Updated 6:58pm 9 February 2012:

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Neil Elkes

Neil Elkes

Modern art centre for Birmingham city centre launched

BIRMINGHAM’S leading modern art gallery is set to launch a second venue at the heart of a new city centre creative industries village.Read

Fury as Birmingham City Council charges navy to use Victoria Square

A FORMER tank driver and Lord Mayor has criticised the city council over plans to charge the armed forces to carry out recruitment campaigns in Birmingham city centre.Read

City centre development plan put on ice over UFO claims

PLANS to add two storeys to a historic city centre office block have been stalled following complaints that it looks like a ‘UFO’ has landed on top.Read

West Midlands Labour Party reveal their "preposterous" alternative to boundary changes

THE Labour Party has responded to plans to split communities under an overhaul of MPs constituencies with their own set of proposals described as ‘equally preposterous’.Read

Birmingham's wholesale markets seen as a global role model

BIRMINGHAM’S Wholesale Markets have been an inspiration for other major cities throughout the world, traders have been told.Read

Birmingham council waste inquiry to look at food recycling boxes

AN INQUIRY into rubbish and waste collection in Birmingham will look at introducing household food boxes, it has emerged.Read

Housing department inspection was flawed says Birmingham council housing boss

GOVERNMENT inspectors have apologised to Birmingham’s housing department following a report which gave the landlord service one star out of three.Read

Birmingham planning chief warns those who build without permission

HOMEOWNERS who build extensions and businesses who change their properties without permission face increased charges for planning applications.Read

Tory Euro-MP backs Birmingham wholesale markets

A TOP Conservative Euro-MP has hailed Birmingham’s Wholesale Markets as a ‘hidden jewel’ of the local economy and called on the council to ensure their future success.Read

New battle to save free bus passes for children as council plans more budget cuts

THOUSANDS of Birmingham school children and their parents face a second battle to keep their free bus passes under revised plans to halve the city’s £12 million home to school transport budget.Read

Erdington recycling plant refused over gas explosion fears

PLANS for a waste recycling plant in Birmingham have been thrown out after safety experts warned lives could be put at risk.Read

Labour chief says they would not close Aston Manor Transport Museum

BIRMINGHAM’S opposition Labour leader said he would not evict the Aston Transport Museum if he was running the city council.Read

Birmingham should value its markets says economist

TO CLOSE or move Birmingham’s Wholesale Markets to a “suburban lorry park” would destroy the city centre’s distinctive character and turn it into just another clone town, a leading economist warned.Read

Aston University says there are too many student flats in Birmingham

A UNIVERSITY official has claimed that Birmingham has too many student flats as plans for a city centre hall of residence were passed.Read

Councillors clash over Birmingham cab protests

BIRMINGHAM’S licensing chief has told cab drivers that their cars are ‘always private hire vehicles’ and that permanent stickers are here to stay.Read

Selly Oak New Road officially opened

BIRMINGHAM’S newest road, designed to cut traffic congestion in the south of the city, has been officially opened by a transport minister.Read

Yes to Birmingham mayor campaign launches website

A NEW website has been launched to rally support for an elected mayor for Birmingham ahead of next year’s referendum.Read

Save Our Markets: Birmingham campaign going to China

BIRMINGHAM market traders are taking their campaign to keep the Wholesale Markets open to China.Read

Special report: Birmingham communities hit out at boundary changes

CUTTING the number of MPs by 50 was always going to cause an outcry, not least from the politicians being squeezed out as they begin to fight for their political lives.Read

Aston Transport museum's final open day

BIRMINGHAM’S popular transport museum will close for possibly the final time at the end of this month.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.