BUSINESS NEWS
Elected mayor endorsed B
BY JOHN LAMB
irmingham Chamber has endorsed the campaign for an elected mayor for the city. The Chamber’s elected council has
given its backing by an overwhelming majority. The vote came just before Greg Clark, the Cities
Minister, visited the Chamber to announce that a referendum to decide if the city wanted an elected mayor would be held on 3 May. If the answer is yes, an election will take place on 15
November – the same day as an election for a city police commissioner. Chamber president Michael Ward said: “There was a clear message from the Chamber council that it is in favour of an elected mayor for Birmingham but wants clarity on devolved powers. The challenge now is for the Chamber to lead the campaign on behalf of the city’s business community and others.
“Greg Clark’s message went a long way to explaining
the government’s position on devolved powers. “He said the government would expect an elected
mayor to tell them what powers were required. “This was extremely encouraging and we shall be
working to get this message over to Birmingham businesses and the wider community.” Mr Ward said: “The council meeting was told that the signals are coming up that the government is in a deal- doing mood and so it proved when Greg Clark announced the referendum and election dates at the later meeting.” In answer to questions at a packed meeting, Mr Clark
said: “There will be a powershift and a few examples are in transport, capital expenditure, skills and apprentices and homes and communities. “We have a very wide range of cities and those cities
must say what they want. You should not have to ask Whitehall – you should be telling the government.”
Murals celebrate Jewellery Quarter
Murals by Year 9 pupils from Small Heath School have been unveiled in Toye Kenning & Spencer’s new foyer and showroom by the firm’s chief executive Fiona Toye. The brief for the pupils was to design and create large-scale murals that would celebrate the heritage of the Jewellery Quarter and Toye Kenning & Spencer’s place at its heart. Pupil Shafee Islam explained:
“This was an amazing project to be part of; we’ve worked on every stage from the first piece of background research to the last element of its creation.” Toye Kenning & Spencer is
Encouraging: Greg Clark addresses the meeting. Listening (L-R): Michael Ward, Lord Michael Heseltine and Lord Adonis Pictures by Jas Sansi
working with Small Heath School as one of its partners in industry. The murals were the first collaboration between the two and other projects are now being planned.
FEBRUARY 2012 CHAMBERLINK 11
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