Dear Patchers — welcome to your Friday briefing.
Rental bikes are being vandalised and going missing with the West Midlands Combined Authority set to approve £2.1m to address the problem. Elsewhere, Birmingham Live has the details on a complaint about Chief Exec Deborah Cadman that was submitted before she stepped down from her £260k role earlier this week.
Other than that, it’s a relatively quiet end to the week with some positive updates for the city: Victoria Square has a new hub for national tourism and arts magazine Sludge Mag has boosted some of the city’s best creatives.
Finally, the long-running row between Andy Street and Simon Foster has reached a milestone and there are two city-centre options for something to do this weekend.
Look out for our weekend read which will drop into your inboxes as usual, ready to enjoy with your morning coffee, tea, or pint of Guinness depending on how early your St Patrick’s Day celebrations begin. Our weekend stories are always free but to get access to all of our high-quality writing, and be part of an exciting new development in local journalism, subscribe today.
Have a good one!
Brum in Brief
🚲Lost bikes: Bikes for hire across the region are being vandalised and 300 have gone missing, West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) papers reveal. The cost of repairing damaged bikes increased eight-fold between April and June 2023 compared to the previous year. The WMCA board is today set to agree £2.1 million of public money to keep the scheme going until its October 2025 end date. The papers say many of the missing bikes have been recovered but do not specify the amount.
⚡Council complaint: Birmingham City Council Chief Executive Deborah Cadman was facing an official complaint she had ‘not been truthful’ about the equal pay claims crisis before she resigned on Wednesday, Birmingham Live has revealed. The complaint was submitted to council leader John Cotton and Lead Commissioner Max Caller last month and it accuses her of ‘misleading’ councillors in an audit committee.
🎫Day tripper: Victoria Square in Birmingham City Centre will be home to the new hub for national tourism agency Visit Britain. From April the agency, which raises Britain’s profile as a tourist destination worldwide, will have offices in Victoria Square House, opposite the Town Hall. West Midlands Mayor Andy Street said the decision to locate in Birmingham was a “major vote of confidence in our region”. Patricia Yates, CEO, VisitBritain added: “We are excited about the opportunities and perspectives that having our hub in Birmingham will bring.”
⚖️A day in court: The high court has heard that plans to merge policing powers with the mayor’s office in the West Midlands are unlawful, with a judge set to announce the verdict next week. The legal action was brought by Labour West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner Simon Foster. The Home Office, defending against the challenge, said its decision was taken "with an open mind following a lawful consultation and with regard to relevant information". PA Media/the BBC has more here. Read more about the background on The Dispatch.
📷Brummie boost: In light of the sad news about cuts to the arts, Sludge Mag asked their followers to name their favourite Birmingham creatives and posted a selection on Instagram. Included is photographer Marley Starskey Butler, whose star is on the rise, and dancer and choreographer Vidya Patel.
🥡Fusion feast: Bundobust is serving its new Indo-Chinese menu, inspired by Kolkata’s Chinatown, now until 14 April. Choose from six new dishes including gobi toast and chilli paneer and wash them down with a limited-edition Chokha rice lager or a gin and jasmine green tea cocktail.
🛍️JQ jolly: A new artisan market will take place in the Jewellery Quarter this Saturday from 10am—3pm. Pip Bradley of Pip’s Hot Sauce fame is launching the venture off the back of her successful Kings Heath equivalent. It will take place in St Paul’s Square every third Saturday of the month until November and will regularly fund charitable organisations and local community group stalls.
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