Birmingham
EXCLUSIVE: Killian lobbied to halt work with watchdog
Sector figures have been lobbied to withdraw engagement and co-operation with the local government watchdog after a national newspaper used its data to rank councils, The MJ understands.
Brum equal pay wait goes on
Birmingham City Council faces a further wait before declaring its official equal pay liabilities after auditors warned ‘we have yet to receive the evidence we need to complete our work’.
Gove could launch police inquiry for Birmingham
Reports the levelling up secretary could send a police chief in to investigate financial mismanagement in Birmingham City Council have resurfaced on the eve of local elections.
'No appetite' for Scottish equal pay unit
Scottish Government ministers are unlikely to establish a national equal pay unit despite calls from the trade union that led strikes over the snowballing issue.
Brum may turn to MD to cover chief exec exit
Birmingham City Council could hire a managing director to replace its departing chief executive, The MJ understands.
Cadman steps down as Birmingham chief
Deborah Cadman is to stand down as chief executive of Birmingham City Council after almost three years at the council.
Union backs strike at Brum
GMB trade union members at Birmingham City Council have voted overwhelmingly to support strike action over perceived delays in settling equal pay claims.
Birmingham 'worse' than commissioners feared
The situation in Birmingham City Council is worse than commissioners expected, a report to the secretary of state has claimed.
Birmingham faces 10% council tax hike
Cash-strapped Birmingham City Council could raise council tax by 10% if the Government gives its finance plan the go-ahead.
Birmingham outlines £150m cuts programme
Management services will be among the biggest casualties of commissioner-led Birmingham City Council’s £150m cuts programme outlined this week.
Brum blame culture still 'largely unaddressed'
Birmingham City Council’s problems of governance and accountability are still ‘largely unaddressed’, despite some gains made by the authority.
Job cuts 'inevitable' at Brum
Birmingham City Council is poised to reveal a worse-than-expected financial position as it embarks on a savings drive and ‘inevitable’ job cuts, The MJ has learned.
Brum commissioners warn council will need further help to agree lawful budget
Commissioners at Birmingham City Council have warned it will struggle to agree a lawful budget next year without further help.
Bradford latest to issue section 114 warning
Bradford City Council has warned it may become the latest to declare an emergency section 114 notice unless it takes urgent action to cut spending.
Birmingham 'actively exploring' action against s151
Birmingham City Council is ‘actively exploring’ possible action against its former director of council management Becky Hellard for her role in the collapse of the council.
Thinking of a section 114
With Birmingham – the largest local authority in Europe – issuing a section 114 notice recently, the decision of whether to issue one will no doubt be on other local authorities’ minds in the run-up to the festive period, writes chief executive of the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy, Rob Whiteman.
Employers downplay equal pay risk
Smith Square is monitoring equal pay claims across the sector but remains confident the national job evaluation framework is robust, senior sources have told The MJ.
Birmingham commissioners revealed
The team tasked with turning round Birmingham City Council has been announced – including a former Labour minister and a serving council chief.
EXCLUSIVE: Select committee looks to launch financial distress inquiry
Senior local government figures have been approached to give evidence as MPs consider launching an inquiry into financial distress in the sector, The MJ understands.
Brum kicks off job cuts
Birmingham City Council has started a wide-ranging programme of job cuts under emergency plans discussed by councillors last night.