Cllr. Waseem Zaffar Addresses Birmingham City Council on Cuts to West Midlands Police

A motion was presented to Birmingham City Council by the Birmingham Labour Group that included a section on the Council calling on the Government to review its proposals to cut Police resources in the light of the challenges posed by recent disturbances. The motion was amended to include a section from the Liberal Democrat amendment before being successfully voted upon by members of Birmingham City Council.

I spoke on this debate, please click on this link to watch a video of my speech to the Council
—————————————
I asked an oral question at the full council to the Joint Chair of Licensing, Cllr. Bruce Lines:
“A couple of years ago, you chaired the Working Group that looked into proposals relating to the working conditions of Birmingham Private Hire Drivers. You will recall as a spokesperson for the Unite branch of Birmingham’s Private Hire drivers, I was campaigning against some of these changes.

In light of the recent meeting held at Millennium Point between drivers and some of your colleagues in coalition, do you agree with the criticism of former Lib Dem Councillor Tanveer Chodhry relating to the work conditions of drivers and his threat that drivers, like him, may be left with no choice but to strike?”

Supplementary Question:

“We were promised at the work group meetings that included the then Chair of Licensing, former Lib Dem Cllr, Honoury Alderman David Osbourne, that the semi-permanent stickers would not damage vehicles. Now some of the drivers are saying that the stickers of in fact damage vehicles.

If so, what do you plan to do?”
—————————————
I also submitted a written question to the Cabinet Member for Equalities and Human Resources on “PREVENT”

“There has been much reported lately in the press about the Anti-Terror “Prevent” strategy of the City Council.

How has Birmingham City Council evaluated the effectiveness of the Prevent Programme and the value for money which was obtained from it?”

Answer:
“The Council has undertaken an independent evaluation regarding the Prevent Programme. In addition, project leads have carried out their own evaluation.”