Author: techforevents

Ken has been around the meetings and exhibition industries for more than 30 years so remembers the introduction of computers, the arrival of PowerPoint, even the dawn of video conferencing. These days he tries to bring a breath of realism to discussions about technology in the worlds of meeting and exhibition organisation. He is a director of RefTech Services, a UK based badging and registration company.

Changes ahead for Kings Heath and Moseley schools?

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Seven local schools that are currently operated by Birmingham City Council (BCC) are considering forming a multi-academy trust. The schools in the group are:

  • Kings Heath Primary School
  • Park Hill Primary School
  • Wheelers Lane Primary School
  • Kings Heath Boys School
  • Queensbridge School
  • Swanshurst School
  • Wheelers Lane Technical College

All are reported as being rated ‘Good’ or ‘Outstanding’ by OFSTED.

Love Brum Schools is an action group that is opposed to the plans. The group is not affiliated with any political party, nor to the Kings Heath Residents’ Forum but education is an extremely important subject for many residents. For that reason, the Residents’ Forum is publicising the group to make residents aware of the plans. The group’s website is lovebrumschools.com. Their site includes a frequently asked questions (FAQ) section that deals with many of the central issues.

This is clearly, and understandably, a very emotive subject and residents will undoubtedly want to know more about the pros and cons. Searching the web with a search term such as ‘academy schools pros and cons’ will produce a list of websites. Two that seem to provide relevant information are published by the National Union of Teachers (NUT) (pdf, 412kb) and specialist education publisher MA Education Ltd.

Green Travel Plan for Kings Heath – what does it mean?

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Kings Heath High Street has been designated a Green Travel District. This means that the area is part of plans by Birmingham City Council (BCC) to reduce congestion and pollution caused by high volumes of traffic. Councillor Claire Spencer will explain what this is likely to mean for Kings Heath at the Forum’s Annual General Meeting.

Residents will have the chance to ask questions about the plan.

The meeting will also hear about feedback received from visitors to the KHRF consultation stall at the Farmers’ Market on 4 March.

The meeting will begin with the Annual General Meeting of the KHRF. Committee members will report on the group’s activities during the year. These include working with BCC on the Council’s strategy for road safety in Kings Heath, helping residents to get dumped rubbish removed and working with local councillors and council officers to improve the cleanliness of the High Street.

The meeting is open to all residents of Kings Heath.

Date: Wednesday 15 March 2017

Time: 7 pm to 9 pm

Location: Kings Heath Community Centre, Heathfield Road, Kings Heath B14 7DB

Great British Spring Clean - Heroes Wanted

Help needed for Great British Spring Clean

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If you’ve ever complained about the amount of litter around Kings Heath, now’s your chance to do something about it. Your help is needed as part of the Great British Spring Clean.

The idea – backed by Keep Britain Tidy (KBT) and Birmingham City Council – is for neighbours, friends or local community groups to get together and to do a Spring Clean in their neighbourhood.

It’s all happening over the weekend of 4 and 5 March 2017.

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Local Innovation Fund meeting 13 December 2016

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Birmingham City Council (BCC) has launched a Local Innovation Fund (LIF). It will make £48,000 available to each electoral ward in the city. The money is intended to fund projects ‘that focus on partnership, collaboration, active citizenship and doing things differently’.

The Moseley and Kings Heath Community Partnership is holding a meeting at 7pm on Tuesday 13 December 2016 to discuss the fund and the ways in which it might be applied in Moseley and Kings Heath.

If you have thoughts on how £48,000 could be used to the benefit of local residents, please come to the meeting.

Date: Tuesday, 13 December 2016
Time: 7pm
Venue: The Moseley Exchange, 149-153 Alcester Road, B13 8JP

You can find more information about the fund on Birmingham City Council’s website.

ASDA Kings Heath delivery times trial

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Kings Heath High Street has been identified as one of the most polluted roads in Birmingham. That and the dangerous nature of the road has led Birmingham City Council (BCC) to search for ways to improve matters for residents.

The council is teaming up with ASDA for a trial of new delivery arrangements. During the trial, deliveries to the ASDA store in Kings Heath will be re-scheduled to take place outside peak traffic times. This will reduce the number of lorries heading along the High Street.

The store’s current delivery hours are 07:30 to 18:00 Monday to Saturday, and 09:00 to 16:00 on Sundays, bank holidays and public holidays.

The proposed changes are 06:00 to 19:00 Monday to Saturday, and 08:00 to 18:00 on Sundays and bank holidays.

BCC and ASDA want to know what local people think of the idea. Representatives of both will be at the store on:

  • Thursday, 24 November 2016 between 3pm and 7pm.
  • Friday, 25 November 2016 between 12 noon and 7pm. Local councillors should be there from 5.30pm on Friday.

Anybody with an interest in this project can go to the store to discuss it at these times. No appointment is necessary.

More information can be obtained from:

  • Kevin Cummins, Senior Transportation Officer at Birmingham City Council (Kevin.Cummins@birmingham.gov.uk)
  • Andrew Lester, who is facilitating the sessions (alester@hardhat.co.uk)

Reporting blocked roadside drains

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Localised flooding can, sometimes, be caused by blocked storm drains, known as gullies. These are found at the edges of the city’s roads. We’re approaching the time of year when these are even more likely to be blocked because fallen leaves can build up across the gratings over gullies.

Now Birmingham City Council has introduced an online form so that local people can report blocked gullies. BCC wants reports to include ‘An accurate location (including landmarks, nearby house numbers or road junctions)’ as well as ‘A detailed description of the problem (e.g. blocked gully or missing grate)’.

If you want to report a blocked or damaged gully, visit the reporting form.

Obviously there is no guarantee that reporting a blocked gully will result in it being cleared. Indeed, the road layout in some places makes it almost impossible for surface water to drain away. If you report a flooding problem and it doesn’t get cleared, then the next step is to report it to your local councillors along with the reference number.