I’m a Conservative councillor on Birmingham City Council, representing Sutton Trinity Ward as well as the Shadow Cabinet Member for the ‘Green and Smart City’ and Group spokesman on Leisure, Sport and Culture. My main interests are in regeneration, the cultural offer and reputation of the city, and the vitality of our independent popular music sector. I am determined that the city follows through on the recommendations raised in our recent report, ‘Destination Birmingham: Birmingham, A Music City’.

This report isn’t about the city council saying that it has any particular expertise with regards to the workings of music industry. What the city does have, however, are extensive networks, contacts and clout and given the huge importance of this sector – culturally, economically and as a way to improve perceptions of the city – the council has an important role to play in terms of finding out what the industry considers to its priorities and then being responsive to them. And sometimes of course, this may simply be about it getting out of the way.

I also chair the Sutton Coldfield Economic Development Group. And I am Joint Managing Director of our medium sized family owned business, based in Birmingham and supplying large end users in the automotive and aerospace industries.

I’m also a member of the advisory board for the Birmingham International Jazz Festival, which celebrated its 27th anniversary last year and is said to be the ‘largest free jazz party in Europe’.

All views expressed on this website are mine and mine alone. They are not posted in my ‘official’ role as an elected member and are in no way representative of Birmingham City Council.

Email: pejparkin@hotmail.com

Twitter: www.twitter.com/peparkin