Updated 5:03am 25 May 2012

Powered by Google

Neil Elkes

Neil Elkes

Wholesale Markets

Birmingham Wholesale markets plea to new council Labour leadership

BIRMINGHAM’S wholesale market traders believe chances of staying at their current site have been boosted by a new, Labour-run city council.Read

Birmingham Mail Mint M

Concert to raise cash for Erdington church roof

SUTTON Coldfield Chamber Choir appear in concert at St Mary’s Church, Pype Hayes, Erdington, this weekend.Read

Birmingham City Council House

Two council newcomers among Labour cabinet to run Birmingham City Council

TWO relative council newcomers are among a young team making up theRead

Arena Central

Iconic hotel plan for Birmingham City Centre

PART of a long-derelict city centre site could soon be home to an eye-catching 18-storey hotel if plans are approved.Read

Birmingham City Council House

Retired Birmingham councillors in line for top honour

NINE former Birmingham City Councillors, including three ex Lord Mayors, with almost 200 years service between them are being lined up a top honour.Read

Taxi

Birmingham licensing chief issues warning over planned taxi reform

GOVERNMENT plans to open up the taxi and minicab market could lead to chaos on the streets of Birmingham it has been claimed.Read

Birmingham Mail Mint M

Emergency expansion plan to tackle Sutton Coldfield school places crisis

ANXIOUS parents have been told that Sutton Coldfield primary schools could open extra classrooms in September to tackle an admissions crisis.Read

Robert Alden

Birmingham Tory describes election as their 'Dunkirk' moment

BIRMINGHAM’S Conservative deputy leader has blasted his party’s election strategy in a leaked email.Read

Birmingham Mail Mint M

Cat owners warned to be on guard after three pets found poisoned in Highgate

CAT owners on a city estate have been warned to be on their guard after three pets were poisoned in a single afternoon.Read

Malkit Singh

King of Bhangra Malkit Singh honoured on Birmingham Walk of Stars

HUNDREDS of fans gathered in Birmingham City Centre last night as the King of Bhangra Malkit Singh became the first Asian celebrity to be honoured on Broad Street’s famous Walk of Stars.Read

Birmingham City Council House

Birmingham city councillors wage bill cut by £70,000 in overhaul

NEW Birmingham Council leader Sir Albert Bore is set to slash the wage bill for senior officials by £70,000.Read

Sir Albert Bore

Tories and Lib Dems routed in Birmingham City Council elections

BIRMINGHAM City Council’s new Labour leader celebrated a landslide election victory – then vowed to fulfil a promise to tackle unemployment, deprivation and housing.Read

Ballot box 60

Birmingham votes 'No' to an elected mayor

THE voters of Birmingham have overwhelmingly rejected a Boris Johnson style elected mayor to run the city. Read

Michael Wilkes

Former Lord Mayor Michael Wilkes retires from Birmingham City Council

A FORMER Lord Mayor and expert on Lord of the Rings author JRR Tolkein is quitting Birmingham Council after more than three decades.Read

Mayor Referendum

Decision day on Birmingham's Mayoral referendum approaches

THE countdown to the Olympics is on – but Birmingham voters have the chance to start another race which could run all the way to November.Read

Mayor Referendum

Elected Mayor: Readers questions on the referendum answered

Neil Elkes answers some of the questions put to him by Birmingham Mail readers on this week's Mayoral ReferendumRead

Ed Miliband in Birmingham

Ed Miliband and Ed Balls visit Kingstanding

LABOUR leader Ed Miliband and shadow chancellor Ed Balls were left in no doubt that problems are piling up for the voters of a hard-hit Birmingham community.Read

Mayor Referendum

Birmingham set to vote "no" to an elected mayor

AN INFLUENTIAL poll of Midland voters has suggested that Birmingham could be heading for a ‘no’ vote in the elected mayor poll.Read

Birmingham Mail Mint M

Row over future of Stirchley Baths

A BIRMINGHAM MP has accused the City Council of ‘indecent haste’ in pushing through plans for the £4 million conversion of a former swimming pool into offices and a community centre.Read

Taxi

Birmingham taxi drivers protest over hike in licence fees

ANGRY minicab drivers are taking to the streets today in protest at a hike in licensing fees of more than 25 per cent.Read

Author Profile

A local news reporter in the Birmingham, Sutton Coldfield and south Staffordshire area since 1995, Neil Elkes is the local government correspondent covering the activities of Birmingham CIty Council - Europe's largest local authority. An avid reader and collector of comics Neil is writing a column on this for the Birmingham Mail website.