Birmingham
Job cuts 'inevitable' at Brum
Birmingham City Council is poised to reveal a worse-than-expected financial position as it embarks on a savings drive and ‘inevitable’ job cuts, The MJ has learned.
Brum commissioners warn council will need further help to agree lawful budget
Commissioners at Birmingham City Council have warned it will struggle to agree a lawful budget next year without further help.
Bradford latest to issue section 114 warning
Bradford City Council has warned it may become the latest to declare an emergency section 114 notice unless it takes urgent action to cut spending.
Birmingham 'actively exploring' action against s151
Birmingham City Council is ‘actively exploring’ possible action against its former director of council management Becky Hellard for her role in the collapse of the council.
Thinking of a section 114
With Birmingham – the largest local authority in Europe – issuing a section 114 notice recently, the decision of whether to issue one will no doubt be on other local authorities’ minds in the run-up to the festive period, writes chief executive of the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy, Rob Whiteman.
Employers downplay equal pay risk
Smith Square is monitoring equal pay claims across the sector but remains confident the national job evaluation framework is robust, senior sources have told The MJ.
Birmingham commissioners revealed
The team tasked with turning round Birmingham City Council has been announced – including a former Labour minister and a serving council chief.
EXCLUSIVE: Select committee looks to launch financial distress inquiry
Senior local government figures have been approached to give evidence as MPs consider launching an inquiry into financial distress in the sector, The MJ understands.
Brum kicks off job cuts
Birmingham City Council has started a wide-ranging programme of job cuts under emergency plans discussed by councillors last night.
Birmingham issues second section 114 notice
Birmingham City Council has issued a second section 114 notice as it has failed to come up with a plan to meet its equal pay liabilities.
Gove announces five-year Brum intervention
Communities secretary Michael Gove today announced a five-year Government intervention at Birmingham, with sources claiming he rejected a role for a senior Labour figure.
Brum braced for Government intervention
Birmingham City Council is braced for a wide-ranging Government intervention to help rescue the authority’s bleak finances, and improve political and officer leadership.
EXCLUSIVE: Fresh equal pay claims warning
Councils face a fresh wave of potential equal pay claims after a legal ruling exposed problems with the application of the national pay scheme, a high-profile lawyer has warned.
Birmingham issues section 114 notice
The UK’s biggest local authority, Birmingham City Council, has issued a section 114 notice in the face of crippling financial problems.
Warning Birmingham equal pay bill could rise further
Birmingham City Council’s mammoth equal pay bill could rise further if it fails to meet a tight deadline to fix the issue.
Minister reminds Brum over B&B usage
Housing minister Felicity Buchan has reminded Birmingham City Council to avoid using bed and breakfast facilities to accommodate homeless families outside its area.
Councillors to consider plan to stabilise IT system
Plans to stabilise Birmingham City Council’s troubled IT system will be considered by senior councillors next week.
Birmingham scolded over housing
Around 23,000 social homes owned by Birmingham City Council do not meet the Decent Homes Standard.
Showdown in Brum
Heather Jameson assesses the situation at Birmingham City Council after a week in which the leadership was forcibly changed on the back of Labour intervention – something that has raised serious questions about local democracy.
Improvement means accepting there is a problem
Birmingham City Council is, it would seem, a regular victim of unfortunate events, writes editor Heather Jameson.
