Birmingham
Doubts over new taxes to fund Commonwealth Games
New forms of tax are unlikely to fill a £40m hole in funding for the Commonwealth Games budget, councillors in Birmingham have been told.
Brum improvement team issues final damning judgement and walks away
Birmingham City Council’s intervention team has issued a final, damning report on the crisis-hit council and walked away – despite admitting its job is not complete.
Birmingham's bin injunction bid thrown out
Birmingham City Council has lost its High Court bid for an injunction to stop a strike by bin workers.
Birmingham officers deny union accusations of 'inflammatory' reports
Senior officers at Birmingham City Council have rejected a trade union’s claims their reports have been ‘inflammatory, defamatory and inaccurate’.
Amey facing £200m Birmingham divorce bill
Amey may have to pay more than £200m to extricate itself from its troubled 25-year PFI contract with Birmingham City Council after years of legal difficulties, according to national newspaper reports.
Birmingham follows through on injunction threat
Birmingham City Council has insisted it had ‘no option’ but to follow through its threat of an injunction as industrial action by refuse workers continues.
Hundreds of Birmingham refuse workers to strike weekly
More than 300 refuse workers have announced they will begin two days of strike action a week in an escalation of the ongoing industrial dispute with Birmingham City Council.
Call for tourism tax review
An inquiry into cultural investment in cities has called for a UK-wide review of the benefits of a tourism tax.
LGA to build case for tourism tax
Smith Square is to commission further research as it looks to build a ‘very strong case’ for a tourism levy that could generate £12bn.
Brum threatens legal action against union
Birmingham City Council has threatened trade union Unite with the prospect of a court order as industrial action by refuse workers continues.
Regeneration project to continue despite costs doubling to £193m
Birmingham City Council has received the green light to borrow £50m to continue a flagship regeneration project after costs doubled.
Clancy escapes legal action over waste dispute
Birmingham City Council’s former leader will not face legal action for his part in the authority’s waste dispute.
Three-year wait for auditor sign off
Two councils have failed to have their annual accounts signed off by auditors for the third year in a row, a report has revealed.
Leaders unite to tackle extremism
Council leaders from across the UK are meeting this week to call for cooperation over tackling extremism and radicalisation within communities.
Brum to implement bin strike deal
Beleaguered Birmingham City Council is finally expected to implement the deal that ended an acrimonious bin strike – four months behind schedule.
Brum vows to improve SEND after critical report
Birmingham City Council has vowed to take urgent action to make ‘significant improvements’ after a special educational needs and disabilities inspection (SEND).
Frontline staff 'still wary of Prevent'
Frontline local authority staff are still wary of Prevent strategy training amid fears they could be viewed as extensions of the security services, practitioners have told The MJ.
Full steam ahead for the West Midlands
In a recent round table discussion organised by The MJ and energy and services company ENGIE, local authorities from across the West Midlands debated the challenges and opportunities ahead. Heather Jameson reports on the conclusions
Birmingham faces grievance complaint amid senior staff restructure
Birmingham City Council has launched a senior management restructure as part of the new chief executive’s efforts to improve the authority.
Dressing down for councillors
Think back to what councillors were wearing at the last council meeting you attended.