Updated 6:34am 6 July 2009:

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Paul Dale

Paul Dale

New road bill leads to 'significant overspend' for social services

Social services bosses were hit by a £652,000 bill after Birmingham City Council failed to put money aside for a road to allow elderly people to get in and out of a new special care complex. Read

Launch of new Birmingham City Council website hit by problems

The launch of Birmingham City Council’s new website, which was supposed to make it easier for people to pay bills and keep track of council tax payments, has been delayed by months after red-faced officials discovered the new system refused to recognise pound signs. Read

Harborne homes plan protest gets support from English Heritage

Residents of one of Birmingham’s most historic suburbs have won the backing of conservation watchdog English Heritage after forcing it into a major U-turn to fight against a new housing development. Read

Moor Pool application sends out important signal

A planning application to build 16 new homes in Birmingham’s Moor Pool Estate conservation area is not, in the grand scheme of things, one of the biggest applications that city planners will have to consider this year. Read

Making Mike Whitby a credible contender for mayor

Given the high probability that David Cameron is heading for Downing Street, Tories in Birmingham are beginning to give serious consideration to the Conservative leader’s pledge to hold mayoral referendums in major English cities. Read

Moseley kebab shop allowed to continue without bouncers

Police have failed in an attempt to force a Birmingham kebab store owner to hire bouncers to deal with “alcohol-fuelled” customers. Read

Birmingham lap dancing club Legs 11 handed new licence

A Birmingham city centre strip club has been granted a new licence after residents who said they were disturbed at the sight of scantily-clad women smoking outside the premises failed to attend a public hearing to register their complaints. Read

Handsworth business support centre closes

An organisation set up 27 years ago to help young black Birmingham entrepreneurs set up their own businesses has gone into administration. Read

Unions hit out at Birmingham care home redundancies

Union leaders are stepping up their campaign against compulsory redundancies at Birmingham City Council, accusing the Conservative-led authority of deliberately refusing to put in place strategies to avoid sacking workers. Read

Counting trees in leafy Birmingham

Experts have carried out safety checks on more than 140,000 trees owned by Birmingham City Council during the past seven years. Read

New £193m library will be finished by 2013 insists Birmingham City Council

Detailed plans for the new Library of Birmingham will be unveiled next month, allowing critics to discover whether the controversial cage-like covering for the £193 million building in Centenary Square remains in place. Read

Birmingham City Council adds strings to Warwickshire's £20 million Edgbaston loan

Council leaders yesterday reaffirmed their intention to lend Warwickshire County Cricket Club £20 million for ground improvements at Edgbaston - but the city cabinet attached new conditions that have to be met. Read

What a difference five years has made to Birmingham City Council

Paul Dale looks at the fortunes of Birmingham City Council since the Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition came into being Read

Birmingham stands at 'fork in the road' warns minister Liam Byrne

Birmingham must “raise its ambitions” to improve social mobility, education and housing, a government minister has warned. Read

Council has ‘betrayed’ care home workers, Unison says

Almost 200 Birmingham care home workers facing redundancy feel let down and betrayed by the city council, union leaders said last night. Read

Big issues always on the agenda with Birmingham City Council

The main talking points in the Conservative/Liberal Democrat coalition's control of Birmingham City Council since 2004. Read

Consultation planned on need for new gipsy sites in Midlands

A major consultation exercise is underway to determine how many new gipsy sites are needed in Birmingham and the West Midlands. Read

Mike Whitby one of the first leaders to meet Barack Obama

Mike Whitby is in expansive mood as he contemplates his fifth anniversary as leader of Birmingham City Council. Read

Axe falls on nearly 200 jobs at Birmingham old people's homes

Almost 200 men and women running Birmingham City Council’s old people’s homes are to be made redundant. Read

New business boost in £9.5m investment in Aston

One of Birmingham’s most deprived areas is to benefit from £9.5 million of government investment. Read

Author Profile

Paul Dale has been writing about local government in the West Midlands for more than 20 years. The Post's public affairs editor, he is a previous political editor of the Coventry Evening Telegraph and Local Government Correspondent of the Oxford Mail.

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