Mike Whitby

What would Stalin have done about wheelie bins?

Tory leader hits out at 'dictatorial' Birmingham rubbish collection scheme

By:
Published March 20, 2013, in Opinion


stalinOn the subject of words you never thought to hear in the same sentence, how about Stalin and wheelie bins?

Mike Whitby, leader of Birmingham’s Conservative councillors, managed to liken tactics used by the ruthless Soviet leader to those being employed by the city’s Labour administration when consulting about the introduction of wheeled bins.

Whitby’s point was that the consultation exercise contained all sorts of questions about the type of bin residents might like and the size of household, and whether recycling was a good thing, but didn’t actually ask people whether they wanted wheelie bins.

The questionnaire also managed to ask respondents whether they were gay, bisexual, transgender as well as wishing to know about religious beliefs. Just the sort of questions Stalin might have posed.

On a more serious note, the Edgbaston District Committee turned out to be cult viewing for anyone interested in what the Tories would have us believe is one of the great issues of our time.

All of the key bin-saga figures were there.

James McKay, the Labour cabinet member responsible for

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Birmingham loses coveted AAA credit rating

Council financial standing dragged down by record government debt levels

By:
Published February 26, 2013, in Politics


brumBirmingham City Council has lost its coveted AAA rating of credit worthiness.

Financial analysts Moody’s decided to downgrade the local authority in line with its latest ranking for the United Kingdom government, which has also been deprived of its triple-A status.

The move down a notch to Aa1 could make the future cost of borrowing higher for the council, although the new rating remains the second highest rating it is possible to achieve.

Moody’s continue to judge the council’s financial outlook as ‘stable’ alongside four other UK local authorities and Transport for London who have also lost their AAA rankings.

The decision to downgrade came just 16 months after Birmingham was awarded triple-A status, generally regarded as the ‘gold standard’ of credit worthiness.

It also indicates a sudden change of mind by Moody’s, which only last month

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Victoria Square big screen may be moved to Eastside

Council considering new home for 'silent' £1m public broadcasting venture

By:
Published February 13, 2013, in Politics


screenBirmingham’s ‘big screen’ could be moved to Eastside as city council officials ponder what to do about the embarrassment of a facility that cost £1 million but sits switched off and unloved in Victoria Square.

Deputy council leader Ian Ward hopes to persuade Trust to provide a new home for the giant television, which could be re-sited at the new city park.

However, Cllr Ward admitted that his plan might collapse due to financial constraints.

Officials are investigating the cost of dismantling and moving the screen, which is placed on a large marble plinth in Victoria Square. Cllr Ward expects the bill to be “several thousand pounds”.

It remains uncertain whether Millennium Point Trust would be prepared to take on

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We may get a black Pope: will we ever get a black Tory councillor?

The inside track on Birmingham City Council - Paul Dale's Diary

By:
Published February 12, 2013, in Mr Dale's Diary


councilhouseIt is probably a coincidence that Mike Whitby announced his intention to remain leader of the dwindling band of Birmingham Tory councillors just a few hours after the Pope said he would be abdicating.

Such are the affairs of great men, though, that the timing of these proclamations invariably raises more questions than answers.

Whitby, rattled by criticism of his extremely low profile since losing the council leadership last May, says he is renewed and eager to carry the fight to Labour. A perfect opportunity to do so will be at the annual budget meeting later this month where, for the first time in eight years the Conservative group will put forward its own spending proposals.

Any prospect of a joint Tory-Lib Dem budget in the spirit of the two parties’ coalition was dismissed somewhat abruptly by Liberal Democrat leader Paul Tilsley: “It will be my intention to present a

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I’ll defend my Harborne seat and stay as Tory leader, vows Mike Whitby

'Labour's doom and gloom politics damaging Birmingham's reputation'

By:
Published February 11, 2013, in Politics


WhitbylibraryMike Whitby has no intention of quitting as the leader of Birmingham City Council’s Tory group and intends to contest his Harborne seat at the 2014 civic elections.

Moving to quell speculation about his future, Cllr Whitby admitted that he had been “off the scene” and depressed after losing power to Labour last May, but was now fighting fit and ready to carry on.

Cllr Whitby added that he would take the battle to Labour, accused city leader Sir Albert Bore of undue pessimism over the council’s financial plight and warned there was a danger of scaring away investors from Birmingham.

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