Tag: rebuttal
Trojan Horse 'gagging orders' - rebuttal
The Daily Mail has today published a story claiming that we have imposed ‘gagging orders’ on ex-teaching staff in relation to Trojan Horse claims. This is not true. We would like to take this opportunity to make it absolutely clear that any compromise agreement does not prevent ex-teaching staff from bringing forward any claims or […]
Rebuttal – Santa “axed” in council cuts
Today's Birmingham Mail has a front page headline that claims “council cuts” are responsible for a decision by Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery (BMAG) to axe a Santa's grotto attraction at the venue. This claim is misleading. BMAG is run by Birmingham Museums Trust. The trust makes operational decisions relating to its resources such as […]
Homes for Heroes clarification
In response to the Homes for Heroes story in today’s Birmingham Mail: http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/local-news/former-lord-mayor-slams-city-6316654 A Birmingham City Council spokesperson said: “Councillor Ali recently announced a deal with the MoD to provide around 60 Homes for Heroes in the city. The 12 homes built by the previous administration used funding from the Alderson Trust. There was no […]
Local Welfare Provision: Asda card clarification
As part of the welfare reform programme, the Government has abolished the Community Care Grants and Crisis Loans elements of the Social Fund, which were administered centrally by DWP. From 1 April 2013, responsibility for this emergency welfare provision has been passed to local authorities. Birmingham's Local Welfare Provision policy was agreed following extensive consultation, […]
Edgbaston Cricket Ground clarification
With reference to the Birmingham Mail story Edgbaston to be renamed in £4m deal A Birmingham City Council spokesperson said: “This is a bit of kite flying. We have been in discussions with the cricket club but not about naming rights, rather general support. Considering our financial situation we cannot afford to be talking about […]
Council reserves - clarification
An article on the Birmingham Post website quotes figures from the Department for Communities and Local Government that relate to the council’s reserves - and how local authorities could minimise the impact of funding cuts by using those reserves. The position portrayed by the DCLG is misleading. According to the latest draft statement of accounts, […]
Usain Bolt - wicker statue
Stories in today’s Metro and Evening Standard carry inaccurate details about Birmingham’s wicker statue of Usain Bolt. The stories are based on a report issued by Birmingham news agency Newsteam. Claim 1: Bolt is facing the wrong way. As the photograph above shows, the wicker display was modelled on a photograph of Bolt in […]
Arts grants rebuttal
In response to today’s Birmingham Post article: City arts heritage struggles to cope as funding slashed we wish to point out that funding to our arts organisations has not in fact been slashed but maintained at 2011-12 levels for the next two years. This decision has been taken following detailed consultation and underlines how much […]
Workforce figures – a clarification
Today’s Birmingham Post contains an article headlined “14,000 council jobs axed in two years”. This claim is incorrect. The following Workforce Data scrutiny reports (June 2009) and (September 2011) show the following: The council’s core headcount (including sessional and casual workers) in 2009 was 61,695 The council’s core headcount (including sessional and casual workers) in […]
Rebuttal: Pype Hayes Hall disposal
An article in today's Birmingham Mail suggests that the city council wants to sell Pype Hayes Hall because “it cannot afford to run it”. This is not the case. The building is simply not suitable accommodation for council staff to operate effective, modern services from in 2011. Through the Working for the Future programme, the […]
