Britain: Broken, bedevilled, betrayed

Richard Lutz watches democracy go down the pan.

Report reveals widespread disaffection amongst Birmingham youth

Young people feel ignored by power, but would still turn out to vote.

Sutton Town Council – the next step

Backing for local council from residents.

Open government

Could Birmingham become “A truly citizen-centric council”? Professor David Bailey hopes so.

Local singer and Olympic athlete honoured

Honorary degrees awarded at Wolverhampton ceremony.

The People’s Palace is not for profit

New Central Library: Founding a Friends Group, Thursday 4 July

Library building ‘obsolete’

Birmingham City Council officials have written a report to the Cabinet stating that the 40-year-old Central Library building is not only vacant but ‘obsolete’ as well, reveals Alan Clawley.

Another quiet day in Paradise

Alan Clawley is really struggling to garner a useful reaction from Birmingham City Council.

Operation Black Vote: Unveiling Birmingham’s next generation of civic leaders

Operation Black Vote unveiled Birmingham’s new generation of civic leaders at a media launch of their Civic Leadership Programme last week.

Budget cuts

Alan Clawley wades through the gloom and doom of budget cuts and asks why Sir Albert Bore is predicting the end of local government as we know it.

Passionate about conservation

Alan Clawley believes history shows that the Council just can’t cope with anyone who displays too much passion for the past.

Cuts protestors target Walsall councillors

A protest was held yesterday evening by the Save Walsall’s Green Spaces and Countryside Services Facebook Group.

Solihull school student to lead debate in the Commons

Solihull School student Natasha Browne is to lead a debate for the West Midlands in the House of Commons.

Crash! The financial crisis and what to do about it

If you want to understand how the global economy got into such a mess and what to do about it this event is for you!

How can Britain exit the EU?

The Bruges Group are holding a public meeting in Birmingham next Monday. Entrance is free.

Police and Crime Commissioner candidates called to sign the ‘No to privatisation pledge’

Anti-privatisation campaigners have called on the candidates standing for election for the post of Police and Crime Commissioner to pledge not to privatise any policing service if elected.

Birmingham representatives meet the Premier

Local politicians and business leaders have commented on a recent meeting with the Prime Minister

Birmingham welcomes back Conservatives for Autumn Conference

Birmingham is gearing up to host the Conservative Party for an unprecedented third Autumn Conference in five years, when it returns to the city next month.

Birmingham’s financial ‘black hole’ questioned – Part 2

Martin Mullaney was a LibDeb councillor until last May. He’s waging a campaign against the Labour administration’s claim that Birmingham finances were found to have a £21m hole in them when they came to power.

Birmingham Council’s financial ‘black hole’ claim rebutted by LibDem

Former LibDem councillor Martin Mullaney takes issue with Birmingham’s Labour administration claim of a £21m hole in the council’s budget.

Council fears on spending

Birmingham’s financial situation is worse than previously believed, according to a new report.

Birmingham launches unique Public Services Academy

The University of Birmingham is launching a unique academy in collaboration with Birmingham City Council to provide a new focus for developing skills and leadership across public services in the West Midlands.

LEP welcomes £1.5bn City Deal for Birmingham

Greater Birmingham and Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership welcomed the Government’s City Deal for Birmingham – that has, it is claimed, the potential to create nearly 11,000 new jobs.

Councils to Forge ‘Grown-Up’ Relationship

Birmingham is to join with other major provincial cities in seeking a fair deal from national government

Not dead yet, Paul – Saving Birmingham Library

Alan Clawley, on the warpath to save the John Madin designed library in Birmingham, is suspicious of the language being bandied about by journalists and politicians.

Ask the Council

Birmingham residents are to be allowed more open local government.

New Birmingham City Council Cabinet announced

Birmingham Council Leader Elect Sir Albert Bore has announced his cabinet to colleagues in the city council Labour group. The nominations will be put before the City Council AGM on 22nd May when Labour formally takes office.

Democratise Birmingham

Urban Parishes, cross-party council committees and male and female candidate lists are amongst Green Party member David Williams’s proposals to refresh Birmingham’s democracy.

Democratise Birmingham

Welcome to Democratise Birmingham, a new space designed to allow for debate, opinion, news and information about the shape and direction of democracy within Britain’s second city

Changes to Birmingham City Council announced

The Council Cabinet will henceforth have eight Councillors, including the Leader and Deputy Leader