Lovely day at Kings Heath Farmer's Market today. It's on 9am to 2pm on the first Saturday of the month, but the Blue Moon Makers Market is open inside the All Saints Centre until 3pm. Check it out if you're out Christmas shopping 🎄

If you live in Kings Heath and want to have a chat with your local police team, Moseley & Kings Heath Police are hosting community drop-ins this month at Coffee#1 in Moseley from 11am to 1pm on Tuesday 9 December and Tuesday 16 December.

Last night I was invited to participate in a roundtable discussion about civic identity in Birmingham following widespread news stories of division in communities and a sudden wave of flags being put on lampposts. Thank you to Temper and Brown for hosting us and emceeing a lively debate.

At this month's City Council meeting I handed in a petition signed by over 100 residents calling for stronger protections of family housing in Kings Heath and Moseley. You can still fill out and share the survey here: www.tinyurl.com/MKHhousing

At this month's City Council meeting, I spoke on the new Executive Scrutiny Protocol, which brings in backbench and opposition councillors more. As Chair of Sustainability and Transport, I have worked hard to ensure all members' views and work are valued regardless of political party.

Like my residents, I rely on the number 50 bus service to run on time. However, people driving or parking dangerously on the route often causes significant delays. If you agree we need more enforcement along the route, please fill out this survey to let us know your views. www.tinyurl.com/FixThe50

Birmingham Museums Trust have launched their fundraising campaign, Your Museums Your Move, aiming to raise £2 million to protect and deliver bold ambitions for the city. Watch the video, help spread the word about the campaign, and lend your support here: www.birminghammuseums.org.uk/support-us?u...

Residents have been asking about proposed road safety schemes on both Priory Road and Avenue Road. I can confirm that neither are progressing. However, if there is enough support, they could come in a future budget after the elections next year. I will provide further updates when I have them.

PLANNING CONSULTATION (2025/05507/PA) Site: 31 Brook Lane, B13 0AA Proposal: Change of use from dwelling house (Use Class C3) to Children's care home (Use Class C2) Please follow the link to leave any comments: eplanning.birmingham.gov.uk/Northgate/Pl...

Following the Government's announcement that regional mayors in England will gain the power to introduce tourist taxes, I have written to our West Midlands Mayor, @richardparkerwm.bsky.social to ask for his support delivering one that benefits the city as a whole.

PLANNING CONSULTATION - 2025/05803/PA Site: 72 High Street, B14 7JZ Proposal: Change of use of first and second floors from vacant storage (ancillary to retail) to a 5-bed House in Multiple Occupation (Use Class C4) You can submit comments here: eplanning.birmingham.gov.uk/Northgate/Pl...

Are you concerned about unregulated HMOs? There's still time to fill out our survey if you agree that the Council needs to introduce tighter local licensing and oversight for housing across the city. I will be handing the results in to the City Council in 2 weeks. www.tinyurl.com/MKHHousing

PLANNING CONSULTATION 2025/05882/PA Site: Sports Direct Fitness, 69 Alcester Road South Proposal: Change of use from fitness centre (Class E) to open Class E use, external alterations and subdivision of the building into three units Comment here: eplanning.birmingham.gov.uk/Northgate/Pl...

Measles is rising again in Birmingham. Measles can cause severe illness in small children and even damage a child’s immune system for years so they are likely to get ill from other viruses too. Your GP can vaccinate you against this highly infectious virus www.youtube.com/shorts/s4nAP...

Please sign @asthmaandlung.org.uk's petition calling for stronger #AirPollution limits in the UK. The UK's legal levels for NO2 are four times higher than the safe level recommended by the World Health Organization. If the EU can come into line with interim @who.int levels, surely the UK can?

🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍🌈 Last week I was honoured to attend the Birmingham Pride Community Foundation celebration event, which provides annual grant funding to support LGBT+ groups across the West Midlands - made possible by a ringfenced £2 donation from every Birmingham Pride festival ticket. Almost £20k this year! 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️

Last night, Kings Heath Neighbourhoods' Forum put on a fantastic AGM, with the police, businesses, and community represented. I spoke about our 'protect local housing' campaign (survey link here: www.tinyurl.com/MKHHousing) There are plenty of posters left at Kings Heath Community Centre to pick up.

At the November City Council meeting, I handed in a petition from residents in Kings Heath and Moseley (and some in Stirchley), asking the council to investigate residents' parking in roads in and around the reopened train stations and LTN. You can still sign here: www.tinyurl.com/MKHParking

This morning I laid a wreath at Brandwood End Cemetery for Remembrance Sunday. Huge thanks to the Friends Of Brandwood End Cemetery for organising this and much more every year.

It's important, and often vital, to work across different wards with other political parties on big projects, like the LTN. At the November Council meeting I congratulated the new Moseley councillor on his by-election win, and asked Cllr Mills about how we can now work together.

At the November City Council meeting debate on public transport and the Midland Rail Hub, I spoke about the need for the Bordesley Chords project to allow for more services, cleaner air, and better connectivity in my community and across Birmingham, as well as a train station at Balsall Heath.

At this month's City Council meeting, I asked the Cabinet Member for Children, Young People, and Families what the Council is doing to implement trauma-informed practice after my motion calling for it was passed two years ago. www.facebook.com/reel/1270638...

At this month's meeting on City Council, I handed in a petition signed by over 1,000 people calling for a new bus route from the Queen Elizabeth Hospital to Heartlands Hospital via Kings Heath. Next step: writing to our mayor. You can still sign here: www.tinyurl.com/HospitalHopper

PLANNING CONSULTATION 2025/03570/PA Site: 38 Lifford Close, Kings Heath, Birmingham, B14 6QL Proposal: Change the use from 4-bed dwelling house (Use Class C3) respite care services (Use Class C2) Leave your comments through this link: eplanning.birmingham.gov.uk/Northgate/Pl...

The West Midlands Combined Authority has launched the Spatial Development Strategy. This will set out the regional framework for housing, infrastructure, and economic growth. You have until 12 December to have your say and help shape your neighbourhood. wmsds.commonplace.is#msdynmkt_tra...

Trusts and Charities is about to go live: birmingham.public-i.tv/core/portal/...

Brandwood and Kings Heath councillor advice centres are on the first Monday and third Wednesday of the month at Kings Heath Community Centre - except December and August. Please come along if you have any issues you need support with.

More and more residents are contacting me concerned about the rise of family homes becoming unregulated Supported Exempt Accommodation. Please fill out our survey if you agree that the Council needs to introduce tighter local licensing and oversight across the city. www.tinyurl.com/MKHHousing

⚠️Birmingham's Local Plan consultation is now LIVE! The new Local Plan for Birmingham will: 🌳 decide how the city will develop 🏗️ provide policies to guide decisions on development proposals and planning applications up to 2044 You can learn more here: www.birmingham.gov.uk/birminghamplan

We're live at Corporate and Finance at 10:30 this morning. birmingham.public-i.tv/core/portal/...

PLANNING CONSULTATION (2025/04988/PA) Site 230 Grange Road Proposal Change of use from builders yard to new residential property to 230A Grange Road, including extensions and conversion of existing building, with new amenity space formed to 230 Grange Road eplanning.birmingham.gov.uk/Northgate/Pl...

Today, Stirchley residents put on a family event, with music and chalk for kids, to show we can celebrate our city. The community came together to say we will not allow our nations' flags to be used to divide us or intimidate our neighbours. I'm incredibly proud to be born and raised in Stirchley ❤️‍🔥

I spoke to the Cabinet Member about this earlier today. BCC is lobbying for a blanket ban and support from government. We do have a ban in Birmingham if you put up signage - we just need more local councillors to get signage on problem roads.

PLANNING CONSULTATION 2025/04868/PA Site: Kings Court, High Street, Kings Heath, B14 7JZ Proposal: Change of use from vacant shop (Use Class E) to fast food take-away (Sui Generis) I will be opposing this. Submit comments here: eplanning.birmingham.gov.uk/Northgate/Pl...

This is great to see www.ukauthority.com/articles/bir...

PLANNING CONSULTATION (025/05202/PA) Site: 16 Alcester Road South, Kings Heath, Birmingham, B14 7PU Proposal: Change of use from retail shop (Use Class E) to restaurant (Use Class E) and installation of extraction flue to rear. Submit comments here: eplanning.birmingham.gov.uk/Northgate/Pl...

Join @bvscbirmingham.bsky.social on Oct 14 (1-2:30pm) for the Environment & Energy Network meeting with David Chapman, Green Homes Lead, Solihull MBC who will be delivering Climate Reality Training #ClimateAction #Sustainability Sign up here: www.bvsc.org/Event/enviro...

This morning I met with members of the Jewish and Muslim communities, along with the Cabinet Member, to discuss access to their cemetery and Brandwood End Cemetery. I am hopeful that we will soon have a solution that works for everyone, ensuring people can visit and learn about the cemetery.

This could be really big for the region www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

I've been out posting a letter through every door on Avenue Road to help residents there to report illegal and dangerous parking. This is a major issue by Kings Heath Park. But if you are having issues on your road, please report it to the council through this QR code.

💅 Women's Work Lab (WWL) are launching a programme to help Birmingham moms to get back into work. Find out more by getting in touch with Natalie, the Regional Head, at: [email protected] / 07593962418 You can apply at: www.womensworklab.co.uk

Brandwood and Kings Heath councillor advice centres are on the first Monday and third Wednesday of the month at Kings Heath Community Centre - except December and August. Please come along if you have any issues you need support with.

Birmingham City Council has produced a short video that teaches you the alphabet in British Sign Language. This is great to see and the more of us who can learn could help with social isolation and communication issues the Deaf community experience. www.youtube.com/watch?v=dyC4...

🚌Over 1,000 people want a new bus route. If you want to share the survey, there are window posters now available at Kings Heath Community Centre. Or you can email me for a digital copy. Next month I will write to the West Midlands Mayor, so please spread the word. www.tinyurl.com/HospitalHopper

Thanks to Kings Heath Neighbourhoods Forum for organising a meeting tonight for Transport For West Midlands to update residents about the reopening of stations on the Camp Hill train line I raised residents' concerns about the impact on parking in the area and our survey: www.tinyurl.com/MKHParking

Corporate & Finance is live at 10:30am, looking at scrutiny and how scrutiny works: birmingham.public-i.tv/core/portal/...

ℹ️ Saturday 4 October: All Saints Church, Kings Heath, 10am-onwards. Birmingham People's History Archive/BPHA are organising 'Decisions and Consequences', an exhibition and living history workshop. Please share with anyone else who may be interested. The event is free and there's no need to book.

We are now live at Trusts and Charities: birmingham.public-i.tv/core/portal/...

At a recent meeting of Simon Foster PCC's advisory panel, the team told us about WMNOW. This free service sends you local updates from the police, fire service, and others, it lets you contact your local police team, and reply to messages with information. You can sign up at: wmnow.co.uk

Great seeing @richardparkerwm.bsky.social open the day at the @globalcompactuk.bsky.social road show in Birmingham earlier this week. It was a huge honour to be asked to speak on the major sustainable development issues facing Birmingham, and how we can work together across sectors to address them.