Media Watch - Sept 26

Top Birmingham City Council Stories

Mum at just 13 (Birmingham Mail) Eight girls aged 13 had babies in the West Midlands over the last five years according to official data. Birmingham's Director of Public Health Dr Adrian Phillips quoted as saying young mothers and their children are more likely to struggle than those born to older mums.

STI tests at schools (BBC WM) One parent has criticised health and school officials after her daughter was offered STI tests at Hillcrest School.

3 years in jail for scheming flights crook (Birmingham Mail) A travel agent who obtained £26,000 from customers for non-existent flights has been jailed for three years. Dean Oliver's prosecution was brought by Birmingham City Council following an investigation by its Trading Standards service.

Education chief had job in Kuwait (Birmingham Mail) Further coverage of this week's announcement that Sir Mike Tomlinson will become Birmingham's new education commissioner. Article looks into his previous job history.

Students forced to get 12 buses a day (Birmingham Mail) Council officials have unveiled plans to stop children with special needs using up to a dozen buses daily to get to and from school. Cllr Brigid Jones quoted, saying pupils should be educated as close to home as possible.

Councillors hit out at 'relaxed' planning laws (Birmingham Mail) Council bosses are to object against “absurd” planning laws - amid fears the city is being overrun with “massive” home extensions. Cllr Barry Henley, Peter Douglas Osborn and John Clancy all quoted.

Tower block plans set for approval (Birmingham Mail) Proposals for a retirement home complex at Brassington Avenue in Sutton Coldfield are due before the council's Planning Committee next week.

Regional Headlines

Former Birmingham City FC managing director Karren Brady has been accused of snubbing the city after deciding to taken on the title of Baroness Brady of Knightsbridge after being awarded a peerage earlier this year.

Four Birmingham restaurants have earned a Michelin star in the latest guide to fine dining - compared to a total of none in Manchester.

National Headlines

MPs will vote later on whether the UK should join US-led air strikes on Islamic State in Iraq.

The UK Independence Party will unveil plans to cut income tax from 40p to 35p for people earning up to £55,000. At its party conference, which starts later, UKIP will also promise to raise the amount people can earn before paying any income tax to £13,500.

The outgoing head of the civil service has predicted another five years of UK government spending cuts - and he said making the cuts would be “even harder”. Sir Bob Kerslake said one of the difficulties was that “easier” savings had already been made. He said the “sense of urgency” would be reduced and the need for cuts would be hard to explain to public sector staff.

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