Updated 8:10pm 11 February 2012:

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Paul Dale

Paul Dale

Plans to demolish Birmingham’s Central Library move closer

Plans to demolish Birmingham’s Central Library and redevelop Paradise Circus have moved a step closer after the Government announced it would not block demolition of the library.Read

Work set to start on new Birmingham city centre park

WORK will begin on building Birmingham’s new city centre park in May and the £12 million project is expected to be finished by the summer of next year.Read

Birmingham City Council call centre under fire for rubbish service

BIRMINGHAM City Council’s under-fire call centre is in trouble again – this time over claims it has failed to deal promptly with pleas to pick up rubbish sacks missed by binmen and requests for household bulky waste collections.Read

Harshest ever Birmingham spending cuts approved

THE harshest spending cuts in Birmingham City Council’s 173-year history were approved as Tory and Liberal Democrat councillors agreed to slash public services by an eye-watering £212 million.Read

Birmingham City Council still spending £36 million on consultants

THE bill for hiring expensive consultants at Birmingham City Council has been cut by almost half, but still totals £36 million a year. Read

Cost-cutting plan at Birmingham City Council "sweetened" to help staff

Major changes to working conditions, known as the Birmingham Contract, will not now be introduced until October and will be accompanied by an 18-month pay protection plan guaranteeing that no one will lose more than ten per cent of their salary.Read

What government cuts mean to Birmingham

GOVERNMENT spending cuts mean that Birmingham City Council must save £212 million over the next year.Read

Birmingham City Council leader Mike Whitby denies taking pleasure from cuts

A ROW over Birmingham’s massive £320 million cuts programme descended into a bitter slanging match after Tory city council leader Mike Whitby was accused of taking pleasure from slashing public services and axing thousands of jobs.Read

What government cuts mean to Birmingham

GOVERNMENT spending cuts mean that Birmingham City Council must save £212 million over the next year.Read

Housing boss apologizes to Birmingham tenants for winter chaos

A HOUSING boss has apologised for “appalling” problems which left scores of sick and elderly Birmingham council tenants without heating and hot water during the coldest winter for 120 years.Read

Birmingham council says sorry for winter chaos

A HOUSING boss has apologised for “appalling” problems which left scores of sick and elderly Birmingham council tenants without heating and hot water during the coldest winter for 120 years.Read

Council tenants angry as call centre cannot handle complaints about broken toilets

COUNCIL tenants in Birmingham are flushed with anger after discovering a £9 million call centre cannot handle complaints about broken toilets.Read

Birmingham councillors clash as Martin Mullaney accuses Salma Yaqoob of Islamic extremism

ONE of the Birmingham councillors who snubbed a George Cross hero is embroiled in a new row after being accused of wishing to see people stoned to death if they do not follow a strict Muslim way of life.Read

Hopes rise for Birmingham's free gym scheme Be Active

HOPES are rising that a £2 million get-fit scheme offering free gym membership to all Birmingham residents can be saved from closing.Read

Mayor 'needed' to boost Birmingham says Lord Adonis

BIRMINGHAM desperately needs a directly-elected mayor to sort out chronic unemployment and transport problems, a government expert has claimed.Read

Councils may cut West Midlands speed camera cash

THE future of speed cameras across the West Midlands is in doubt after councils proposed cutting funding for the controversial scheme.Read

Birmingham City Council staff to lose parking passes

HUNDREDS of Birmingham City Council staff are set to lose valuable free car parking passes as public spending cuts begin to bite.Read

Birmingham should get rail yard - Mike Whitby

MANUFACTURING expertise means that Birmingham is the obvious location for a high-speed rail maintenance depot, city council leader Mike Whitby has claimed.Read

Birmingham nurseries won't be included in spending cuts

BIRMINGHAM nursery schools will be given special protection from spending cuts, city council leader Mike Whitby has promised.Read

£11.5m Boost for Birmingham schools

NEW classrooms costing £11.5 million will be built at eight Birmingham primary and infant schools to cope with the city’s population boom.Read

Author Profile

Paul Dale has been writing about local government in the West Midlands for more than 20 years. The Post's public affairs editor, he is a previous political editor of the Coventry Evening Telegraph and Local Government Correspondent of the Oxford Mail.