Business support for an elected mayor
I’m delighted to read that it looks as though the main business-support organisations in Birmingham (the Chamber and Birmingham Forward) are to ‘get off the fence’ and support the principle of an elected mayor. On a day when the latest ONS figures show that unemployment in Birmingham now stands at 12.8%, with over 50,000 people out of work, it’s clear that business led economic growth is fundamental to the future success of this city. And if the route to greater control over ‘total place’ budgets, skills, TIF schemes and all the other levers of ‘local control’ is through us electing an elected mayor, then we need a resounding ‘yes’ result at the referendum in May.
Incidentally, a credible candidate from the business community, whether affiliated to a political party or standing as an independent, could prove to be a strong contender for the job in Birmingham. If the Chamber’s new stance on this issue results in someone who has worked in business throwing their hat into the ring, then the race to become Birmingham’s first elected mayor could become even more interesting.
Sutton Coldfield Library: further update
Residents heard a verbal update on the plans for Sutton Coldfield Library at last night’s constituency meeting. As previously posted on here, a business case and detailed plans are being drawn up with a view to being presented to Cabinet for approval in the new year but a higher ‘spec’ option is now being proposed, with costs likely to be in the region of £3.9m. I’ll post more detailed information as it becomes available.
Birmingham, Creative City
I have to admit I struggled to find the substance, at first, at yesterday’s launch of Birmingham’s Creative City initiative. It was gratifying, of course, to hear Ed Vaizey, the Culture Minister, talk in such glowing terms about the cultural ‘offer’ in Birmingham, and reassuring to hear Andy Street, Chairman of the LEP, acknowledge the hugely important role that the creative industries have to play in the city. And the ‘delegate pack’, too, included lots of good news: a nice brochure about the new Birmingham Library, as well as a booklet outlining a ‘vision’ for Birmingham’s new museum quarter at Curzon Square. Huge credit, incidentally, must go to Cllr Martin Mullaney, and others, for getting this initiative off the ground: a museum of contemporary art (an ‘Ikon 2′) and a space to exhibit the extensive collection of photography we have in Birmingham would hugely increase the opportunities to display art in this city.
As the panel members got up to speak, it became clearer: the launch was about inviting businesses to invest in a fund to help make initiatives like the Curzon Square Museum Quarter actually become reality and, given the involvement of the LEP, about linking cultural development to wider economic growth in the region. And crucially, there does appear to be some extra money on the table from the city council with £5m being earmarked for ‘cultural regeneration’ in the city.
This is to be welcomed, especially at a time when the huge savings that the city council is having to make mean difficult decisions are being made with regards to funding. What concerns me, however, is this: given that there were less than a dozen representatives from the ‘independent sector’ at yesterday’s launch (from a delegate list of 116 people), and much of the ‘mood music’ at the event was around cultural assets like the Symphony Hall, the Hippodrome etc, how do we ensure that this £5m gets to be evenly distributed amongst both big and small organisations? For example, one of the ideas coming out of the popular music review that my committee is conducting is for there to be a ‘development fund’ for local bands, so they can actually be paid – or ‘topped up’ – a modest amount for performing in small venues. Given the scarcity of cheap (and legal) sites to put up posters and the regulations around leafleting, it’s difficult for bands to sell tickets outside of a loyal circle of family and friends. A fund to help bands promote future gigs and help pay for rehearsal space would go a long way towards providing encouragement as much as anything else. This wouldn’t take a huge amount of money, but supporting musicians at the onset of their careers could be one of the best investments we make given the huge importance that popular music has in improving people’s perceptions of a city and sustaining jobs. Details of the £5m fund will become available next month and I hope that this is where at least part of the substance of yesterday’s event lies and that the allocation of the money will be truly representative of the whole of the cultural offer in Birmingham.
Sutton Trinity Ward Committee at Sutton Town Hall, 7.30pm Thursday 22nd September
Image from Wikipedia
Sutton Trinity Ward Committee meets at 7.30 p.m. tonight, in the Crush Hall, Sutton Coldfield Town Hall.
Items on the agenda include:
- An update on Sutton Coldfield Library
- Consultation on the cycling/walking route through Sutton Coldfield
- An update on the Business Improvement District proposal for the town centre
Support for Birmingham businesses affected by the riots (further update)
Just received the following update, outlining support for Birmingham businesses affected by the riots:
(Apologies for the formatting)
“20th September 2011
BULLETIN 5 – SUPPORT FOR BIRMINGHAM BUSINESSES AFFECTED BY THE DISTURBANCES
Please note that time is now running out for applications for support via the High street Support Scheme. Please act quickly.
We can now announce some further assistance that businesses can apply for through the High Street Support Scheme:
Security Improvement Scheme (SIS) Grant
The Security improvement Scheme (SIS) is open to any small medium sized enterprise (SME) business based within the areas that were affected by civil disorder after 6th August 2011: City Centre, Aston, Newtown, Handsworth, Lozells, Perry Barr and Winson Green
The criteria to meet to be classed as an SME are:
- Fewer than 250 employees worldwide
- Turnover below £ 11.2 million per annum
- Must be independent (or franchise)
The SIS grant is specifically to assist towards project costs for new or upgraded:
- CCTV
- Shutters
- Alarm Systems
- Other relevant security measures
The level of grant funding awarded is 75% of eligible project expenditure up to a maximum of £5,000. To receive the maximum allowable grant, therefore, project costs should total at least £6,125.
Grant payments are issued as a reimbursement of eligible expenditure by the business and will only be paid on production of relevant evidence. Therefore all approved grants MUST be spent and claimed by the 28th October 2011.
Application forms for this scheme can be found on our website via www.birmingham.gov.uk/businessrecovery and applications must be submitted by 14th October 2011.
Business Recovery Advice Initiative
Again, this initiative is open to any SME businesses in the areas listed above for the SIS grant.
We are organising 4 drop-in sessions which businesses can attend to gain advice from specialist business advisors on business plans, marketing strategies and access to finance with a view to developing a strategy to recover from the effects of the disturbances. Businesses can then decide whether they want to benefit from up to 2 days worth of further input from an advisor on a one-to-one basis to fully develop a plan.
The drop-in sessions are as follows:
Monday 3rd October Handsworth Community Fire Station 2pm-7pm
41 Rookery Road, Handsworth, Birmingham,
B21 9QU
Tuesday 4th October ACRC 2pm-7pm
339 Dudley Road, Winson Green,
B18 4HB
Wednesday 5th October Venue in Aston to be confirmed* 2pm-7pm
Thursday 6th October Ibis Arcadian Hotel, Ladywell Walk 2pm-7pm
*once confirmed, we will publish the venue on our web page and through Bulletin 6
We are still accepting applications for the Financial Recovery Fund, which now has a new element to it.
To be eligible for this grant, businesses must carry insurance. Losses relating to damage & looting which are not covered by insurance (including insurance excess) can be claimed, along with exceptional business costs directly related to the disturbances.
New element: where a business is experiencing delays in receiving payment from insurers and is struggling to manage its cash flow, consideration will be given to offering a one-off grant to help the business to continue trading whilst waiting for a settlement. The business case for this request will need to be set out in the application form and related evidence (e.g. recent bank account showing cash position & overdraft facility). Those who have already applied for support under this scheme do not need to re-apply, but will need to submit the business case and supporting evidence to apply for this grant.”
Where next for the Home of Metal?
The Home of Metal exhibition has done a brilliant job in helping improve people’s perceptions of Birmingham. Running since June the exhibition has been reported everywhere from The Sun to the FT, broadcast on Sky, CNN and everywhere in between.
I can’t remember a museum exhibition that’s been the subject of so much diverse media coverage.
And it’s firmly cemented our reputation as a city with a rich musical heritage.
One of the best articles was in The Sunday Times. Despairing at our previous failure to shout about the role we played in creating heavy metal the journalist summed it up thus:
‘This is Birmingham. They do things indifferently here’.
There’s a lot of truth in that. We’re far too humble about our history, far too reticent in shouting about what makes this city great. The people behind the Home of Metal exhibition have made significant progress in helping us shake off that indifference.
Sadly in ten days time the exhibition comes to an end. It would be fantastic if it had a permanent home, somewhere in the city centre. We don’t stop being the ‘home of metal’ at the end of September and we shouldn’t stop shouting about it then, either.
Sutton Coldfield Library update
The Leisure, Sport and Culture Committee heard an update this morning on the plans to reopen Sutton Coldfield Library. (suttonlibraryosreport)
The building was closed in April 2010, when asbestos was discovered during the course of a ‘modernisation and refurbishment’ programme and a huge amount of work needs to be done to get it up and running again. The cost of this work is likely to be in region of £1.8m.
At a time when libraries are being closed all over the country, my colleagues and I are determined to get the one in Sutton town centre reopened. Up until its closure last year, Sutton Library was the second busiest in the city and however much other libraries in the constituency are ‘taking up the strain’ it’s vital that we get the one at the centre of the town open again.
And although we’re going to need to ensure that we make more efficient use of the space, with other services likely to be occupying the building, I’m really keen that we have as much of a library facility as possible. It was confirmed to the committee this morning that councillors and ‘service users’ will be consulted once the detailed design is complete and I’m hopeful that the plans will be unveiled at the next Trinity Ward Committee meeting (Thursday 22nd September, 7.30pm at Sutton Town Hall).
The original money set aside for the ‘modernisation and refurbishment’ programme (£236,000) was clawed back into the central city council pot in 2010, when the building was closed. (see page 11: cabinetsuttonlibrary)
Now that the plans are coming together, I’ve asked for it back.
Moseley music festivals and our city’s parks
There are some great festivals held in Birmingham every year but the two big events put on in Moseley Park are amongst the very best. Mostly Jazz, held in July and now in its second year, and last weekend’s Moseley Folk Festival, which has been going since 2006, are brilliant examples of how it’s possible to hold a ‘get away from it all’ festival in the middle of a big city. So you get the feel of a big festival (multiple stages, pirates, stalls selling ‘wacky’ hats) without the potential for its attendant misery (long treks from the car with all your stuff, a relentless flow of people, mud that you remain caked in for the weekend). Apart from the programming, the friendly atmosphere, and all the other factors that make the Moseley festivals so good, there’s the setting: a small, secluded park with a natural amphitheatre, just off a busy high street.
This ought to be a model that can be transferred to other parks across the city, though of course if you’re going to hold a festival near to where people live, you’ve got to keep the neighbours on side. I get the impression that they get round this at Moseley primarily because the organisers are wise to it and approach the issue sensitively, but also because the event is professionally run, with adequate levels of security and a sensible 10.30 p.m. curfew. And, crucially, because the park is privately owned, any money raised by hiring it out is ploughed right back in to making improvements. If we want more events like this to be held across the city in our public parks (and I believe we do) then at the very least we need to ensure that money raised locally is invested locally, and not diverted into a central council pot. After all, people are much more likely to put up with some inconvenience if they know that events such as these will help fund improvements in their local neighbourhoods. And at time when the council doesn’t have a huge amount of cash to spread around, changing the way it does things (as well as providing help with publicity) is an inexpensive and effective way of showing its support.
New Obesity Data on Birmingham Children
Up to date ‘child measurement’ figures have been released today, showing levels of obesity amongst Birmingham children at ward and constituency level. There’s a huge amount of data but I’ve put links to what I think are the most pertinent graphs below. There’s a clear link between obesity and deprivation with the figures showing that:
- The greater the deprivation, the higher the level of obesity in both Reception Year & Year 6
- Kingstanding and Soho have the highest levels of obesity in Year 6
- In Reception Year obesity is highest in Black African, then Black Somali then Bangladeshi. In Year 6 obesity is highest in Black Caribbean, then ‘White and Black Caribbean’ then Black including Black British then Pakistani
- Ladywood and Hodge Hill constituencies have the highest levels of obesity in Reception Year & Year 6
- Those areas with the densest concentration of hot food takeaways also have the highest concentration of obesity
obesityward (where a category has a significantly higher obesity prevalence than the Birmingham average it is shaded in red, if it is significantly lower than it is shaded in green)
Support for Birmingham businesses affected by the riots (update)
Just received the following from BCC:
1st September 2011
BULLETIN 4 – SUPPORT FOR BIRMINGHAM BUSINESSES AFFECTED BY THE DISTURBANCES
Accessing Information and Application forms for the High Street Support Scheme
The Business Recovery page on the Birmingham City Council Website is now fully live, so information about the support available together with grant application forms, can now be obtained from www.birmingham.gov.uk/businessrecovery
Deadline for submission of applications
As previously stated, the deadline for submission of applications is 9th September 2011. These applications will be assessed shortly after the deadline and businesses will be informed as quickly as possible of the outcome of their application. A second phase of applications will now be accepted if submitted by 16th September 2011. Again, these applications will be processed and a decision made as soon as possible.
Free Advice Sessions for Businesses
Following on from the session we organised for businesses on Wednesday 24th August, we can now give details of 4 further drop-in sessions. These sessions are taking place in Local Centres, but are open to businesses from all over the city which were directly affected by the disturbances. The sessions are:
| Monday 5th September 10am – 12pm | Handsworth Community Fire Station
41 Rookery Road, Handsworth, Birmingham, B21 9QU |
| Monday 5th September 2pm – 4pm | Perry Barr Methodist Church
Aston Lane Handsworth, B20 3BP |
| Tuesday 6th September 10am – 12pm | New Testament Church
240-244 Lozells Road, Birmingham, B19 1NP |
| Tuesday 6th September 2pm – 4pm | ACMC – 339 Dudley Road
Winson Green, B18 4HB |
Businesses are welcome to come along to any of these sessions without appointment in order to speak with City Council Officers and get advice on the help available.
Riot Damages Act
The Chief Constable of West Midlands Police has still not made any announcements regarding the declaration of a riot which would activate the Riot Damages Act. We would advise that businesses go to the West Midlands Police Authority website via the following link. This will give access to further details about eligibility and claim process as well as a link to the claim form.
http://www.west-midlands-pa.gov.uk/riotdamagesact.asp
Please note that claims must be submitted no more than 42 days after the incident in order to qualify (ie.19th/20th September). Claims can only be made for direct costs resulting from damage or looting during the disturbances – loss of earnings is not covered. This funding will only cover costs which cannot be claimed through an insurance policy.
West Midlands Police Authority event at MAC
West Midlands Police Authority will be holding a public meeting at the Midlands Arts Centre at 9am on Thursday 8 September 2011 to consider the recent disturbances in the West Midlands.
Details about this event can be found on the Authority’s website or via the link below:
http://www.west-midlands-pa.gov.uk/viewpr.asp?id=103&category=pressreleases
Summary of support available
Support |
Criteria |
| Recovery Fund | SMEs only. Businesses must carry insurance. Losses relating to damage & looting which are not covered by insurance can be claimed, along with exceptional business costs directly related to the disturbances. |
| Business Rates Hardship Relief Fund | Open to all businesses, insured or not, who have suffered or are likely to suffer hardship as a result of the disorder. |
| Riot Damages Act | All businesses damaged/looted during the unrest. Claims can only be made for uninsured losses due to damage & theft. |
| Crisis Support Team | 0800 073 0440 between 8am and 8pm Monday to Friday. |
Other Financial Support Schemes
We now have information about 3 further financial support schemes available to businesses.
Please note that these schemes are not being administered by Birmingham City Council, and we have no influence over how funds are distributed. Please direct any questions you have about these schemes directly to the providers.
The High Street Fund:
The High Street Fund is aimed at helping businesses carry out repairs, replace stock, and return to trading.
http://www.thehighstreetfund.co.uk/index.htm
Reclaim Our Streets:
The Daily and Sunday Express has launched a major new crusade to Reclaim Our Streets and help raise funds for the hard-working people and businesses hit by the devastating outbreak of rioting.
http://www.express.co.uk/reclaimourstreets
Birmingham Mail Fightback Fund:
Small businesses directly affected by the can apply for a grant of up to £1000 from this fund.
http://www.birminghammail.net/news/top-stories/2011/08/24/no-headline-97319-29293167/
