Paul Dale - Birmingham Post

Iron Angle: Iron Angle: A farewell to arms - the final Iron Angle column

Birmingham Post — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 09:00:00 GMT

Birmingham City Council was passing through one of its pretty regular states of anxiety when this column began 10 years ago.

West Midlands News: Service Birmingham charges council £20,000 change computer programme

Birmingham Post — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 12:00:00 GMT

The value to Birmingham City Council of its £1 billion contract with Capita has been called into question again after the local authority was quoted £20,000 for a “simple” computer programme change to be implemented.

West Midlands News: Birmingham's cultural jewels 'in crisis'

Birmingham Post — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 11:55:00 GMT

Birmingham’s cultural institutions have been plunged into a crisis with one being forced to temporarily shut down to save cash, it has emerged.

West Midlands News: Birmingham eyesore to be developed into office and hotel scheme

Birmingham Post — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 18:55:00 GMT

An eyesore site in Birmingham city centre is to be transformed in a multi-million pound offices and hotel scheme.

Other UK business news: New rights for agency workers could cause 'chaos' at courts

Birmingham Post — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 15:47:00 GMT

One of the largest employment agencies in the West Midlands has warned of “chaos in the courts” when regulations to improve the pay and working conditions of temporary workers kick in after Christmas.

Iron Angle: Iron Angle: Fighting the market forces in Birmingham

Birmingham Post — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 12:00:00 GMT

Even by Birmingham City Council’s woeful communications standards, the Wholesale Markets saga has been handled appallingly.

West Midlands News: Businesses face 40 per cent hike in overheads if markets close - report

Birmingham Post — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 18:00:00 GMT

Thousands of small and medium-size Midland traders could suffer a crippling 40 per cent increase in their overheads if Birmingham Wholesale Markets are forced to close, according to a research document.

Transport News: City council hits back at 'ridiculous' Centro suggestions for fares

Birmingham Post — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 18:00:00 GMT

Public transport chiefs have fired the first shot in the annual West Midlands debate about perks for pensioners, by suggesting that a special charge might have to be imposed on anyone who wants to continue enjoying free train and metro travel.

Education News: Head teachers slam plan to give assistant teachers medical roles at school

Birmingham Post — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 17:13:00 GMT

Head teachers have described plans to ask teaching assistants to take over the work of NHS-trained nurses in providing medical assistance for seriously ill children at four Birmingham Special Schools as “life threatening” in a damning letter seen by the Post.

Politics News: Question for Birmingham mayoral referendum revealed

Birmingham Post — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 10:00:00 GMT

The question to be asked in the referendum on whether Birmingham should be run by a directly elected mayor has been published.

Politics News: Mike Whitby hits out at BBC's 'appalling' treatment of Birmingham

Birmingham Post — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 11:40:00 GMT

City council leader Mike Whitby has slammed the BBC for its “appalling” treatment of Birmingham.

West Midlands News: Birmingham community libraries to escape closure but hours will be cut

Birmingham Post — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 07:06:00 GMT

All of Birmingham’s 39 community libraries will remain open despite harsh Government spending cuts, the city’s leisure chief vowed.

Transport News: 'Free' train and tram travel could cost West Midlands pensioners £25

Birmingham Post — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 14:54:00 GMT

Pensioners in the West Midlands may have to pay £25 a year for train and tram travel which is currently free.

West Midlands News: Harborne clock tower 'was death trap', survey reports

Birmingham Post — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 11:00:00 GMT

Harborne’s clock tower was a death trap before it was protected by scaffolding and closed to the public, a structural survey has concluded.

Iron Angle: Iron Angle: Alan Rudge puts the boot into city council call centre

Birmingham Post — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 09:30:00 GMT

This month’s HR committee meeting was enlivened by the presence of cabinet member Alan Rudge, who not for the first time veered off-message in a spectacular fashion.

West Midlands News: 32,000 Birmingham residents fail to pay council tax

Birmingham Post — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 07:30:00 GMT

As many as 32,000 residents failed to pay their council tax bills this year, landing Birmingham City Council a further £25 million black hole in its finances.

West Midlands News: Birmingham's children in care facing a future on the scrap heap

Birmingham Post — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 13:00:00 GMT

More than half of children brought up in the care of Birmingham City Council are at risk of falling onto the scrap heap by the time they are 19, new figures show.

West Midlands News: Birmingham teachers advised to set up Facebook accounts

Birmingham Post — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 13:00:00 GMT

Teachers in Birmingham are being advised to open a Facebook account – to stop pupils cloning their identity.

West Midlands News: Social enterprise plan for Birmingham education services hits problems

Birmingham Post — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 09:00:00 GMT

A move by Birmingham City Council to cut costs and protect jobs by transferring responsibility for school meals, cleaning and other education services to a social enterprise company has been scaled back after officials discovered a “magnitude of barriers” standing in the way of the idea.

West Midlands News: Birmingham City Council facing huge bill after losing equal pay case

Birmingham Post — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 07:20:00 GMT

Birmingham City Council may have to pay compensation running into tens of millions of pounds after losing a groundbreaking equal pay case.