Good morning Patchers — welcome to your Thursday briefing.
The council’s chief exec — the eighth in 10 years — has called it quits and will leave by the end of this month. We’ve led with that news today, swiftly followed by calls for Mayor Andy Street to return any Conservative Party donations due to controversial remarks made by one of its donors.
Away from politics, we have a story about a vindicated college lecturer who was wrongfully dismissed for gross misconduct, and there are just a few days left to apply for an inspiring role training young people in the dramatic arts. Finally, it’s your last chance to bag a ticket for tonight’s live show with podcaster and businessman Steven Bartlett, and The Creative Craft Show kicks off at the NEC today.
Brum in Brief
⚠️Revolving door spins again: Birmingham City Council Chief Executive Deborah Cadman OBE has announced her resignation, effective on 22 March. Professor Graeme Betts CBE, Deputy Chief Executive and Director of Adult Social Care, will take over until a permanent replacement is found. A message from Cadman, who has been in the £260k role for three years, was emailed to all council members and staff yesterday afternoon. She said: “Now is the right time to hand over the baton to a new Chief Executive.” Cadman added that she was “extremely disappointed” with the state of the council’s finances but that she was pleased Birmingham has “good” ratings in Adult and Children’s Social Care.
- Leader of Birmingham City Council, Councillor John Cotton said: “Her commitment and contribution have been acknowledged by staff, partners and government. These have been incredibly difficult times and no one can doubt Deborah’s commitment to the council, the city and the region.”
- Lead commissioner, Max Caller, said: “It is very challenging working with Commissioners under a Statutory Intervention, and Deborah has responded effectively over the last six months. I wish Deborah well for the future as she continues her long and distinguished career in public service.”
- Birmingham Conservative leader Robert Alden thanked Cadman for her service and his deputy, Councillor Ewan Mackey, blamed the “revolving door” of chief execs at the council on Labour’s leadership.
- Liberal Democrat leader Roger Harmer wished Cadman the best for her future. He added: “The leadership team do not stay long enough to see the job through, and we lose valuable corporate memory with every change.”
💰Donations drama: Andy Street is under pressure from Labour to turn down Tory donations in the wake of controversial remarks made by Frank Hester, the 58-year-old who runs healthcare technology firm, the Phoenix Partnership. The Guardian reported on Monday that Hester, who donated £10m to the Tories last year, told colleagues in a 2019 meeting that looking at Diane Abbott makes you “want to hate all black women” and said the MP “should be shot”. He has since apologised and Number 10 released a statement saying the remarks were “racist and wrong”.
- Yesterday morning, Street told Radio 4’s Today Programme that if he had received contributions from Hester, he would return them. He said: "I would think about the company I kept and I would give that money back. I have to give you my view, rather than what the party should do, but I've thought about how I would handle that situation."
- Labour MP for Erdington Paulette Hamilton has written to Street asking him to confirm if he has received donations from Hester or indirectly via the Conservative Party and if he will return the money.
⚖️Wrongfully dismissed: A judge has ruled that a college lecturer was wrongfully sacked after a student made “vengeful” false claims he had asked a pupil out for a drink. Kirk Wood was dismissed from his post as lecturer in e-sports at Halesowen College in Dudley last March after a 19-year old made the allegation. Judge Robert Childe ruled Wood had been wrongfully dismissed and ordered the college to pay him £3,431 in compensation. The BBC has more details here.
🎭Performing upstarts: Young people’s drama company Stage 2 is hiring a Performances and Productions Manager to lead workshops and shows. There’s just under a week left to apply for the 30-hour p/w role that continues until August 2025. Pay is £25,974 pro-rata and you can find out more here.
🗣️Last chance tix: There are a handful of tickets left for tonight’s 'The Business & Life Speaking Tour' with podcaster and entrepreneur Steven Bartlett. If you want to hear business wisdom from the bestselling author, get your hands on one before they go.
🧵Sew and tell: Keen crafters should head to the NEC for the Creative Craft Show which is on from today until Sunday. There are workshops from sewing to ceramics and a huge range of stalls to purchase supplies for your next project. Tickets from £15.
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