Birmingham Post

Councillors Will Take Over Awm Funding Decisions

A West Midlands "senate" of local council leaders could replace Advantage West Midlands, under plans unveiled by the Government. The region's top local government figures, including the leaders of councils such as Birmingham, Wolverhampton, Coventry, Dudley, Walsall and Sandwell, will meet together to oversee spending of more than pounds 300 million.

'Region Needs Longer Runway'

The West Midlands will end up an "economic backwater" and have more in common with Tyneside than the south of England if expansion of Birmingham International Airport is blocked, it was warned last night. Director of communications for the airport John Morris and Lib Dem MP for Solihull Lorely Burt joined forces to press home the need for allowing a 400 metre extension of the airport runway to allow longhaul flights to operate.

Gone in . . . Quite a Long Time

Top-of-the-range sports cars worth hundreds of thousands of pounds have been stolen from a newly opened Black Country dealership - along with some teabags. Ten sports cars worth pounds 350,000 were stolen from the Extreme UK Ltd dealership in Stourbridge. They included luxury motors such as a Lamborghini Gallardo, a Porsche 911 and two Subaru Imprezas.

Cancer Sufferer Keeps On Running ; Society

A Royal Mail worker who has run more than 20 marathons for charity since being diagnosed with cancer five years ago was yesterday named Postman of the Year. Simon Illingworth, 45, a network distribution driver based in Coventry, was told on Christmas Eve 2003 that he had testicular cancer, and was later diagnosed as having another cancer, Non- Hodgkin's Lymphoma.

Stars Take Reading to the Masses ; Celebrity

Celebrities including Dudley-born comedian Lenny Henry, Geri Halliwell and Jo Brand are taking part in a new TV ad to encourage more people to read. They will be joined by comedians Bill Bailey, Jon Culshaw, Jo Caulfield and Lee Mack in a Government advert which will be broadcast for the first time tonight.

Shooting Inquiry ; Police

Police were yesterday quizzing two men on suspicion of attempted murder after a double shooting in Birmingham over the weekend. The victims, aged 24 and 28, were found with gunshot wounds inside a property in Trinity Road, Aston, and were taken to hospital for treatment.

Bookshop Blaze ; Fire

A Birmingham bookshop caught alight yesterday. The fire broke out in the basement at Waterstones, in High Street, shortly after 5.30am.

More Order and Calm at T5, but Flights Still Cancelled

The atmosphere in Heathrow's Terminal 5 yesterday morning was calm as passengers saw an end to snaking check-in queues and delays at departures. The building was starting to resemble the optimistic artists' impressions penned before its opening as travellers moved smoothly from check-in point to bag drop and onto security.

Foul-Mouthed Brits Did Not Breach Broadcasting Code

The Brits were not in breach of the broadcasting code despite 128 complaints about bad language and alcohol at the music awards ceremony, watchdog Ofcom ruled yesterday. The incident which provoked the most complaints saw host Sharon Osbourne verbally attack comedian Vic Reeves, whom she accused of being drunk at the televised bash.

'Council Reneged On Pledge to Revive Jewellery Quarter'

Residents of Birmingham's historic Jewellery Quarter have accused the city council of failing on a promise to transform the area into a creative village for small businesses. Council leaders and the regional development agency Advantage West Midlands are not doing enough to meet a pledge made four years ago to develop "a honey pot for creative businesses" by 2010, according to the Jewellery Quarter Neighbourhood Forum.

What the Council Said in 2002:

"The Jewellery Quarter is unique within the local, national and international context for its high concentration of craft industry with associated trades in one small area based in converted 18th and 19th century domestic properties and purpose-built later workshops and factories illustrating the whole history and development of the industry. As such it is of major significance with no immediate parallels either in Britain, or overseas."

What the Jewellery Quarter Neighbourhood Forum Says Today:

"The council's decision to prepare a bid for Unesco World Heritage inscription is welcome, but the implications need to be fully understood by policy-makers. "World Heritage is the highest form of cultural designation and unlike, for example, City of Culture status, requires a continuing long-term commitment.

Police Keen to Find Man After Fatal Pub Stabbing

Police investigating the death of a man outside a Birmingham pub on March 26 have released the image of a man they would like to speak to in connection with the incident. Detectives from Bournville Lane police station are looking for John Anthony Leeson, who is 43 years old.

Legal System Crumbling Under Weight of Problems

The legal system is suffering from a shortage of judges, IT problems and a pounds 200 million backlog in repairs to court buildings, the most senior judge in England and Wales has warned. The Lord Chief Justice, Lord Phillips of Worth Matravers, said there had been a series of delays in appointing new judges after an independent system was set up.

'Not a Shred of Evidence to Prove Diana Murder'

There is "not a shred of evidence" Diana, Princess of Wales, was murdered, the coroner in her inquest directed yesterday. Launching a withering summary of the evidence in the six-month, multi-million pound case, Lord Justice Scott Baker also branded butler Paul Burrell a "liar".

Unions Must Hold Council Ballot ; Politics

Trade unions may be acting unlawfully if they call further strikes over Birmingham City Council's controversial salary shake- up without putting an improved offer to a formal ballot, a senior politician warned last night. Alan Rudge, the human resources cabinet member responsible for implementing the single status pay and grading review, said it was "doubtful" whether unions could rely on a show of hands at workplace meetings as a mandate for continued industrial action.

Free Nationwide Bus Travel Scheme Will Cost More Than Pounds 1bn a Year ; Politics

Eleven million free travel smart cards have been issued but many buses are not equipped to read them, a report by MPs said yesterday. The report, by the House of Commons Transport Committee, said the situation was "daft".

New Grant Scheme for Green Technology ; Politics

Changes to a Government scheme to encourage installation of low- carbon technology such as solar panels in homes and public buildings were announced yesterday. The overhaul aims to boost the uptake of the Low Carbon Building Programme (LCPB) through more generous grants to institutions such as schools and hospitals.

Too Many Ministers 'Busy Doing Nothing' ; Politics

The number of Government Ministers should be slashed by a quarter because too many are "busy doing nothing", a former key aide to Tony Blair said. Matthew Taylor, head of the Number 10 policy unit, insisted senior politicians were being paid for "detail" work that should be carried out by officials.

Plans for 42-Day Terror Detention Could See Legal Challenge

The Government was warned yesterday that it could face a legal challenge if it goes ahead with plans to extend the time terrorist suspects can be held without charge to 42 days. The Equalities and Human Rights Commission said that it believed the plans set out in the Counter Terrorism Bill were discriminatory and in breach of the Magna Carta.