the House of Commons earlier this week, told the BBC: "In a large city like Birmingham they need to serve all of our citizens irrespective of size," he said.
He added he was "absolutely flabbergasted" the council would not say exactly how many of the 15 children who died were already known to social services and called for the council to be open.
