Media Watch - June 11
Top Birmingham City Council Stories
Bore outlines an ambitious expansion target for city (Birmingham Post and Birmingham Mail) Coverage of Sir Albert Bore’s Leader’s Policy Statement, delivered at a city council meeting earlier this week – in which he says Birmingham should aim to be the UK’s fastest-growing core city.
Tributes to city’s Regeneration Man (Birmingham Post and Evening Standard) Further tributes are paid to Clive Dutton, a former director of planning and regeneration at the city council, who died last weekend. Council Leader Sir Albert Bore amongst those quoted.
MP hits out at Osborne over £6m health cut (Birmingham Post) Edgbaston MP Gisela Stuart has criticised recently announced public health budget cuts which could see the council lose £6.5million.
Radical £40m overhaul of city’s pre-school services (Birmingham Post) A new plan is set to go before the city council’s Cabinet later this month. Cllr Brigid Jones quoted.
No joke, Jasper’s backing BID (Birmingham Post) Comedian Jasper Carrott has urged city centre businesses to back the ballot for the creation of a Westside Business Improvement District. Reference also made in article to recent council approval of a loan to keep the previous Broad Street BID running until the ballot result is known.
Authors spearhead major rally in support of library (Birmingham Post and Central News) The Friends of Library Birmingham are set to march from the Bullring to the Library on Saturday in protest against the venue’s reduced opening hours.
City tops table in UK’s dearest places to have parking permit (Extensive local and national media coverage) A survey by an insurance company has revealed that motorists are being charged up to £750 per year for parking permits. The research does not look at the average price of the permits, but reference is made to the fact the cheapest in Birmingham is just £16. Council spokesperson quoted to this effect.
Head teacher tasked with driving improvements in city education (Birmingham Post) Tim Boyes is to be seconded from Queensbridge School for 12 months to become chief executive of the Birmingham Education Partnership, given responsibility to deliver the council’s school improvement plan in March.
Celebrating local history (Birmingham Post) A week-long Brummie history festival is due to begin on September 10. The event was a key recommendation of a council scrutiny inquiry into “Brummie Identity”.
City techies to take part in hackathon (Birmingham Post) Birmingham will join cities around the world for a 24-hour hackathon next Thursday to address pressing environmental issues. Birmingham City Council referenced as setting the local challenge for the day - on the issue of waste minimisation.
Wild horses would not drag me back to Brum after our 10-hour traffic hell (Birmingham Mail) A letter in the Birmingham Post is run as a double page feature in the Birmingham Mail. Written by a Bedfordshire man who attended a concert at the Barclaycard arena.
Plea for cameras at crash junction (Birmingham Mail) Council Leader Sir Albert Bore says he wants ‘no right turn’ enforcement cameras as soon as possible on Great Charles Street after a recent accident brought the city centre to a standstill.
The heat is on for Ramadan (Birmingham Mail) A look at the potential health issues related to observing the religious festival of Ramadan. Cllr Paulette Hamilton quoted, offering advice on how to fast safely.
Green award for tree garden at QE (Birmingham Mail) A project to plant 1,000 trees at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital has won a Making Birmingham Greener and Healthier Award – an awards initiative led by the city council.
Man abused by PE teacher in the 1970s breaks silence (ITV Central and BBC Online) A former pupil of Ilmington Road Comprehensive School (now closed) has spoken of his experience being taught by Marcus Marcussen, jailed earlier this year for historic offences against boys. Council spokesperson quoted as confirming three legal claims from former pupils are being investigated.
Regional Headlines
A mother who went missing with her three-year-old son has contacted a newspaper to say they are safe. Rebecca Minnock, 35, and Ethan disappeared from their home in Highbridge, Somerset, on May 26. Police believe she may be in Birmingham or Cheltenham.
National Headlines
The government plans to sell its stake in the Royal Bank of Scotland, Chancellor George Osborne has announced in his annual Mansion House speech.
The NHS in England could save £5bn a year with improved staff organisation and a better approach to purchasing everyday items, a review will say. Lord Carter came to the conclusion after spending a year working with 22 hospitals on behalf of the government.
