Updated 9:50pm 22 May 2012

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Neil Elkes

Neil Elkes

Mistress of Birmingham MP John Hemming still pining for missing cat

The mistress of Birmingham MP John Hemming has told how she and their five-year-old daughter are still pining for their missing cat Beauty a year after it was taken from their home.Read

Mistress of Yardley MP still pining for missing kitten

The mistress of Birmingham MP John Hemming has told how she and their five-year-old daughter are still pining for their missing cat Beauty a year after it was taken from their home.Read

Plan to circle Birmingham with trees to protect green belt

Birmingham could be surrounded with trees in a bid to stop the city spreading into the green belt under a new scheme being hatched by senior councillors.Read

Legal advice shake-up at Birmingham City Council after costly battles

A series of costly court cases has forced Birmingham City Council to rethink the way senior officers and politicians are given advice by their legal, HR and finance teams.Read

Birmingham's fit for free scheme benefits employers as well as health service

A scheme offering free gym membership to Birmingham residents in a bid to tackle rising levels of obesity and heart disease is set to save the taxpayer millions, according to a new report.Read

£760m green energy scheme could revive Birmingham industry, claims Tilsley

A £760 million investment in green energy could kick-start a new era in Birmingham’s manufacturing history, Birmingham City Council has claimed.Read

Birmingham Library contract rightly awarded to Capita subsidiary, insists council

Birmingham City Council has dismissed a complaint that it broke procurement rules to award a lucrative cable installation contract for the new Libary of Birmingham to its own IT partner, the Capita-run Service Birmingham.Read

Seven lap dancing clubs approved for Birmingham under new regulations

Birmingham’s lap dancing clubs have been told to remove suggestive images of women from its buildings as part of a city-wide clampdown on sex venues.Read

Birmingham strip club owner hits back at BRB objections

The woman bidding to open a city centre lap-dancing club has hit back at claims it could harm children and dancers at the Birmingham Royal Ballet opposite.Read

City council chief insists Birmingham Wholesale markets won't close

A notice indicating Birmingham Wholesale Markets must close by 2013 is merely a “technicality”, the chief executive of Birmingham City Council has said.Read

Birmingham Market eviction date a "technicality" says council chief executive

A notice indicating Birmingham Wholesale Markets must close by 2013 is merely a “technicality”, the chief executive of Birmingham City Council has said.Read

Admission fees at Birmingham museums predicted to hit visitor numbers

Visitor numbers at Birmingham’s community museums are expected to fall by 14 per cent this year following the introduction of admission charges.Read

Admission fees at Birmingham museums predicted to hit visitor numbers

Visitor numbers at Birmingham’s community museums are expected to fall by 14 per cent this year following the introduction of admission charges.Read

Hundreds march through Birmingham to protest at cuts

Hundreds of protesters urged the Government to abandon austerity cuts and punish the bankers for the economic downturn as they marched through Birmingham where the Liberal Democrats are holding their annual conference.Read

Birmingham Labour rivals join forces to campaign for elected mayor

Birmingham Labour Party members launched their campaign for an elected mayor for Birmingham with the backing of three potential candidates.Read

Hundreds march in Birmingham over cuts

Hundreds of protesters urged the Government to abandon austerity cuts and punish the bankers for the economic downturn as they marched through Birmingham where the Liberal Democrats are holding their annual conference.Read

Labour rivals join forces to campaign for an elected mayor for Birmingham

Birmingham Labour Party members launched their campaign for an elected mayor for Birmingham with the backing of three potential candidates.Read

Birmingham Royal Ballet leads opposition to plans for new strip club in city

The Birmingham Royal Ballet is leading objections to an application to open a new strip club in the city, near their side entrance to the Hippodrome Theatre. Read

Paul Tilsley so proud to open Liberal Democrat conference in Birmingham

For council deputy leader Paul Tilsley, opening the Liberal Democrat Party conference in Birmingham will prove one of the highlights of a political career spanning five decades. Interview by Neil ElkesRead

Extra security for Liberal Democrats at Birmingham conference

Police will step up security surrounding the Liberal Democrat conference in Birmingham following the riots.Read

Author Profile

A local news reporter in the Birmingham, Sutton Coldfield and south Staffordshire area since 1995, Neil Elkes is the local government correspondent covering the activities of Birmingham CIty Council - Europe's largest local authority. An avid reader and collector of comics Neil is writing a column on this for the Birmingham Mail website.