Birmingham chiefs have agreed extra funding for the city’s school transport firm ATG  – as they forced through a controversial shake-up of the council’s wider travel assist service at the same meeting. The city council approved an £800,000 funding extension for the insolvent Accessible Transport Group to continue to…

Dozens of people attended a demonstration against controversial plans to tackle anti-social behaviour in Birmingham city centre. Campaigners rallied on the doorstep of the council house on Tuesday afternoon voicing concerns that a Public Space Protection Order would target and criminalise rough sleepers. The protest came as the West…

Sandwell Council’s new leader has vowed to bring unity to the authority following years of “discord”. Councillor Yvonne Davies was officially elected as chief at a Sandwell Council meeting, held on Tuesday (May 21) night. She had narrowly beaten colleague Ann Shackleton by 35 votes to 33 at the…

A new recycling plant will be built in Wolverhampton after planning chiefs gave it the go-ahead. The City of Wolverhampton Council’s planning committee met on this week to approve the application by Ballast Phoenix Limited. The new facility will be based on land at Cross Street North in Bushbury…

Urgent repairs are needed to Highbury Hall where leaks have caused thousands of pounds worth of damage. Birmingham City Council’s planning committee will be asked to approve a programme of works to the Grade II* listed property including asbestos removal and replacement of rooflights, guttering and wallpaper. Highbury, in Moseley,…

Liberal Democrat leader Vince Cable says school curricula must include “recognition of gay people” and should not change “because a few religious hardliners demand it”. He came down firmly on the side of Birmingham schools that have been targeted by protesters opposed to lessons which portray LGBT people in…

Black Country MP Margot James has joined a new “One Nation” group of Tory MPs, which was set up to push the party to the centre ground. It comes as Conservatives prepare to battle for the soul of their party in a leadership contest. Prime Minister Mrs May has…

Birmingham Conservative MP Andrew Mitchell is urging local Tory activists to put a brave face on this week’s European elections. He sent them a copy of The Charge of the Light Brigade – a poem about British soldiers charging to their deaths. While his message is light-hearted, it also…

Plans have been unveiled for 16 new shops and 14 family-sized homes in Alum Rock. The proposed development next to Emmanuel Church has been touted as a new ‘focal point’ for the inner-Birmingham suburb. Leicester-based Westpool Developments has submitted an application to the city council to build on the…

City council launches consultation into Rea Valley Urban Quarter project which could transform 180 acres