Local Election Results

The turnout overall in Birmingham was 28.35%.

Birmingham Says NO to an Elected Mayor
The results are out, and 57.8% voted No and hence 42.2% voted Yes.
Votes No=120,611 Yes=88,085 Unmarked=4,757 Both boxes marked= 627.
So, Birmingham will continue to be governed by a political Leader and his Cabinet (See below).

My opinion: I think this is a sad day for Birmingham. Liverpool and Bristol will flourish where we will struggle for funds and Government support. We need a Boris!

Council Seat Results
The results are:

Labour 77 (+20)
Conservative 28 (-11)
Lib Dem 15 (-9)

So Labour gained overall control of Birmingham City Council from Conservative/Liberal Democrat coalition. Share of the vote: (51% Labour, 24% Conservative, 14% Liberal Democrat)
Kath Hartley, in this poll the only Ladywood Labour Councillor seeking re-election, was successful.
The others continuing as Ladywood Councillors are Sir Albert Bore (Leader of the Labour Group of Birmingham City Council) and Carl Rice.

We have a new Leader of the Council – Sir Albert Bore returns as leader!
One of our three elected Ladywood Councillors, Sir Albert has returned as Leader of Birmingham City Council, a position he held from 1999 to 2004.
He has had a distinguished career to date in public life and was once a lecturer in Nuclear Physics at Aston University.
See Wikipedia for more of his history.

 

Geoff Caine

Big City Plan Update – the Eastside Masterplan

Birmingham City Council has issued another document describing its vision for the future of the Eastside of Birmingham City Centre. This is one of the Five Areas of Transformation in the of the Big City Plan, which is a developing initiative.
The latest document is 40 pages long!  It’s a very good document, though, with much more details than in previous ones. There’s lots of artists impressions and photos of current scenes – well worth a read!
This is a vision, and there will be consultations as the details develop. You can give your opinions and ideas:
Contact – Development Directorate, Birmingham City Council
E-mail: bigcityplan@birmingham.gov.uk
Call: 0121 303 4507
View the document.

Geoff Caine

Library of Birmingham Tour – Late February

Our monthly tour inside the hoardings of the new library was a little different from the usual in that Carillion Operations Director of the project, Simon Dingle, conducted it….

Library of Birmingham – March Site Snapshot Released

Carillion has released to us March’s  abbreviated Site Snapshot about the development as shown here. (Click image to enlarge).

Incidentally the removal of the Tower Crane 2 reinforced concrete base turned out to be a massive job for traditional pneumatic drills. So, a series of controlled explosions was used to split off sections of concrete; scaring thought as this was sited very close to one side of the new building!

Geoff Caine

Library of Birmingham – February Site Snapshot Released

Carillion has released to us February’s The Site Snapshots about the development as shown here. (Click image to enlarge).

Geoff Caine

Blackout of Major Websites Protests against SOPA and PIPA US Bills

On 18 January 2012 a number of major worldwide websites have blackouts to protest against new bills, SOPA and PIPA, in the US HOUSE of Representatives. These bills are aimed at protecting copyright infringement by foreign websites. But, major distrubutors of free information across the Internet such as Wikipedia are of the opinion that the bills will impact free expression and thus harm the Internet.

For more information click here.

Geoff Caine

Grand Hotel to get a new lease of life – it is hoped

Grand Hotel, now covered in scafolding and painted canvas

Hortons’ Estate Limited, the owner, has announced £30m plans to restore the Grand Hotel in Colmore Row. The company is preparing a full planning application and application for listing building consent for the refurbishment. It will include use as a hotel…….

Library of Birmingham – January Site Snapshot Released

Carillion has released to us January’s The Site Snapshot about the development as shown here. (Click image to enlarge).

Geoff Caine