Media Watch - July 17
Top Birmingham City Council Stories
720 children at risk of exploitation (BBC, Heart) Up to 720 children are at risk of being sexually exploited in places such as children’s homes, hotels and parks, new figures for the West Midlands show. The figure was revealed in two reports compiled by councils, the NHS and the police.
Birmingham Trojan Horse letter ‘no hoax’ (BBC, Birmingham Mail) A letter outlining a plot by some Muslims to take over schools in Birmingham was “no hoax”, according to the city’s education commissioner Sir Mike Tomlinson.
Council call centre better - but still not good enough (Birmingham Mail) Residents contacting Birmingham City Council’s call centre are showing higher levels of satisfaction since the facility was brought in-house last autumn, according to a report.
BikeFest to debut in Birmingham this September (Bike Biz) Birmingham is set to benefit from a new family cycling festival, dubbed BikeFest, that will centre around fun family cycling. Cabinet Member for Sustainability, Councillor Lisa Trickett, quoted.
Brum in Bloom competition (Birmingham Mail) Green-fingered council tenants and leaseholders across the city have been invited to battle it out in Birmingham City Council’s annual gardening competition.
Regional Headlines
Tunisia attack: Funerals being held for eight UK victims
Funerals of eight Britons killed in the Tunisia terror attack - including victims from the West Midlands - are taking place today.
Police investigate after two dogs attack a cat in Birmingham
Police are trying to identify a man captured on camera petting two dogs after they mauled a cat in broad daylight.
National Headlines
Syria air strikes conducted by UK military pilots
UK pilots embedded with coalition allies’ forces have been conducting air strikes over Syria against the Islamic State group, it has emerged.
Scientific experts: Sugar intake ‘should be halved’
A committee of scientific experts is expected to urge the government to halve the recommended daily intake of sugar, in final guidance on Friday.
