Monthly Archives: May 2012
Grand opening of The Shard: June 8th, 2012
I’m pleased to announce that the grand opening of The Shard, our brand new library in All Saints Square, will take place on Friday 8 June.
There will be a wide range of free family fun events throughout the day to mark this special occasion – click on the leaflet below for more details!
Birmingham Labour announces new Cabinet team
Birmingham’s Labour Leader Sir Albert Bore has announced his new Cabinet, which will take up office following the Annual General Meeting of the City Council next Tuesday afternoon.
I’m honoured to say that I will be joining the new Labour team as Cabinet Member for Social Cohesion & Equalities. This is a new Cabinet post focused on tackling the inequalities in health, education and employment that have been holding our city back, preventing people from reaching their full potential. I’m passionate about removing those obstacles and ensuring that every citizen has the opportunity to thrive and contribute to our society.
In these tough times, tackling these issues will be even more challenging. But we have a strong team, committed to making change happen. I’m looking forward to working with them to make a positive difference to Birmingham, its neighbourhoods and its people.
You can read the full details of the new Cabinet team by clicking here.
Thank you for voting Labour
I’m pleased to say that my colleague and long-standing Shard End Councillor, Marje Bridle was re-elected with a thumping majority at the local election held last Thursday. On behalf of the Shard End team, I would like to say a big thank you for your support.
The full result was as follows:
Bridle, Marje (Labour) 2038
Hammond, Tracie Leigh (Green Party) 124
Holland, Jessie (Conservative) 396
McHugh, Kevin Anthony (British National Party) 222
Neary, Mark (National Front) 38
Roden, Iain James (UKIP) 609
Across the city, the election resulted in a landslide victory for Labour and an end to the eight year rule of the Conservative/Liberal Democrat coalition. We now 77 of the 120 seats on the Council, which means that a new Labour administration will be formed later this month.
Preparations for the new administration are already well under way, as you can see from the following press notice issued on Friday. I’ll keep you posted on more news in the days ahead. We have some important work to do, making our city a better place in which to live and work.
LABOUR GETS DOWN TO WORK
Councillor Sir Albert Bore’s Labour Team have immediately started implementing a radical package of reforms designed to help get Birmingham’s 52,000 workless into jobs and make the city the Green, Safe and Smart Capital of Europe.
Top priority will be to take on the challenge of the areas in the city which face multiple deprivation in terms of work, health, education, housing and crime.
There will be an immediate reduction in the size of the Council’s Cabinet, with radical agendas for new positions which will address the Green, Safe and Smart agenda, the Social Cohesion and Equalities agenda, and Commissioning and Contracting Compliance.
The new Cabinet Members will be tasked with challenging the Council itself and private sector employers to create jobs, training opportunities and apprenticeships for the out of work, especially young people. The City will be encouraged to embrace a Charter for Social Responsibility which will address employment opportunities, the Living Wage, sustainable development, and a Buy Birmingham agenda.
Birmingham City Council meetings will break new ground with a citizens’ question time when any member of the public will have the opportunity to quiz members of the cabinet and chairs of committees.
Councillor Sir Albert Bore said:
“On day one we want to signal that this Council means business. For too long the City has been allowed to drift. We want to open up our council chamber and the committee rooms to our citizens. We want to tackle the problems that hold so many of our people back. The new structure will be a fresh start and provide a focus on delivering for the people of Birmingham.”
