Media Watch - July 23

Top Birmingham City Council Stories:

Google to launch tech base at library (Birmingham Post, Birmingham Mail) Tech giant Google is opening a new business operation at the Library of Birmingham amid plans to reshape the future of the £189 million building. Cllr Penny Holbrook quoted extensively.

Housing crisis deepens with shortfall larger than predicted (Birmingham Post) Birmingham’s housing shortfall has been underestimated by 5,000, making it all the more important for Birmingham City Council to work closely with other authorities to address the shortage, according to the Birmingham Development Plan which goes to cabinet on July 27. Quotes Cllr Tahir Ali and director of planning and regeneration Waheed Nazir.

Curzon masterplan set for green light (Birmingham Post, BBC WM) The regeneration of Birmingham city centre reaches another major milestone next week with the formal adoption of the Curzon Street HS2 Masterplan. Quotes Cllr Tahir Ali. Sir Albert Bore also interviewed on BBC WM breakfast show.

Major junction roadworks near city centre (Birmingham Post) Piece on next phase of major city roadworks which is due to get under way at Haden Circus next week. Cllr Tahir Ali quoted.

Transport users get say on safety (Birmingham Post) Commuters, motorists, pedestrians, cyclists and bus users are being urged to help city transport chiefs draw up new road safety measures for Birmingham. Cllr James McKay quoted.

School complaints after Trojan Horse (Birmingham Post) A new ‘whistleblowing’ system introduced by Birmingham City Council in the wake of the Trojan Horse scandal has seen 30 worried teachers and parents complaining about Birmingham schools in just six months.

Bore blamed for slow progress in council overhaul (Birmingham Post) A letter from the Birmingham Independent Improvement Panel to Local Government Secretary Greg Clark has placed the blame for a lack of progress on Kerslake’s recommendations on Birmingham City Council’s leadership. Quotes Sir Albert Bore saying that progress was now being made and that the leadership remained committed to making the required changes. Cllr Paul Tilsley also quoted.

Fears over smaller city council (Birmingham Post) Cllr Carl Rice has said axing 20 seats will increase workloads and lead to even fewer elected members keeping careers going outside of the council. Cllr Carl Rice quoted. Also quotes Cllrs Paul Tilsley and Randal Brew, and references earlier comments made by Sir Albert Bore.

New town council could pave way for others to follow (Birmingham Post) Sutton Coldfield could be just the first of several Birmingham districts to set up their own town councils and run services locally. Quotes Cllr Rob Pocock.

Green Flag success for Birmingham parks (BBC WM) Head of parks Darren Share interviewed about the fact 16 Birmingham parks have retained their Green Flag status.

Residents alert council as travellers return to park (Birmingham Mail) Travellers have moved on to Woodgate Valley Country Park, in Bartley Green, for the second time in three months. Quotes Cllrs Bruce Lines and Vivienne Barton.

Regional Headlines:

Reckless motorists could be prosecuted through ‘dashcam’ evidence supplied by fellow motorists in a new West Midlands Police initiative.

A lifeguard at a Solihull swimming pool has been sacked after more than 30 years’ service for using his mobile phone at the poolside. A petition demanding his reinstatement has attracted 3,200 signatures.

National Headlines:

An independent review of police custody deaths in England and Wales has been announced by the home secretary. The review, which will also cover serious non-fatal incidents, comes after a string of high-profile cases and allegations of wrongdoing.

Greece has taken a crucial step towards a bailout after its parliament passed a second set of reforms. The passage of the measures means that negotiations on an €86bn European Union bailout can begin. The reforms include changes to Greek banking and an overhaul of the judiciary system.

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