Media Watch - May 29

Top Birmingham City Council Stories:

Students claim language centre ‘is being run down’ (Birmingham Mail) Students from a world-renowned language centre – which Birmingham City Council claims is based in an ‘unviable’ building – say it is being deliberately run down. Quotes council spokeswoman explaining that adult education is funded by central government through the Skills Funding Agency.

Consultative ballot re a Sutton Town Council (BBCWM Breakfast Show) Interviews with Ifor Jones, Service Director for Homes and Neighbourhoods at BCC, Cllr Anne Underwood, District Chair for Sutton Coldfield and Ken Rushwood from the Referendum Group about the forthcoming consultative ballot for Sutton Coldfield residents who are on the electoral register. The postal ballot starts in June.

Consultative ballot re a Sutton Town Council (The MJ) Further coverage of the consultative ballot.

War memorial is to be unveiled (Halesowen News) A memorial to honour Quinton’s war dead from all conflicts is to be unveiled after dogged determination by a local history buff. Quinton Local History Society chairman Bernard Taylor … obtained a grant of almost £2,000 to pay for the black marble memorial from Birmingham City Council’s Community Chest.

Will the West Midlands ever have a black MP? (The Voice) The new Parliament returned a recent number of BAME members, but why are none of them from Birmingham or Wolverhampton, which have sizeable African Caribbean populations. Mentions new cabinet member for health and social care, Cllr Paulette Hamilton.

Deal me in (The MJ) Incoming communities secretary Greg Clark has urged local authorities to submit ambitious Growth Deals to drive the Government’s devolution agenda. Includes interview with Chief Executive Mark Rogers.

Combined Authority (Halesowen News, Solihull News, The MJ, Midlands Business Insider) Further coverage of the recent discussion about a Combined Authority.

Regional Headlines:

Aston Villa in tomorrow’s FA Cup Final – lots of coverage about Aston Villa and what a win could mean for Birmingham.

Two arrested for after terror raids – A 24-year-old man and a 23-year-old woman are questioned at a West Midlands police station on suspicion of preparing for acts of terrorism in the UK.

National Headlines:

Embattled Fifa votes on presidency – Fifa is set to vote for a new president amid a corruption scandal with Sepp Blatter seeking a fifth term but challenged by Jordan’s Prince Ali.

Cameron and Merkel in EU reform talks – David Cameron will try and persuade German Chancellor Angela Merkel to back him over EU reforms as the two leaders hold face-to-face talks.


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