Media Watch – Nov 23
Top Birmingham City Council Stories
Contract extension offers savings solution (BBC WM, Midlands Today, BRMB) Cllr Randal Brew interviewed about plans that would save Birmingham City Council around £135million over the next decade which are set to be discussed by Cabinet members on November 29.
‘Sky is your limit’ new citizens told (Birmingham Mail) More than 100 of the Queen’s new subjects were told to ‘make their mark’ on Birmingham after being made UK citizens at a special ceremony.
Claims that senior politicians and Birmingham City Council chief executive Stephen Hughes have clashed ov-er radical plans to cut £330 million from the city’s budget over the next four years.
Top athletes set for Birmingham Grand Prix meeting (BBC, BRMB, Eurosport, Insider Media) Birmingham will welcome top athletes from around the world next summer as the city hosts another big sporting event. The city council has signed a three-year deal with UK Athletics to bring the Aviva Birmingham Grand Prix to the Alexander Stadium.
The best Christmas markets in 2010 (Guardian) Birmingham’s Frankfurt Christmas Market hailed as ‘the big mama of German Christmas markets’ in Guardian feature.
Ten-year wait over for ‘village square’ (Birmingham Mail) Plans to build a village-style square off Kings Heath High Street have been given the green light after nearly a decade in the pipeline.
Battle to save our hedgerows (Birmingham Mail) A national biodiversity survey to uncover the diverse range of wildlife in England’s threatened urban hedgerows is being backed by Birmingham City Council.
Entry deadline for Birmingham pantomime horse race (Birmingham Mail) Charity volunteers are being urged to saddle up ready for Birmingham’s annual Thomas Vale Pantomime Horse Grand National this Sunday.
Pat on the back for top city schools (Birmingham Mail) Thirty nine schools, nurseries, childminders and children’s homes in Birmingham were named as outstanding providers by Ofsted over the last year.
Why not to skimp when it comes to tyres (Telegraph) Report looking at a Birmingham City Council report into part-worn tyres.
Regional Headlines
Severn Trent profits tumble despite rise in revenues
Severn Trent’s profits have halved despite a rise in revenues, as the water firm faced a series of charges.
Murder inquiry into unit shooting as body identified
A man found shot in the head in a disused industrial unit in the Black Country has been identified by police.
National Headlines
UK government agrees on non-EU skilled migration cap
The government is to cap the number of non-EU skilled migrants allowed into the UK at about 43,000 next year, down 13% on 2009, the BBC understands.
Living costs in UK ‘up to 20% higher for remote areas’
People in rural areas need to take home up to 20% more than those in urban areas in order to reach an acceptable living standard, according to a report.
Warning issued over winter coughs
A cold weather cough that will not clear up could be the first sign of more serious illness, say experts.
