It is welcome that the Government has finally said it will ban managing agents, landlords and free agents from taking commission on leaseholders buildings insurance. This will go a long way to helping to bring down the extortionate cost of insurance that innocent leaseholders have been left with in the wake of the cladding and fire safety scandal. But leaseholders are still paying far too much for essential insurance and the industry must accelerate its plans to introduce a pool scheme.We have already wasted too much time – if this measure had been implemented when I called for it years ago, leaseholders could have been saved hundreds of thousands of pounds. 

It was disappointing to see that Birmingham missed out on funding from the government to level up opportunity across the country. It is unacceptable for pockets of wealthy areas, like the Prime Minister’s own constituency to have received funding in this round. For the Tories, levelling up is more of a phrase than a coherent strategy. For a proper levelling up of our country, we need to think about where jobs will come from and how local people can play a much bigger role. 

I spoke to BBC Radio WM about the council’s poor decision to refuse money to bring the Small Heath Pool back into use because it was not deemed “a priority”. That should never have happened and I am deeply concerned that, once again, our inner city communities appear to have landed at the back of the queue when it comes to services provided by the Council. Read my letter to the Leader of the Council here: https://www.shabanamahmood.org/2023/01/27/shabana-writes-to-council-on-small-heath-swimming-pool/  

Its fantastic to hear that the Aston & Nechells Foodbank received over 4 tonnes of long life food in the run up to Christmas. But they are already running short of all toiletry items and tinned fruit, rice puddings, UHT milk and long life fruit juice. If anyone can help by donating these items, running collections or even volunteering for them on Wednesdays, I know it will be greatly appreciated by the hundreds of people who rely on their important services. For more information contact: info@astonnechells.foodbank.org.uk  

The Mobile Household Recycling Centres are doing great work across the city – disposing of additional bulky waste and recycling for free. Make sure you check out my Facebook page or join one of my Whatsapp groups to learn when the next one will be in your area.