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Neil Elkes

Neil Elkes

Birmingham City Council pledges to beat fraudsters

COUNCIL investigators in Birmingham have vowed to take further steps to stop fraud after uncovering more than £7 million of financial misuse in the last year. Read

Pensioner 'died in my arms', councillor tells Birmingham inquiry

OUTRAGED Birmingham city councillor Reg Corns has told how he cradled a dying pensioner in his arms after she had been “let down” by Birmingham’s warden service. Read

Race against time over Birmingham sewer threat

A SEWER underneath Handsworth Park is in imminent danger of leaking giving rise to fears that raw sewage will be spilled across a large area. Read

Birmingham's Flapper and Firkin faces demolition

A BIRMINGHAM pub famous for its live music is facing the bulldozer under plans for the next stage of the city centre’s redevelopment. Read

Smokers face street ban in Birmingham

SMOKERS could soon be banned from lighting up in the streets of Birmingham city centre, under new plans unveiled today. Read

Second day of council workers strike

THOUSANDS of council workers today staged the second day of a 48 hour strike which is bringing many public services to a standstill. Read

New Street Station development will create 11,000 jobs

THE £600 million scheme to transform New Street Station will create 11,000 new jobs in Birmingham – more than double the figure originally forecast. Read

Kings Heath to get a public square

A PUBLIC toilet, graveyard and lay-by in Birmingham are set to get a £900,000 transformation into a vibrant village green. Read

Families join Birmingham Mail Family Race Day

FAMILIES packed their picnics and got under starter’s orders to join in the Birmingham Mail Family Race Day. Read

Waste collection pilot scheme rejected

CITY chiefs have ruled out putting wheelie bins on the streets of Birmingham, slamming their introduction as a Government plot to charge people for what they throw away. Read

Councillor: We can bank at the post office

BIRMINGHAM City Council’s £3 billion bank account should be handed to the Post Office in a bid to halt branch closures, a councillor said. Read

Grandson’s kidney failure prompts Lord Mayor to campaign

BIRMINGHAM’S Lord Mayor is giving his backing to a campaign to get more people, particularly Asians, to sign up as organ donors. Read

Guide dog named after city leader

CITY leader Mike Whitby met his match when he came face to muzzle with... Whitby the guide dog. CITY leader Mike Whitby met his match when he came face to muzzle with... Whitby the guide dog. Read

Council joy as pollutants fall by 86pc in year since ban

THE air pub regulars breathe in Birmingham is 86 per cent cleaner since the ban on smoking in public places was introduced a year ago, it was claimed today. Read

City slashes phone lines from 450 to 1

BIRMINGHAM people are set to get a single phone number for council services in a “customer-friendly” move. Read

Noise dampeners ordered at parties

AN HISTORIC hotel has been told to keep the noise down at wedding receptions and parties after being given the green light for a new marquee. Read

Birmingham City Council pledge on lessons of Khyra Ishaq tragedy

CITY councillors have been reassured that everything is being done to learn the lessons of the tragic death of Khyra Ishaq. Read

Planners rap Natwest tower’s replacement

A NEW glass-fronted tower block will “stick out like a sore thumb”’ in Birmingham’s historic city centre according to planning chiefs. Read

Birmingham receives global recognition

BIRMINGHAM’S city centre has achieved global recognition after beating entries from Singapore, Abu Dhabi and Genoa to an international regeneration award. Read

Council leader in cash pledge

CITY leader Mike Whitby today pledged that Birmingham would not be left “lagging behind” despite rejecting Government calls to pilot congestion charging in 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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