130 years on – a council with lessons still to learn
This week, Birmingham has been marking 130 years as a city. It has much to celebrate – looking to both history and the future. But, as Kevin Johnson writes, the
The rising star and the professor
Politics has always been a game of snakes and ladders. One day you’re up, the next day you’re down. But there’s something of a teaching theme among a group of
Council: ‘time is running out,’ but when?
“Time is running out and we need to see real progress.” So says John Crabtree OBE, chair of the Birmingham Independent Improvement Panel (BIIP), on Birmingham city council in its
Council: this time we’re serious
Birmingham City Council today publishes an Improvement ‘Stocktake Report’ outlining the current position relating to improvements recommended by Lord Kerslake in December 2014. In effect, it says that this time
Council: Ward breaks new boundaries
Ian Ward may have been the leader of Birmingham city council for little more than six months, but he’s already achieved two things of significance that eluded his immediate predecessor,
Council: Cabinet reshuffled – Trickett goes, Zaffar returns
Lisa Trickett and Peter Griffiths are the casualties in the first Cabinet reshuffle following recent council elections, reports Kevin Johnson. Waseem Zaffar rejoins the Cabinet whilst Kate Booth and Jayne
Three years – finance and culture challenges remain
Reading the latest letter to Sajid Javid, this time jointly from Panel chair John Crabtree and Council leader Ian Ward, it would be easy to forget that more than three
Ian Ward elected leader of Labour group
Councillor Ian Ward has been elected Leader of Birmingham Labour group. The former deputy leader, who served under both Sir Albert Bore and John Clancy, was voted in by fellow
Birmingham City Council’s apartments will soon be In-reach
Work is well underway at the Embankment apartments – the first housing project to be developed for the private rental sector by Birmingham City Council’s wholly owned company – Inreach Birmingham Limited (Inreach). The purpose-built market rent scheme will comprise of 92 furnished apartments: 24 X 1 bedroom and 68 x 2 bedrooms. Designed to […]
Corbyn tells council to get a move on with energy company plans
Jeremy Corbyn has urged Labour-led Birmingham city council to get a move on with its plans to set up an energy company to provide cut-price fuel to homes and businesses.