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Neil Elkes

Neil Elkes

Council staff's 17 days a year off ill

SICKNESS rates among city council workers are soaring, with staff in the key housing department taking more than 17 days a year off. Read

A breath of fresh air!

AN ELECTED mayor can breathe new life into modern cities and accountability into local politics. Read

Democracy: It's a small price to pay

BIRMINGHAM'S leaders are trying to put people off a referendum on elected mayors by overstating the cost, it was claimed today. Read

Minister tells Brum to be more ambitious

A GOVERNMENT minister has strongly hinted that Birmingham's leaders should ask the people whether or not they want an elected mayor. Read

Bosses back Brum's voters

A THIRD major business group today backed the Birmingham Mail's campaign for a people's poll on elected mayors. Read

Angry workers in talks on pay cuts

THOUSANDS of council workers are up in arms after finding they face potentially massive salary cuts under a new pay deal. Read

Workers facing pay £15,000 pay cuts

NEARLY 300 council workers are facing annual pay cuts of £9,000 OR MORE in a huge shake-up of salaries. Read

Monkey business was all too much

THE voters of Birmingham came close to being given the right to decide who runs their city - five years ago. Read

Bore in 'censorship' claim over council paper

BIRMINGHAM City Council's free community newspaper is being used as a political propaganda sheet, it was claimed today. Read

Former mayor to give up seat

BIRMINGHAM'S Deputy Lord Mayor is standing down as a city councillor in May. Read

Clock is ticking on elected mayor vote

THE clock today started ticking for council leader Mike Whitby to tell the people of Birmingham if he will allow them to decide how the city is run. Read

Outrage as Tolkien statue is approved

A GIANT Lord of the Rings tribute statue has been given the go-ahead despite angry scenes at the Council House. Read

Shock at cash cut to Irish Welfare Centre

A FREE advice centre which has served Birmingham's Irish community for 50 years is under threat after its £60,000 council grant was axed. Read

Council leader blasted over mental illness jibe

BIRMINGHAM'S embattled Tory leader Mike Whitby was under fire today amid accusations he poked fun at mentally ill people. Read

Nuisance neighbour is silenced

A NOISY neighbour who blasted his street with loud thumping music has been given a suspended prison sentence and ordered to hand over his hi-fi equipment. Read

Council leader 'ties himself up in knots'

CITY leader Mike Whitby has "tied himself up in knots" by attempting to hide from calls for a people's poll on a directly elected mayor for Birmingham. Read

Uproar as city sets tax rise figure

BIRMINGHAM'S city leaders have approved a below-inflation council tax rise. Read

Galloway to speak at anti-war rally

OUTSPOKEN MP George Galloway was set to speak at a rally of anti-Iraq war protesters in Birmingham tonight. Read

Citizens - we need to have our say

A MAJOR community and inter-faith pressure group today gave its backing to the Birmingham Mail's call for an elected mayor referendum. Read

Time to let the people decide

FIFTY nine per cent of Birmingham's councillors who took part in a new poll want a public referendum on elected mayors for the city. 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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