u/Solid_System_5023

Before each full council, local councillors can submit written questions to be answered by cabinet members.

These are submitted and a written response is received by email.

Please note these are different to spoken questions which are delivered in the meeting.

Each individual councillor can submit 1 question per cabinet member.

What questions would you like to see answered? They need to be as specific as possible so the answers are most helpful.

Comment below - I’ll submit a few from this sub but can’t do all of them. I will more strongly consider questions with most upvotes.

Thanks!

You can see leader/cabinet member details below:

https://www.birmingham.gov.uk/info/50067/the\_executive\_leader\_and\_cabinet

We seized a fly tipper’s car 24 hours after a video of them dumping was posted on Facebook.

Now, let me tell you how it went down…

We saw the video on Facebook of someone dumping and many people including the local MP reported it to the council.

I made a video and shared it - then a resident got in touch and shared where they believed the car is usually parked.

I double checked this with local contacts and they confirmed - so I escalated with Operation Fearless (West Midlands Police Operation on Soho Road) who engaged the council and got the resource ready.

Then, I was told that the car was back at the place so Operation Fearless could engage and seize the vehicle under the Environment Act.

This was amazing partnership working between councillors, residents, the council and Operation Fearless.

- Vacant plot of land just stagnating on Soho Road, a bustling high street 🥲
- New food truck serving out of a hole in the fence 😍
- Shoutout to the owner Mohit - a great food truck which isn’t taking up pavement but is using derelict space very effectively 😋

Active frontage, space for a new business, and a quick stop for hungry Soho Road punters 🙏🏼

You can find Mohit’s truck at 161 Soho Rd, Birmingham B21 9SU 📍

Any nice food trucks elsewhere in Brum? Share them plz!

So, I engaged our local police team about untaxed cars causing issues in the community, where parking is already at a premium 🚘

So this week I was out with Operation Fearless and partners to remove untaxed cars from our roads 🫣

Many residents came out to thank us - because they know how unfair it is that people who think they’re above the law can get away with it 😣

Whilst doing this operation a van drove towards us - the police saw it wasn’t taxed, MOT’d and had no insurance - the driver was disqualified too 😭

So that guy got arrested - and that’s one less eejat on the streets 👍🏼

There are lots of interventions we need to do to make our streets safer, but it’s nice to have helped push for a joint operation between agencies 🌹

I can’t even begin to tell you how amazing this event was - mangoes bringing together so many people from around Birmingham and beyond was a beautiful sight to behold 🥰❤️

Mango lassi, mango juice, mango chutney, mango pickle, mango custard, mango jelly, mango smoothies, mango barfi — SO MUCH MANGO 😂

(no Mango sticky rice though - next time I hope)

But in all truth it was a space that showed the best of Handsworth and the best of Birmingham, with families, communities and people from all walks of life 🙂

A huge shoutout to the Spirit of Pakistan & Soho BID for making this happen - it truly brought our communities together ❤️

Also shoutout to everyone who stopped for a chat, I’m so appreciative you came out to support 😭

Big up Brum 🥇

This coming Monday from 12-4 there’s a Mango Festival outside Handsworth Library on Soho Road 🙂

There’s going to be:

🍹 Fresh Mango Lassi & Smoothies
🌶️ Spicy Mango Chaat
🍛 Mango Curries & Wraps
🍰 Mango Desserts & Sweets

Also a couple of the shops will be selling boxes of absolutely incredible mangos 🤤

You can just turn up and enjoy the mango fun - then if you’re still hungry there are plenty more places to grab a bite on Soho Road, do a spot of fresh fruit and veg shopping, clothes shopping, or visit one of our amazing ‘we sell everything’ shops 😎

Sharing because members of the sub mentioned they like to hear about events they otherwise may not come across in our city ❤️

I’ve become a very avid user of Lime Bikes in Birmingham - they seem to have a larger fleet with more coverage, though they don’t cover the whole city yet.

I travel mainly between Handsworth, Hockley, Winson Green, the JQ and town - and probably 60% of my journeys can be done on a Lime Bike in some way.

There are some places I don’t think the parking has been properly assessed but they also have auto fines in place for people who consistently or irresponsibly park the bicycles.

Anyway, what do you think about them? Yesterday I did see one Lime Bike parked on the Hockley Flyover
😭

DISCLAIMER: not an ad, I just like public and active transport.

Best coffee in Birmingham? 👀

I love Java Roastery HQ in the Jewellery Quarter, but I’m not a coffee expert and I am naturally biased as a councillor for the JQ 😂

Shoutout your favourite coffee spots below 🔽

Popped down to the newly refurbished Red Lion Pub on Warstone Lane in the JQ after our full council meeting earlier this week 👀

The refurb is superb — it has front and back rooms, an upstairs with a separate bar and two outdoor areas 🤩

I don’t even drink but I know how amazing this will be as a space for folks to come together ❤️

Where’s on your list to pop down to? 🔽

Birmingham City Councillors have voted down Reform’s motion to remove City of Sanctuary status from the city and to withdraw our support for asylum seekers and refugees.

Labour, Lib Dem, Green, and independent groups all voted against the motion whilst Reform and Conservative groups voted for it.

I would recommend everyone watch the replay on the council website to show Birmingham standing up against Reform.

Share some events happening this weekend - free and paid - so folks can enjoy our beautiful city! 😎

I’ll be at the Jewellery Quarter festival which is way more than just jewellery 🥳

An amazing family friendly event organised by the JQ Bid 💪🏽

Find out more here:
https://www.thejewelleryquarter.org/festival/

Disclaimer, I’m biased as me and Su are councillors for the JQ 😭

Some people think there’s not enough happening in Brum - so I’m trying to push back on that narrative.

The Jewellery Quarter is a gem (pardon the pun) in the centre of Birmingham 🥰

The JQ Bid do an amazing job with local partners to organise the JQ which is happening THIS SATURDAY 11th July 😱

The breadth of family friendly activities is honestly amazing, including:

🎼 Free musical performances in St Paul's Square
🕵️ Murder mystery event in JQ workshops after dark
⛳ Heritage mini golf in the School of Jewellery
🍫 Make your own chocolate bars

Please come with your friends, family and loved ones - this is a true celebration of our community ❤️

See the programme attached and a huge shoutout to JQ Bid and partners for making this happen: www.thejewelleryquarter.org 💪🏼

See the full (AMAZING) programme below ⬇️

https://www.thejewelleryquarter.org/festival/

DISCLAIMER: I am biased because me and Su Brooks are both local councillors for the Jewellery Quarter!

Soho Road is getting some negative press as a small number of shops are run by organised gangs, who exploit vulnerable people and locals 😔

So I wanted to share here incase people wanted to check out a positive local landmark by loads of good food 😎

This is C&S Homestore on Soho Road — it’s family run and has been open since the 1960s 😱

It’s an ‘everything store’. But, I’ve realised that not everyone is aware of these everything stores — but they basically have… everything 😂

Kitchenware, homeware, incense, fabrics, I saw shampoo as well 😄

I’m out here today with a couple of residents who’re starting a cooking class for vulnerable men in Winson Green - and we’re grabbing everything from here 🥰

Check out C&S Homestore then grab a bite on Soho Road - close to bus and tram stops!

131-133 Soho Rd, Birmingham B21 9ST 📍

New Street paving almost done, Temple Street well underway. Radcliffe Passage at Paradise Forum all done 💪🏻

The paving at one of my local tram stops (Winson Green - though in reality it’s in Handsworth) has now been completed too. 😄

Small quality of life improvements ✅

More trams, people friendly spaces and outdoor leisure spaces plz 🫡

New passageway in town typifies 20th century and 21st century Birmingham ✨

Share more pretty pics of Birmingham to cleanse ourselves from Birmingham hate (yes I know our city has challenges I don’t deny that) 👇🏾

New Street works coming along well + now you can walk down the pedestrianised path on Temple Street 😍

Genuinely ecstatic — I think it will transform this part of town…

What’s next on your ‘making town more people friendly’ wish list?

Thinking a lot about urban design, trees, shade and heat 🥲

What are your favourite and least favourite places to be in Brum when we have a heatwave? 🤔

For me: Handsworth Park has amazing tree coverage as well as open fielded - nice mix and beautiful park ❤️

Had a brilliant chat with Gavin at Glaze Room in JQ - a beautiful pottery painting studio 🎨

A very wholesome activity in a calming and welcoming space 🥰

Check them out here:
https://glazeroom.co.uk/

What are some fun activities in the city you want to shoutout in the comments? 👇🏾