Media Watch - Oct 4
Top Birmingham City Council Stories
Complaints about private landlords (BBC Radio WM) Campaign group Shelter has released research that shows that 7,000 complaints were made about private landlords last year, but there were just 20 prosecutions in the city. The National Landlords' Association has called on councils to use all the powers they have to bring rogue landlords to justice.
Town fights to break free from city control (Birmingham Post) A petition has been launched in Sutton Coldfield in an attempt to trigger a referendum on the creation of a Town Council for the district.
Councillors block move to impose parking charge increase (Birmingham Post and Birmingham Mail) Sutton Coldfield councillors have rejected any firm plans to increase charges at Sutton Park after rumours about the possibility only being considered recently surfaced.
One in three miss first choice school (Birmingham Post) Continued coverage of data that shows more than two-thirds of pupils were given a place at their first preference school as part of this year's applications process.
'Ditch Heathrow obsession in favour of regional airports' (Birmingham Post) Business Secretary Vince Cable has given his backing to the expansion of regional airports such as Birmingham's.
Writing a new page in library history (Birmingham Post and Birmingham Mail) A feature on a behind-the-scenes look at the Library of Birmingham project.
Coalition is more 'localist' than my own party - Bore (Birmingham Post) Coverage of this week's events at the Labour Party conference. During one event, Council Leader Sir Albert Bore is quoted as saying that last Labour government did not roll out the devolution agenda as broadly as he would have hoped.
Threat of costly parking tickets as clamping is outlawed (Birmingham Post) Drivers have been warned to be vigilant by Birmingham Trading Standards as new clamping leglislation is introduced.
Academies trust is 'benefit to council - not city schools' (Birmingham Post) Cllr James Bird, Conservative spokesman for education, has criticised plans for a co-operative schools trust drawn up by Cllr Brigid Jones.
OAPs frozen out of hot meals scheme (Birmingham Mail) Hundreds of service users have moved from a council-subsidised hot meals service to other providers after the local authority funding was ended.
Pilgrims targeted by conmen (Birmingham Mail) The council has urged Muslims across Birmingham to be on their guard against rogue travel agents offering packages for Hajj pilgrimages.
Regional Headlines
Former city councillor Ayoub Khan has been selected as the Liberal Democrat candidate for the upcoming West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner election on November 15.
Ambulance crews have had to call in firefighters 51 times over the last three years to winch obese people from their homes.
National Headlines
Volunteers have started arriving ahead of a new search in mid Wales for missing five-year-old April Jones.
US Republican candidate Mitt Romney won the first of three televised debates with President Barack Obama, polls and analysts in the US say.
The funeral of PC Fiona Bone, one of two officers killed during an incident last month, is to take place at Manchester Cathedral later.
