Media Watch - May 28

Top Birmingham City Council Stories

“Coasting” schools to face Academy conversion? (BBC WM) Cllr Brigid Jones interviewed after proposals designed to improve schools were announced in the Queen’s Speech. Cllr Jones said the plans were overly simplistic, adding that standards had worsened at one in three schools turned into Academies in Birmingham.

£13bn cost to taxpayers of Midland PFI projects (Birmingham Post) Article looking at cost of various public sector schemes in the region. Reference made to the council’s Highways PFI arrangements.

Foreign cash created 4,500 Midland jobs (Birmingham Post) A look at new figures released in a new annual survey. Neil Rami, chief executive of Marketing Birmingham, quoted as saying the region has never been more attractive to investors.

Combined Authorities (Extensive local and national coverage) More coverage following announcements on devolution made during the Queen’s Speech. Many articles refer to statement made by Cllr Darren Cooper, Leader of Sandwell Council, on behalf of all of the councils exploring options for a West Midlands Combined Authority – in which he says there is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to move powers from Whitehall to the West Midlands.

Town heads for historic vote on split from big city (Birmingham Post) Coverage of the news a consultative ballot on the creation of a Town Council for Sutton Coldfield is set to be held.

New lease of life for historic city cemeteries (Birmingham Post) A new garden of memory is to be created as part of a plan to transform Warstone Lane and Key Hill cemeteries in the Jewellery Quarter.

Language centre is being ‘run down’ deliberately, claim users (Birmingham Post) Fears expressed by students at the Brasshouse Language centre. A council spokesperson says although managers have not been replaced as a result of central government funding cuts, teaching staff have been protected, with only niche languages that attract very low numbers of learners discontinued.

Loud and proud (Birmingham Post) Up to 70,000 people are estimated to have attended the Pride festival in Birmingham last weekend. Reference made to an economic impact analysis showing the event was worth up to £20million to the city.

Calls for changes to parental rights (BBC WM) The grandmother of Birmingham child Fenton Hogan, who died after ingesting methadone fed to him by his mother, has called for a change in the law relating to parental rights after being unable to arrange a burial for him because his mother Kelly Emery wanted him to be cremated.

Regional Headlines

Seven industrial cleaners at the Jaguar Land Rover plant in Solihull have been suspended for alleged alcohol and drug abuse.

National Headlines

Football’s governing body FIFA is due to open its annual congress despite warnings from sponsors that they may review ties over the arrest of senior officials on corruption charges.

David Cameron is starting a tour of European capitals as a bill paving the way for the UK’s EU referendum is launched in the House of Commons. The prime minister will attempt to persuade the Dutch, French, Polish and German premiers to back his changes to the UK’s EU membership.

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