Maybe its because I'm away from Birmingham for Christmas so can look in with a bit of distance... But I don't think i've ever felt so exasperated by the city authorities and its almost complete lack of care about anything that makes living here interesting or unique.

Has your councillor spent their £40k (each) on improving local streets? We've launched a councillor survey to find out if they've spent their money and their experience of spending it. It's in councillor's inboxes now. Please remind yours to fill it in by 31 January!

I am so excited to be hosting this online event, with Clare Lees as chair interviewing Ewan Fernie and colleagues representing arts & libraries in Birmingham.

We do not feel that Birmingham City Council has understood our concerns. We do not feel that they have tried to protect the most vulnerable. We once again call for the cuts to stop. This city does not need another austerity budget.

Cllr Martin Brooks Preet Kaur Gill MP Bham City Council Birmingham Labour I’d strongly encourage Preet Kaur Gill MP to stand up to her govt, pause the cuts, replace the lead commissioner Max 🪓 Caller, and call for a recertification of the west Mids pension fund urgently.

"Some 175 years after the Public Libraries Act, libraries remain critical for promoting literacy, particularly among those with less access to books at home. It is a sad reflection of austerity that so many public libraries have closed….” theguardian.com/books/2025/jan…

Hi Preet Kaur Gill MP, any chance of pressing Bham City Council for a response to your letter? These are important questions which should have been addressed during the botched libraries consultation, but weren’t. Birmingham Loves Libraries SaveHallgreenLibrary Birmingham Labour Councillor Saima Suleman Hall Green North

PUBLIC MEETING Let’s talk about libraries Thursday 16th January, 4.30-6pm At The Old Print Works Moseley Road Balsall Heath Birmingham B12 9AH

One of the treasures Brum library lovers have made to present to a Bham City Council Cabinet Member ahead of their crucial vote on the future of our libraries this month. The treasure can be kept or gifted to a library or library staff. instagram.com/p/DEwgJVvIJRa/ CraftivistCollective

Demo against swinging Birmingham City Council cuts on 28th January midday outside the council house. It may be 2025 but nothing’s changed since 2024 or for the last 14 years for that matter and all we get is yet more austerity. Say #NoMoreCuts #BrumRiseUp

Birmingham Loves Libraries has provided a commentary on the current library proposals which has been sent to the members of the Bham City Council Neighbourhoods Overview & Scrutiny Committee to inform their consideration of the proposals. You can read them here: birminghamloveslibraries.org/post/overview-…

If you’re able to get along to this public meeting about Birmingham’s libraries on Thursday 4.30-6, please do!

Ahead of the decision on cuts to Birmingham’s libraries, my story for The Literacy Trust highlights how vital they are: bit.ly/4gmRJkK Birmingham Mobile Library Service @booktrust @adayinthelib @brumlibraries Stephen King @janecaseyauthor Birmingham We Are Anne Louise Avery Ewan Fernie

Brilliant piece by Mark Gough ITV News Central tonight on Bham City Council’s overpayments into the West Mids Pension Fund. Prof. John Clancy Room151 Jane Haynes Mary McDougall a short thread.

Gove-appointed Max 🪓Caller literally used the Powers of the Secretary of State even to stop Bham City Council’s own powers of scrutiny.

Sharon Thompson🌹🇰🇳 keep all Birmingham's Libraries open! That is the very best tribute Birmingham Labour could pay to Benjamin Zephaniah, not meaningless words and platitudes. #SaveOurLibraries

Appalling to visit Harborne Day Centre today and see the place being stripped out by Bham City Council while highly vulnerable service users continue to use it. What kind of organisation behaves in this way? Joanne Roney CBE Rob Pocock Preet Kaur Gill MP Jayne Francis Birmingham Labour

Harborne Day Centre carers meeting earlier today. It’s disgraceful what’s going on whilst all the citizens are still there Preet Kaur Gill MP Laurence Turner Al Carns LeaderofBirmingham Rob Pocock

From Jan 24 - Sep 24, the 6 Gov appointed commissioners were paid £803k in salary and expenses. All paid for by the Birmingham CC tax payer 🤯 they even get accommodation & meals paid for. If you can’t pay for your own food on a salary of £1100 a day 🤦🏼‍♂️ we’re being shafted.