Gurdip Thandi

Birmingham City Council has approved the sale of former sewage-works land off Lea Ford Road in Kitts Green to facilitate a proposed electric bus depot. Transport for West Midlands’ application would support a fully electric fleet of 110 buses, reduce annual mileage by about 650,000 kilometres, lower fuel use and emissions, and improve service frequency and reliability. The depot is part of the West Midlands Combined Authority’s wider plan to acquire bus depots and move the region toward a franchised network. A related acquisition of National Express West Midlands’ operations has also been approved, with Mayor Richard Parker arguing that public control will protect services, jobs and local influence over fares and timetables.

West Midlands Combined Authority is taking over National Express West Midlands’ regional bus operations after Mayor Richard Parker said failing to intervene could have led to major service cuts and thousands of job losses. Birmingham Local Conservatives argue the deal leaves taxpayers responsible for the company’s buses, staff, infrastructure and liabilities while allowing National Express to compete for future franchising contracts without the same overheads. Parker says the buy-out protects services and employment and provides a bridge to the region’s planned franchising system.

Mobico Group, the parent company of National Express, has agreed in principle to sell its West Midlands bus operations to the West Midlands Combined Authority for approximately £102 million. The deal is expected to provide around £24 million in upfront residual proceeds, plus £5.5 million in deferred consideration, and is due to complete around November 2026. Mobico said the sale is strategically logical because the bus business has been broadly break-even, heavily reliant on authority funding and exposed to uncertainty over forthcoming franchising. The acquisition will give the Combined Authority control of the network and support the transition to a franchised model, while Mobico says it will continue seeking future bus franchise opportunities.

The West Midlands Combined Authority has agreed to acquire National Express West Midlands’ bus operations in a deal backed by the UK Government and Mayor Richard Parker. The transaction values the assets at about £102 million, with approximately £24 million in upfront residual proceeds after liabilities. Supporters, including Andy Burnham and Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander, say the move will protect hundreds of daily journeys, thousands of jobs and services used by millions of passengers. Parker said the purchase would be an initial step toward franchising the entire network and giving the public more control over fares, timetables and service levels.

Three people accused of fly-tipping in Birmingham failed to attend hearings at Birmingham Magistrates Court. At the request of Birmingham City Council prosecutors, arrest warrants were issued so they can be brought before the court later. Rabih Ali Mohaldi faces five charges involving carpet offcuts, underlay and a washing machine; Alex Kabuambay Mbumba faces two charges relating to waste allegedly dumped on Yardley Green Road; and Marwa Saeed faces three charges involving waste dumped on Arter Street and an alleged failure to provide requested information. All allegations concern alleged breaches of the Environmental Protection Act 1990.

7 Star Food and Wine in Birmingham sold a bottle of WKD Blue to a 16-year-old volunteer during a Birmingham City Council trading standards test purchase without checking their age or identification. The company pleaded guilty and accepted responsibility, while the court heard that staff training, Challenge 25 signage and refusal records were already in place but had not been followed. Birmingham Magistrates' Court fined the company £154 and ordered it to pay a £62 surcharge and £1,000 in costs.

Sarao Estates has pleaded not guilty to eight Housing Act 2004 charges concerning two neighbouring properties in Birmingham’s Tyseley area, each converted into three flats. Birmingham City Council alleges the company failed to obtain the required selective licences for the properties and individual flats and did not notify the council about the conversions. Managing director Sumeet Singh Sarao said the properties had licences and that the company encountered difficulties when seeking separate licences for the flats. The case has been adjourned for trial on January 11, 2027.

Mediterranean Pizza in School Road, Birmingham, was fined £4,000 after staff could not explain the allergens and ingredients in menu items including a pizza and donner burger. Birmingham Magistrates’ Court found the company guilty in its absence of two breaches of the Food Safety and Hygiene Regulations 2013. The company was also ordered to pay a £1,600 surcharge and £1,937.35 in prosecution costs. Birmingham City Council had previously warned the business about allergen information and later issued an improvement notice.

The Original UK Fried Chicken takeaway in Alum Rock Road, Birmingham, was found to have widespread mouse contamination, including droppings near food packaging, in the kitchen and servery, and around storage and refrigeration areas. Birmingham City Council environmental health officers closed the premises under an emergency prohibition notice until the problems were addressed. The company and director Alan Ali pleaded guilty to three food hygiene breaches each. The defence said Ali had been ill and was caring for his mother in Iraq, while acknowledging that delegation did not remove his responsibility. The company carried out more than £13,000 of repairs, improved pest control and cleaning, and strengthened staff training and management. The company was fined £8,000, while Ali was fined £423; both were also ordered to pay surcharges and costs.

Elims Green Grocery Ltd was fined £4,000, with an additional £1,600 surcharge and £497 in costs, after employee Mohammed Anwari sold a pack of six kitchen knives to a 15-year-old during a Birmingham Council test purchase. Anwari, who was working his first day after four days of training, was fined £200 plus an £80 surcharge and £497 in costs. Both he and company director Ali Ahmad pleaded guilty. Ahmad dismissed Anwari after learning of the sale and decided to stop selling knives at the store.

Reported domestic abuse, violence against women and girls, and disorder surged in the West Midlands following England’s World Cup quarter-final match against Norway, coinciding with extended licensing hours. Acting Chief Constable Scott Green said the force had warned ministers that longer opening hours raise risks of disorder and domestic abuse, noting a significant spike in emergency calls and the highest daily domestic abuse crime total since January 2023. Police recorded marked increases in violence against women and girls and football-related disorder around licensed premises during the extended trading period.

West Midlands Mayor Richard Parker said Andy Burnham’s appointment as Prime Minister offers major opportunities for the region, highlighting commitments to devolution and increased local control over fiscal resources. He expects new policies to address transport fares, affordable housing, the cost of living and revitalising high streets. Parker anticipates that residents will feel tangible benefits once the new government sets its budget and begins implementing Burnham’s priorities.

A Birmingham takeaway operator and its director were prosecuted after inspectors found a dead mouse, droppings, and unhygienic conditions during a 2025 inspection. Birmingham City Council ordered the premises to close until pest control and deep cleaning were completed, after which it reopened and later improved its hygiene rating. Magistrates fined the company £10,000 with additional charges, and the director received a conditional discharge.

Birmingham City Council was ordered by magistrates to address severe mice infestations in two council-owned flats after pleading guilty in both cases. Tenants reported ongoing rodent problems affecting their health and wellbeing, with inspections confirming conditions harmful to health. Abatement orders were issued requiring the council to complete remedial work within 12 weeks for each property, along with £3,500 in costs per case.

An inspection of Channi’s Indian Restaurant in Birmingham found widespread cockroach infestation, prompting officials to issue a hygiene emergency prohibition notice. Evidence of live and dead insects, droppings and egg sacks led Birmingham Magistrates Court to grant an order preventing the restaurant from reopening until risks to public health are fully addressed. Birmingham City Council and environmental health officers said the premises pose an imminent danger due to potential disease transmission.

A £50 million fund has been launched to help West Midlands automotive suppliers expand their capabilities in the electric vehicle sector through match‑funded grants. Backed by the West Midlands Combined Authority and part of the government’s DRIVE35 initiative, the four‑year programme aims to strengthen UK supply chains, boost production capacity and create skilled jobs. The initiative positions regional manufacturers to secure new contracts as the market accelerates toward electrification, with additional government investment emphasising national commitments to zero‑emission technologies.

Ambulance handover delays across the Black Country increased from April to May, with lost hours rising to more than 6,000. Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust recorded the highest delays, followed closely by the Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust. A report prepared for the regional NHS Joint ICB Cluster Board cites an urgent need to reduce handover times and notes that a 45‑minute maximum target has been in effect since February. Operational teams continue daily monitoring through live system data and regular coordination calls to manage pressure in real time.

West Midlands chef Adam Pickett received the Community Learning Champion award for his work supporting young people through the Chelmsley Starters Culinary School, which provides training, work experience, and mentoring. Supported by University College Birmingham, Pickett continued leading courses even during cancer treatment, with nearly 40 learners now involved and the number expected to grow. West Midlands Mayor Richard Parker praised Pickett’s contribution to regional skills development as the Adult Learner Awards highlighted achievements across several organisations and individuals.

Health inspectors twice found severe mice infestations, bloodstained walls, and unhygienic conditions at Kings Heath International Store in Birmingham, leading to guilty pleas for food safety breaches by JK Foods 24-7 Ltd and director Jamil Zamankhail. The shop was temporarily closed, and both the company and Zamankhail received significant fines and costs as prosecutors cited systemic failures in cleaning, pest control, and food protection.

A Birmingham removals worker, Rehamgul Ahmadzi, admitted to dumping fence panels and garden waste at a known Yardley Green Road fly-tipping hotspot. Birmingham Magistrates Court heard he committed the offences while doing informal house removals for income. His defence highlighted his financial difficulties, cooperation with authorities, and previously clean record. Magistrates imposed a community order requiring 200 hours of unpaid work, along with a £114 surcharge and £400 in prosecution costs.

Environmental health inspections found widespread cockroach infestation, mouse droppings, and unhygienic conditions at Kundun Sweets Ltd in Birmingham, leading Birmingham Magistrates Court to issue fines and costs exceeding £30,000. Officers reported persistent risks to public health despite a follow‑up visit, prompting the business’s temporary closure until issues were resolved. Prosecutors stated the premises posed a serious danger due to contamination risks and inadequate cooperation with authorities.

A bereaved father is urging West Midlands MPs to take immediate action following a critical review of maternity services at the Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust, where his son was stillborn in 2022. He argues the trust is unable to resolve persistent safety and performance issues, citing its long-standing poor mortality figures. The Amos review identified serious discriminatory practices and elevated neonatal mortality rates. Trust leadership has issued apologies and outlined staffing and cultural reforms but faces continued calls for stronger intervention to prevent further harm.

A Birmingham father diagnosed with stage 3 bowel cancer urges early medical checks as a new Bowel Cancer UK programme launches to improve early diagnosis across the city. Supported by Cancer Research UK and local NHS partners, the 12‑month initiative targets barriers such as embarrassment and fear, promotes symptom awareness and encourages timely GP visits. Survey data shows many residents delay seeking help despite recognising symptoms. Health officials emphasise that earlier diagnosis improves treatment options, with the programme aiming to boost screening completion and support community engagement.