Happy Queens Heath Pride! It's such a lovely day for it. The festivities are going on all afternoon into evening on York Road and Heathfield Road. Don't miss out! 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️

🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️ So nice to see rainbow flags popping up in shop windows on Stirchley High Street. Thanks to Aphra Bakes, Couch, Deadbeat, Loaf, Cheddar, and anyone not pictured. Have you seen any others up? If you want a poster there's loads to collect from The Old Post Office (or message me). Happy Pride! 🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍🌈

🏳️‍🌈 Happy Pride Month! 🏳️‍⚧️ I've made posters for businesses on Stirchley High Street to celebrate pride and stand up to all the division being pushed on us. If you want a copy for your home, there are loads available to pick up from The Old Post Office. I'm happy to drop them off to any businesses. 🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍🌈

People talk a lot about restoring trust in policing. I think trust begins with honesty about the past. Glad to see this from Simon Foster PCC. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Happy Pride to everyone celebrating! 🌈🏳️‍⚧️

I've been thinking a lot about the people attacked in Stirchley by those coming to Birmingham to put flags on lampposts and how the community has stood up to them again and again taking the flags down. But... what if we started putting different flags on display instead? 🏳️‍⚧️🌈

I got a shout out on @podsavetheuk.crooked.com - although it should be (former) councillor. I am concerned about some of the views we are seeing surface in candidates and new councillors. After the scenes in the Stirchley this week, we need leadership. open.spotify.com/episode/31qo...

Congratulations to Jordan and Hamzah who won last week's election to represent Brandwood and Kings Heath ward. Commiserations to my ward partner of 4 years Lisa Trickett, her running mate Ben and the other candidates who spoke kindly of me during the campaign.

Getting a few messages this morning checking I'm not this Councillor David Barker... and yes I am THE David Barker but thankfully not THAT David Barker

The past four years have passed by so quickly, it's easy to lose track of what we've achieved. With the election tomorrow, my term of office ends and someone new gets a chance to make an impact. Before I go, here's a short video of (some of) what I've done with you www.facebook.com/reel/2503525...

Last night I saw videos alleging intimidation on the streets between different parties' volunteers. Today I've seen a deeply misleading leaflet put out in my own ward. I'm aware of candidates being pressured to post homophobic content. I've never seen an election this bad.

This is really sad to see. There's community support for a project that would prevent another tragedy like the death of Mayar - it's more than a symbolic tribute, it's actual action and positive change. I hope to see it picked up again after the election. www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/midland...

Today I met with Birmingham LGBT to discuss what more Birmingham City Council can do to support the LGBT+ community in our city. Following the meeting, I have written to the relevant Cabinet Members with six key asks that would improve the health, safety, and wellbeing of the community here.

At today's meeting of Cabinet, I attended as Chair of Sustainability and Transport Overview and Scrutiny to set out why Scrutiny voted to send the most recent decision on the Moseley and Kings Heath LTN back to Cabinet to be revised and clarified.

Cabinet is now live - I'll be speaking soon on the LTN. birmingham.public-i.tv/core/portal/...

🚶LTN Update Council officers have amended the latest report. My understanding is they intend to deliver the LTN on the West of Kings Heath High Street first, but, designs for the East side need more work, with all options on the table. Details here: birmingham.cmis.uk.com/birmingham/M...

The Sustainability and Transport Overview and Scrutiny Committee, which I chair, has written to Birmingham City Council's Cabinet with nine recommendations on the subject of nature, biodiversity, and ecology - starting by declaring a nature emergency that comes with an action plan. Read it here:

Sustainability and Transport Scrutiny will be live soon birmingham.public-i.tv/core/portal/...

Good to see cross-party work on Birmingham’s Clean Air Inquiry being taken forward, and the Minister’s response on rail investment and devolved transport funding. This focus on better connectivity and modal shift is really encouraging for healthier communities.

🚨Do you want to know more about the local election candidates for Brandwood and Kings Heath? Kings Heath Neighbourhoods Forum are hosting two hustings, where you can ask questions and hear from the people hoping to be elected to represent you. Any questions, contact: [email protected]

The final Trusts and Charities committee meeting before the election is now live: birmingham.public-i.tv/core/portal/...

Today is Record Store Day, celebrating the 300+ independent record shops all across the UK and Ireland. Great to see Polar Bear on York Road in Kings Heath absolutely packed with customers and special vinyl releases to mark the occasion.

As part of the cross-party Clean Air Inquiry I chaired, we wrote to Government with four requests to transform public transport in Birmingham. Great to receive a supportive reply from @liliangreenwood.bsky.social, Minister for Local Transport, this week outlining how we can work together on this.

Don't forget! The deadline for registering to vote in this year's local elections is less than a week away - on the 20th April. You normally only need to register once or register again if you’ve changed your name, address or nationality. It usually takes about 5 minutes. www.gov.uk/register-to-...

Excellent progress - really appreciate the work Cllr David Barker has been doing on this. Clean air is vital for the health of Birmingham’s children and the wider community. Encouraging to see a positive response from Government and looking forward to what comes next. @mumsforlungs.bsky.social

As part of the Clean Air Inquiry I chaired, we co-signed a letter to Government to request that we strengthen national clean air targets. I am pleased to have received a positive response from @emmahardymp.bsky.social. I look forward to seeing how we can continue to improve Birmingham's air quality.

Great news! museumsandheritage.com/advisor/post...

This month’s councillor advice centre has been cancelled. However, if you need help, advice, support, or want to talk about an issue, you can still contact me and the team on the emails below: [email protected] & [email protected]

I have a small update on the Mosley and Kings Heath LTN. Today Scrutiny voted to send the latest decision back to Cabinet to reconsider on the grounds that we need to follow the correct process. I will update you as soon as I can when we have details of what Cabinet proposes to do next.

The LTN Call-in meeting is now live: birmingham.public-i.tv/core/portal/...

The full list of candidates standing for election in each ward should be published tomorrow. I've recorded a little message to let you know what my plans are and why, but, most importantly, to thank you for the past four years. www.facebook.com/reel/1239587...

The Camp Hill Line is open! And it's been great to see so many people posting photos all day (especially those early enough to get the free merch). With both Pineapple Road and Kings Heath stations in my ward, I know how important this day is for residents, and I'm so glad we can finally use it.

This month Lime are introducing 2,000 more e-bikes and e-scooters across Birmingham - including in Kings Heath. This new deal takes over from Beryl and is set to save £1.4m each year from the Transport for West Midlands' budget. Read more here: www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

🤡 April Fools! I hope you all enjoyed this little joke. There were a few clues (aside from how ridiculous it was)... Congratulations if you spotted: the moustache on my photo, the Council 'Forward' logo reversed, "lol" in the phone number, BKH changed to BKR, and the first letter of every...

Special announcement! Lots of people have asked what my plans are this election. Over the past months I have given it a lot of thought. Over the past weeks I have worked on the statement below. Follow for updates.

Last week I spent the morning taking part in the Great British Spring Clean - litter picking with Birmingham City Council staff and members of the Brandwood and Bournville police teams along Vicarage Road. Huge thanks to all the volunteers! You can learn more here: www.keepbritaintidy.org

This month, I made my last City Council speech before the May elections. I spoke personally about my family and my city, regeneration and opportunity, and the Lord Mayor's inspiring work with SEN schools. If this is the last time I ever speak in Council, I'm glad it was on a positive note.

Final Corporate and Finance of the year! Skip to 2:14 to see the tributes to Sir Albert - including a little bit of prop comedy from me. birmingham.public-i.tv/core/portal/...

At this month's City Council meeting I handed in survey results from over 100 residents who want to see bike hangars implemented so we have cycle storage solutions that are safe and secure, making it easier to travel without a car.

Thank you to everyone who supported my road safety survey on Colmore Road. We have collected a lot of evidence and shown the community's strength of feeling that the school street is not working without enforcement. I will report back when I receive a response from the Council.

At this month's City Council meeting, I raised the issues of transphobia and transitioning. I asked the Leader and Cabinet to meet with the trans community and to write to the government requesting support and funding to establish a gender clinic in Birmingham to serve the West Midlands. 🏳️‍⚧️

🏳️‍⚧️ Transphobia is rising and transitioning is getting harder. I'm pleased to see the Birmingham Mail has written up my question to Cabinet, asking for support for the trans community in Birmingham and the West Midlands. www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/midland...

❤️‍🔥 It's a beautiful day in Kings Heath - with a market on at All Saints Square and The Heath Bookshop proudly displaying its award! You can keep up to date with loads of events all over the high street by going to @enjoykingsheath.bsky.social's website here: www.enjoykingsheath.com/whats-on/cal...

I'm disappointed by how often I see people ignoring the signs banning pavement parking on Vicarage Road. I have requested more enforcement here, but the Council needs more reports before targeting a location. If you see illegal parking, you can report it here: www.birmingham.gov.uk/info/20109/p...

@ourscenecic.bsky.social has shared this video for the Zebra Zone road safety project around Allens Croft Primary School and Allens Croft Nursery School - check it out! www.youtube.com/shorts/DXi8F...

Next week I will be handing in the results of the bike storage survey to Birmingham City Council. Would you like a bike storage hangar in place of a parking space your road to reduce the need for cars and free up space for those who do need to drive? Survey link here: www.tinyurl.com/BrumBikes

🍀 Lá Fhéile Pádraig sona daoibh! / Happy Saint Patrick’s Day! Did you know Birmingham used to have one of the biggest Saint Patrick's Day parades in the world? Like a lot of Brummies, I am of Irish descent, and love seeing the community and visitors come together every year.

👮Brandwood and Kings Heath Police Update 🚓Our area is served by two different police forces. Moseley and Kings Heath in the North and Brandwood in the South. Both teams have regular engagement with the community. Please have a look at what drop-ins and walkabouts are happening near to you.

It was so exciting to get a first look at the new Moseley Village train station, and hear from @richardparkerwm.bsky.social about everything he has done to get the Camp Hill train line project back on track so it can re-open next month. This service will be a huge benefit to all of us locally.

When the Council expanded Kings Heath High Street's footpath, I pushed hard trees to be planted, which they said couldn't be done. But I did ensure there would be bike stands installed on the corners. As this picture shows, they can also block pavement parking - just need them on every corner now.