Updated 5:25pm 9 February 2012:

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Neil Elkes

Neil Elkes

Birmingham Tory slams Labour over meeting boycott

LABOUR councillors have been accused of dereliction of duty after they failed to attend a crucial meeting due to strike action.Read

Hodge Hilll community centre will reopen soon says Labour chief

A REFURBISHED sea cadets hut in Hodge Hill will be opened up to community use within weeks, a senior councillor has revealed.Read

City chief agrees to investigate plan to circle Birmingham with woodland

A PROPOSAL to circle Birmingham with a million trees as a defence against green belt development has won fresh backing.Read

Tributes to former Kingstanding councillor George Harper

TRIBUTES have been paid to a former Birmingham City councillor and navy serviceman who died recently from cancer.Read

Birmingham Tory in call to ban firemen strike

BIRMINGHAM’S Tory fire authority chief has called on the Government to outlaw strike action by angry firemen because there is no longer any back-up from the army.Read

Warwickshire Cricket Club submits planning application for double decker platform to entertain VIPs

WARWICKSHIRE County Cricket Club hopes to installa two-storey decked platform to entertain VIP spectators on summer match days.Read

Cramped Balsall Heath school will be extended

CITY planners have given the go ahead to the controversial extension of a ‘“cramped” historic inner city school following a knife-edge vote.Read

Petition backing return of Kings Heath garden show handed in

A PETITION calling for the reinstatement of the Gardeners’ Weekend to Kings Heath Park will be handed to the city council today.Read

Selly Oak Sainsbury's superstore and office plans unveiled

SUPERMARKET giant Sainsbury’s has unveiled the long-awaited plans for its new Selly Oak development.Read

Fire safety fears raised over Nechells sofa warehouse

TRADING standards officials have found a warehouse full of potentially life-threatening sofas and suites during a raid on a city warehouse.Read

Government's new planning policy threatens jobs and green belt says Birmingham City Council

BIRMINGHAM jobs and its green belt are at risk if the Government’s new planning policy is pushed through without a severe overhaul, city planning chiefs have warned.Read

Edgbaston MP calls on Birmingham City Council to come clean over award ceremony costs

A BIRMINGHAM MP has called on the city council to come clean over how much it spends sending staff to slap-up awards ceremonies.Read

Sutton Coldfield homes plan hits buffers over railway line

A CHURCH plan to build homes on its car park seems set to hit the buffers over proposals to reinstate a historic railway line.Read

Mistress of Yardley MP still pining for missing kitten

THE mistress of love rat Birmingham MP John Hemming has told how she and their five-year-old daughter are still pining for their missing cat Beauty a year after it was taken from their home.Read

Sainsbury's amend Erdington store plans following talks with residents

HIGH street giant Sainsbury’s has agreed to alter its plans for a new city superstore following detailed talks with local residents.Read

Plan to circle Birmingham with trees to protect green belt

BIRMINGHAM could be surrounded with trees in a bid to stop the city spreading into the green belt under a new scheme being hatched by senior councillors.Read

Birmingham City Council plans to offer cheaper gas and electricity for families

BIRMINGHAM City Council is hoping to slash gas and electric bills for householders and businesses by setting up its own energy supply business.Read

Birmingham's free swim and gym sessions saving taxpayer millions

BIRMINGHAM’S get fit for free scheme will save the taxpayer £21 for every £1 invested, according to a study by experts.Read

Family apply to turn back clock at Handsworth Wood Mansion

THE family who bought a historic mansion house from Birmingham City Council for £775,000 have applied for permission to restore it to residential use.Read

Birmingham Crackdown on illegal ciggies hailed a success

SIX out of 29 newsagents, petrol stations and convenience stores visited by Birmingham Trading Standards investigators were found to be selling illegally imported cigarettes and tobacco.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.