Media Watch - November 28

Top Birmingham City Council stories

Coverage of the Smith Commission report on devolved powers for Scotland (The Telegraph, The Times): Refers to letter signed by civic leaders including Sir Albert Bore, calling on the Government to work with local government to negotiate a similar deal for England.

Social workers could get holiday or housing perks (Birmingham Mail): Council chiefs could offer perks like subsidised housing and extra-long holidays in a bid to attract new social workers. Deputy Leader quoted.

Council chiefs face taxpayers over huge cuts (Birmingham Mail): Council Leader Sir Albert Bore, cabinet members and senior officials will take part in two public meetings next month about proposed cuts to the city’s budget.

Region ‘needs London-style travel watchdog’ (Birmingham Mail): Members of the council’s transport scrutiny committee say that the city would benefit from a Transport-for-London style watchdog to co-ordinate bus, train and Metro services.

Homelessness is a major public health issue (24 Dash website): As he prepares to join the St Basils Big Sleepout, Birmingham City Council Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing, Cllr John Cotton, highlights homelessness as a major public health issue.

World-class artwork to greet HS2 passengers (Birmingham Mail): The Birmingham Big Art project has been launched to raise £2m to create a new piece of public art in Eastside.  Deputy Leader quoted.

Hospitals and councils land patient award (Birmingham Mail): Heart of England Foundation Trust has won a national award for its work with Birmingham City Council and Solihull Borough Council to ease elderly patients through the transition from hospital back into the home.

Social media and the public sector (The Guardian): Article on how public bodies use social media. Refers to the council’s 89 social media accounts, including one for Chris Moose – the joke-telling moose who acts as the voice of the Frankfurt Christmas Market.

Record numbers expected at city’s Christmas Market (ITV and BBC Online): A record number of people are expected at the Christmas Markets in Birmingham this weekend and  London Midland will be running longer trains as a result.

Regional headlines

Sutton Coldfield MP and former chief whip Andrew Mitchell loses libel action against News Group Newspapers over “plebgate” affair.

A Walsall man arrested at Heathrow Airport on suspicion of terrorism offences connected to Syria is charged with the theft of identity documents and a passport.

National headlines

Prime Minister David Cameron will set out plans for a welfare crackdown on EU migrants today, warning that he will “rule nothing out” if he fails to secure the reforms in a renegotiation of the European Union.

Seven mental health patients have killed themselves in England since 2012 after being told there were no hospital beds for them.

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