Updated 8:49pm 11 February 2012:

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Neil Elkes

Neil Elkes

Birmingham's German Christmas Market is now the world's biggest, it has been claimed

THE Frankfurt Christmas Markets could now be the world’s largest according to the city council’s deputy leader.Read

Birmingham City Council call centre slammed for delays

CITY council call centre operators are using the organisation’s creaking website to answer questions while keeping frustrated residents waiting on the telephone, it has been claimed.Read

Birmingham's wholesale markets should be key to city's recovery says councillor

BIRMINGHAM’S wholesale and retail markets should be at the centre of the city’s economic recovery, a councillor has claimed.Read

Pictures: Sutton Coldfield office workers could get own railway

WHILE many offices can boast great town centre locations and comfortable working environments, not many have their very own disused RAILWAY LINE.Read

City housing chief to become next Lord Mayor of Birmingham

AN OUTSPOKEN senior Birmingham Tory has been selected as the city’s next Lord Mayor for the second time. Read

Sports clubs team up on new £1.8m Perry Barr sports centre

FOUR sports clubs based in one of Birmingham’s most deprived areas are joining forces with the city council on a pioneering new leisure facility.Read

Background to Birmingham's elected mayor referendum

THE people of Birmingham can choose whether or not the city should have a Boris Johnson-style elected mayor in a referendum on May 3.Read

Kings Heath food store plan

AN empty car showroom and florist shop on a busy city shopping parade could be demolished and replaced with a new convenience store under plans submitted to the city council.Read

Birmingham City Council roads contractor Amey told to improve consultation

BIRMINGHAM’S £2.7 billion roads contractor has been told to make more effort to talk to residents about repairs and works in a report from a council watchdog committee.Read

Birmingham City Council central heating contractor given final warning over poor performance

A CENTRAL heating contractor which has kept more than 1,000 Birmingham council tenants waiting for boiler repairs has been told it has until the end of January to improve its performance.Read

Former Aston Villa chairman Doug Ellis awarded knighthood in Queen's New Year Honours

FORMER Aston Villa chairman ‘Deadly’ Doug Ellis declared himself ‘‘over the moon’’ at being awarded a knighthood in the Queen’s New Year Honours. Read

Birmingham City Council in crackdown on housing fraud

CITY residents are being urged to shop neighbours who cheat the council house system by sub-letting or swapping properties without permission.Read

American museums queuing up to show Staffordshire Hoard

AMERICAN museums are queuing up to host exhibitions of the famous Staffordshire Hoard following the huge success of its current show in Washington.Read

Birmingham's consumer watchdog says Hajj visa rules help travel agent frauds

BIRMINGHAM’S official consumer watchdog has called on the Saudi Arabian authorities to cut visa restrictions on Muslim worshippers making the annual Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca.Read

Birmingham office block architect drops 'UFO' plan to win approval

ARCHITECTS behind the extension of an historic Birmingham office building have won the backing of planners at the second time of asking.Read

Birmingham cabbies face ban for plying for hire

MINICAB drivers caught plying for hire on Birmingham’s streets face losing their license for a first offence following a meeting of city licensing chiefs.Read

1,000 Birmingham families left in the cold as heating contractor fails to fix boilers

MORE than 1,000 Birmingham families are being left in the cold in the run up to Christmas by a council heating contractor which has failed to fix boilers. Read

Erdington MP backs campaign in memory of tragic Castle Vale youngster

A BIRMINGHAM community's bid to raise funds for an all weather football pitch in memory of a tragic ten-year-old has been backed by their MP.Read

Gas service firm criticised by Birmingham City Council housing watchdog

BIRMINGHAM’s housing watchdog committee has demanded a gas central heating repair contractor appear before it today to answer questions over poor performance.Read

Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery flooded with daylight for first time in decades

PARTS of Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery that were boarded up and had not seen daylight for years have finally been unveiled as part of a £9 million history project.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.