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Neil Elkes

Neil Elkes

Cash slashed after probe on charities

AN INNER-city charity which claimed £700,000 of council money over three years has had its funding slashed after investigators found "fundamental management weaknesses". Read

Bill boost in mayor fight

THE Birmingham Mail's elected mayor petition has made waves in the House of Commons. Read

It's Hellboy heaven for comic book fans

COMIC fans will be in Hellboy heaven when both the creator and artist of the demon superhero come to Birmingham. Read

Outrage at honour for stay-away councillor

A FORMER city councillor who claimed £30,000 in taxpayers money for doing next to nothing has been given a top honour by fellow politicians. Read

Ozzy's star is shining bright for Brum

(stock ozzy and dress ups) Read

Whitby bows to ex-mayors

AN ARMY of angry former Lord Mayors of Birmingham has forced council leader Mike Whitby into an 11th hour climbdown ahead of today's city council annual meeting. Read

Muslim school gets Government go ahead

A GOVERNMENT schools minister has told Birmingham City Council to press ahead with plans for an inner-city Muslim primary school. Read

Council leader branded a glory hunter

BIRMINGHAM'S political leader Mike Whitby has been labelled a "glory hunter" for trying to upstage the city's Lord Mayor. Read

Irish community hit by council cuts

BIRMINGHAM'S Irish community is set to lose up to £120,000 worth of advice and welfare services following a council budget cut. Read

Gunfire terrifies shoppers at precinct

SHOPPERS at a busy Birmingham precinct dived for cover as a gun was fired and a car window shattered. Read

City pioneers blitz on terror

ARRESTS of terror suspects in Birmingham have sparked a project to stop the spread of Muslim extremism in the city. Read

Mayors power to second term

THREE of Britain's directly elected mayors are beginning their second terms after successes in the local elections. Read

£60m bid for flats approved

PLANS for a major £60 million Sutton Coldfield town centre apartment and shopping complex have been approved by councillors. Read

Outcry at off-licence for square

BIRMINGHAM'S historic St Paul's Square will have its first off-licence despite protests from residents. Read

Help points left out of action

BIRMINGHAM city centre's 999 emergency help points have been out of order for weeks potentially leaving distressed passers-by stranded, it emerged today. Read

Plea to city MPs for asylum seeker amnesty

CITY MPs are being asked to back calls for a citizenship amnesty for the thousands of failed asylum seekers who can earn a living in a UK. Read

Brown backs Mayor referendum

PRIME Minister in waiting Gordon Brown has backed the Mail's call for a referendum on an elected mayor. Read

Tory city poll success a boost for Whitby

EMBATTLED Birmingham Council leader Mike Whitby today insisted that his Tory group's success at the polls was down to his strong leadership of the city. Read

Bins were the clincher for Tories - Whitby

DELIGHTED Birmingham Council leader Mike Whitby today insisted that his Tory group's success at the polls was down to his strong leadership of the city. Read

Rallying call on 'cheap labour'

HUNDREDS are expected to join a Bank Holiday rally in support of the hidden army of undocumented immigrants living in Birmingham. 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.

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