April 2013

101 Things Brum Gave The World. No. 26: Local Radio

By:
Published April 30, 2013, in Recommended



Curated from , written by Jon Bounds

It comes into it’s own in a crisis, you know. It’s how people know that roads are slippery or schools closed because it snowed, other than that the ground is covered in snow. And despite attempts by both ‘market forces’ and ‘stupid government pandering BBC Director Generals obsessed with nothing more than their jobs and the bottom line’ it’s still going.

It’s the place for the gentle discussion, followed by great tunes from M People. Or on commercial local radio: an advert for a local loan shark, followed by M People and the Lighthouse Family, broadcast from an industrial estate in Greater London. But what would we do without it, eh? Especially in minicabs.

And, of course, what would we do without Birmingham? “Witton calling” were the first words on , a station based on Electric Avenue Witton in 1922 and it was the first BBC radio broadcast outside London. A commitment that the national broadcaster hasn’t really kept up. Local radio—another .

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Writer, honest. Currently working on “a journey to the outcrops of a dying culture”.

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Another 2,000 West Midlands police jobs face the axe

Commissioner warns new cuts could plunge falling crime figures into reverse

By:
Published April 30, 2013, in Police Commissioners


policeA further 2,000 West Midlands police jobs could be axed as a result of Government spending cuts.

The figure was revealed by Police Commissioner Bob Jones, who warned that a continued cull of uniformed officers might send into reverse a recent record fall in recorded crime.

Mr Jones said “alarming” proposals for a further 10 per cent cut in police budgets over four years from 2015, outlined recently by the Chief Secretary to the Treasury Danny Alexander, posed a real risk

Continues…

Why it may be time to scrap Birmingham council cabinet

Labour leadership challenger John Clancy floats return to committee system

By:
Published April 29, 2013, in Politics


houseJohn Clancy will examine the possibility of scrapping the cabinet in favour of a return to the committee system of local government if he becomes Birmingham City Council leader.

The challenger for the Labour group leadership is promising to establish a commission to decide whether housing, finance and transportation committees, which last operated in 2001, would “be a better way of running the city” by involving many more people in decision making.

It’s believed the suggestion, which has been floated informally with colleagues by Cllr Clancy, has gained a broad measure of support from councillors who feel that the cabinet system inevitably results in decisions being taken by a very small number of politicians.

A clause in the Local Government Act allows councils

Continues…

Government must back LEPs with five-year funding deals, say MPs

Commons committee criticses Whitehall 'confusion' over regeneration bodies

By:
Published April 26, 2013, in LEPs


Adrian Bailey MP

Adrian Bailey MP

A Minister should be given responsibility for overseeing Local Enterprise Partnerships and the Government must commit to long term financial backing for LEPs, a Commons committee has suggested.

The also said  LEPs across the country could not fulfil their regeneration role without the “certainty and security” of a five-year core funding deal from Whitehall.

Committee chairman Adrian Bailey, the MP for West Bromwich West, said: “LEPs help drive the local economic growth on which national growth relies.

“They are expected to deliver long-term growth. To do this they require the confidence to make long-term investments. The current funding commitments fail to provide this. We urge the Government to support LEPs in delivering long-term growth by committing to the levels of their core funding for the five years from 2015.”

The committee is urging the Government to move away from funding LEPs on a “one size-fits-all basis” towards

Continues…

Consultants agree to ‘work for free’ on key council schools project

No charge 'at this stage' for baccalaureate work, cabinet member reveals

By:
Published April 25, 2013, in Politics


examA firm of consultants chosen to design a baccalaureate for Birmingham schools is working on the project for free, it has been revealed.

Skills for Birmingham beat off five rivals to win a city council contract to develop the baccalaureate curriculum.

However, the council is paying nothing for the work at this stage.

Schools cabinet member Cllr Brigid Jones (Lab Selly Oak) told a scrutiny committee the company was “working for free” on the understanding that the completed curriculum “may be marketable” in the future.

The baccalaureate was a key policy announcement when Labour regained control of the council last year.

The aim is to “focus on the skills that our young people will need to compete successfully for jobs and training”, according to the party’s manifesto.

Building on subjects in the , which has since been dropped by Education Secretary Michael Gove, the Birmingham baccalaureate has been advertised as

Continues…

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