Updated 8:25pm 11 February 2012:

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Neil Elkes

Neil Elkes

Birmingham City Council reveals extent of debt

COUNCIL tax payers are forking out almost £35 each extra to pay for debt levels which have reached £2.5 billion in Birmingham, it has emerged.Read

Pictures: Battle begins over Birmingham mayoral decision

IT’S the vote that could change the face of Birmingham’s political landscape.Read

Birmingham wholesale markets decision could be months away

THE long-awaited council report into the future of Birmingham’s Wholesale Markets could be put off until after May’s local elections, it has emerged.Read

Small Heath man fined £6,000 over his large extension

A HOMEOWNER who over-extended his terraced property and refused to tear it down must pay £6,000 after being found in breach of planning regulations at Birmingham Crown Court.Read

Artists from Handsworth, Northfield and Stafford work on great British comic

THE cream of the British comics industry has teamed up to create a ground-breaking graphic novel which views more than four decades of British history through the eyes of its heroine.Read

Birmingham City Council uses bully bailiffs to collect debts it is claimed

BIRMINGHAM council bosses have launched a probe into bailiffs who have been branded “bullies”.Read

New chief appointed to Birmingham's troubled children's social care department

A NEW boss has been appointed to continue the turn-around of Birmingham’s children’s social care department and run the city’s schools.Read

Birmingham heating contractor making progress after 1,000 families city left in the cold

A BOILER repair firm accused of leaving Birmingham families without heating in the run-up to Christmas has improved its performance.Read

Former Lord Mayor of Birmingham set for political comeback in Handsworth and Lozells

A FORMER Lord Mayor of Birmingham is set to make a political comeback a year after being dumped by his party in controversial circumstances.Read

Ancient Egypt exhibition to follow smash-hit Leonardo da Vinci display at Birmingham museum

BIRMINGHAM musuem chiefs are to follow up the smash-hit Leonardo Da Vinci exhibition with a new show featuring treasures from ancient Egypt.Read

Birmingham's pest controllers admit defeat in war on gulls

BIRMINGHAM’S pest controllers have admitted defeat in their battle against the menace caused by the common seagull following a six-month trial.Read

Birmingham City Council decision not to send jobs to India has cost council £12.6m

A U-TURN over Birmingham City Council’s controversial decision to move IT jobs to India could end up costing the taxpayer £12.6 million it has emerged.Read

Moseley Road swimming baths.

Councillor called a t**t during heated meeting on historic Balsall Heath pool

A HEATED political debate over a historic Birmingham swimming pool descended into anarchy – with claims a leading city councillor was called a ‘t**t’.Read

Moseley councillor Martin Mullaney to return to tram depot

A SENIOR politician once suspended from Birmingham City Council for trespassing at a historic tram depot is set to return to the scene of his crime.Read

Flats at Edgbaston cricket ground approved, despite being labelled inadequate

NEW flats planned for the car park of Edgbaston cricket ground have been branded “inadequate” – leaving some tenants looking out on to the back of the venue’s stands, it has been claimed.Read

New Great Barr homes must be protected from landfill gas

THE developer behind plans for 43 homes on waste land next to a former landfill site has been told it cannot wriggle out of an agreement to protect the new estate from explosive gas.Read

Sutton Coldfield cafe gets green light despite protests

A GROWING coffee shop chain is set open in a Sutton Coldfield shopping parade despite a petition signed by 630 residents opposing its plans.Read

Plan for Kings Heath nursery approved

PLANS to convert a former computer shop into a before and after school club have been narrowly approved despite protests from neighbours.Read

Major Australian hotel chain takes on Birmingham City Centre office block

A RUN-down 1960s shopping centre and office block is set to get a £100 million overhaul courtesy of one of Australia’s leading hotel chains.Read

Stargazing event in Birmingham City Centre

BUDDING astronomers can learn more about the night sky at a special free event in Birmingham city centre on Saturday.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.