Story coming up on Central News.
Council vote passed apparently

https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/midlands-news/give-school-children-free-tickets-26777358?utm_source=sharebar&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=sharebar

Maybe he's unaware county games are already free for U16's and it's free entry after the tea break for all

Stuart Cain says in his latest missive:
“Our plans to redevelop the Raglan Stand to incorporate a hotel are progressing and we hope to announce an update soon, plus our new Skyline hospitality space on the fourth floor of the South Stand was enjoyed by 1,000 people during the Men’s Ashes."

Now that Birmingham City Council is, in effect, bankrupt, will they ask the Club to pay the £20 million still owed?
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-birmingham-66715441

Update:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-birmingham-66811235
I can't see how the Council could possibly advance money to develop Edgbaston if, as the article says, all non-essenital spending has been stopped. I suspect that "there is no impact on our existing contractual arrangements and we are in discussions about future projects" means that the Club still has to pay back the £20 million that it owes and that the discussions about future projects will end quickly with the words "no chance."

My thoughts exactly Terry. Since the Section 114 announcement I'd been wondering about whether the appointed govt administrators would call in the existing £20m loan. To expect a further £32m to be advanced from a bankrupt entity is fanciful to say the least.

If the council had signed a contract to loan the money, they are legally obliged to honour the contract, or face legal action, and extensive costs, for breach of contract.

We can only hope that the voters of Birmingham remeber which party caused the severe financial mismanagement at the next local elections.

Highveld wrote:

If the council had signed a contract to loan the money, they are legally obliged to honour the contract, or face legal action, and extensive costs, for breach of contract.

We can only hope that the voters of Birmingham remeber which party caused the severe financial mismanagement at the next local elections.

We can also hope that voters remember which party are the reason that local authorities across the country have no money to spend in the first place.

I agree with Highveld that if a contract has been signed, it may well have to be honoured. But I am not at all sure that matters have reached that stage.
As for who is to blame for the mess that BCC are in, I plead not guilty as a life member of the Official Monster Raving Loony Party.

Does this mean we can expect Lord Buckethead to stand in Birmingham Edgbaston for 2025 GE with a heavy Warwickshire CCC based manifesto?

Mikkyk wrote:

Does this mean we can expect Lord Buckethead to stand in Birmingham Edgbaston for 2025 GE with a heavy Warwickshire CCC based manifesto?
Yes, suggestions for the manifesto are welcome.
So far, we have:

• a life peerage for Olly Hannon-Dalby
• compulsory membership of WCCC for all citizens over 18
• compulsory membership of Bearsfans for all citizens who can think of at least three items to complain about each week
• immediate transportation to Worcestershire of all illegal immigrants, unless they can bowl like OH-D, bat like Sam Hain or keep wicket like Michael Burgess
• capital punishment for all Alex Davies lookalikes
• anyone rejecting the manifesto to be sent on an endless search for a suitable outground

Seems like a winner to me!

GerryShedd wrote:

Mikkyk wrote:

Does this mean we can expect Lord Buckethead to stand in Birmingham Edgbaston for 2025 GE with a heavy Warwickshire CCC based manifesto?
Yes, suggestions for the manifesto are welcome.
So far, we have:

• a life peerage for Olly Hannon-Dalby
• compulsory membership of WCCC for all citizens over 18
• compulsory membership of Bearsfans for all citizens who can think of at least three items to complain about each week
• immediate transportation to Worcestershire of all illegal immigrants, unless they can bowl like OH-D, bat like Sam Hain or keep wicket like Michael Burgess
• capital punishment for all Alex Davies lookalikes
• anyone rejecting the manifesto to be sent on an endless search for a suitable outground

Seems like a winner to me!

How about adding

Life Peerages for the 1994 squad
Compulsory membership of the Junior Bears provided within 6 months of birth

Does this "capital punishment for all Alex Davies lookalikes" appy to Alex Davies too?

:-)

I'll vote for that!

Careful, thats twice we have agreed in two days :-)

Exiled Bear wrote:

Highveld wrote:

If the council had signed a contract to loan the money, they are legally obliged to honour the contract, or face legal action, and extensive costs, for breach of contract.

We can only hope that the voters of Birmingham remeber which party caused the severe financial mismanagement at the next local elections.

We can also hope that voters remember which party are the reason that local authorities across the country have no money to spend in the first place.
All parties are responsible but Birmingham city council getting into debt has been highlighted since the 1980's it's just now that it has gone too far but the whole council should have been investigated for years and proper auditors brought in to keep an eye on the books.

Update from the Club says:

"We’re also discussing the implications of the Birmingham City Council Section 114 announcement. Whilst it doesn’t impact on any historic arrangements, it does mean they can’t support us with the stand and hotel redevelopment, which is in the next phase of work, so we’re having to look at alternative funding options. "

So if anyone has £20-30 million to spare, do let the Club know.

I think its something that will need to go on the back burner for quite some time.

Can’t say I’m disappointed about no hotel. Too many grounds being ruined by things like this, or losing what makes them unique.

https://x.com/edgbaston/status/1770137081001464029?s=61&t=ce_j8EVfISY_eSiF63-Y0w