Media Watch - Jan 22
Top Birmingham City Council Stories:
Legal chief leads panel to decide on council fate (Birmingham Post) Jon Crabtree is to chair a group charting Birmingham City Council’s progress following the publication of Sir Bob Kerslake’s report in December.
Social workers urged to make their home in Birmingham (BBC WM, ITV Central) Coverage of Birmingham City Council’s latest social worker recruitment campaign, including interview with Cllr Brigid Jones on WM and showing of promotional video on ITV Central.
Competition to create city ‘people’s flag’ (Birmingham Post and BBC WM) Deputy Lord Mayor Cllr Mike Leddy has launched a competition to design a flag which could become part of Birmingham’s identity. Cllr Leddy interviewed on BBC WM.
Little to show for taxpayers as NEC sale cash pays city debts (Birmingham Post) Cash raised from the sale of the NEC will almost entirely be used to help pay Birmingham City Council’s massive equal pay bill, it has been confirmed. Quotes Sir Albert Bore confirming this, while Cllr Robert Alden is quoted saying that too little detail of the sale has been made public.
Hundreds of fish die as sluice gate is left open (Birmingham Post) Hundreds of fish have died at Swanshurst Park, near Moseley, after a sluice gate was opened during a routine inspection. Quotes council spokesperson saying that fish were released inadvertently when the gate was opened for just two minutes as part of an inspection of the flood prevention measure required by law and that measures would be put in place to prevent this from happening again.
Sky Ride’s the limit as bikeathon is axed again (Birmingham Post, Birmingham Mail) Birmingham’s annual Sky Ride bike event has been axed for a second year running. Quotes city council spokesperson emphasising that a significant amount of effort went into trying to find a suitable date, but it had not been possible this year.
20mph speed limits can help to cut obesity rates (Birmingham Mail) Birmingham’s Director of Public Health, Dr Adrian Phillips, has backed proposed 20mph speed limit plans, saying it is great news for those who want to walk or cycle.
Warning to fly-tippers: we’ll take your cars (Birmingham Mail) Fly-tippers found dumping waste on the city’s roadsides could have their cars seized, impounded and sold under new Birmingham City Council powers. Quotes licensing and public protection committee chairman Cllr Barbara Dring, plus committee member Cllr Tony Kennedy.
Manufacturing hub work as preparation completes (Birmingham Post) Development work can now start at the Advanced Manufacturing Hub in Aston after reclamation works were completed. Quotes Cllr Tahir Ali.
Library cuts: ‘Boulton and Watt would turn in their graves’ (Birmingham Post) Lunar Society chairman Waheed Saleem has criticised cuts to the Library of Birmingham. Also quotes Professor Ewan Fernie from the University of Birmingham, expressing his disappointment at the cuts.
Osborne backs Solihull’s right to decide its future (Birmingham Post) Chancellor George Osborne has backed Solihull’s stance as the borough’s council continues to stand in the way of a West Midlands combined authority. Quotes Sir Albert Bore describing Solihull as “logjam†towards progress.
City MIPIM group grows (Birmingham Post) The region is taking more partners than ever before at real estate show MIPIM with New Street Station, Resorts World and Grand Central expected to draw crowds. Refers to the Paradise development being expected to be a major draw for the Birmingham delegation and quotes Sir Albert Bore saying that the fact so many schemes are in progress would be key to drawing investment.
Paris planning legal action over Fox News report (Birmingham Mail) Report on Paris saying it will sue Fox News over a report which claims parts of the city were “no-go areas†to non-Muslims. Quotes Cllr James McKay emphasising that Birmingham will not follow suit over claims by Fox News terror ‘expert’ Steve Emerson that the city was a “100 per cent Muslim†city.
Regional Headlines:
Benefits Street star Dierdre ‘White Dee’ Kelly has been named second favourite to win Birmingham’s Ladywood seat in the General Election – but her agent says an MP’s job would not pay well enough.
JCB chairman Lord Bamford has topped the Birmingham Post’s Rich List once again.
National Headlines:
A law introducing plain cigarette packaging in England could come into force in 2016 after ministers said MPs would be asked to vote on the plan before May’s General Election.
The European Central Bank (ECB) is expected to announce today that it will inject up to €1 trillion euros into the ailing eurozone economy.
