Council Appoints Pride in Place Chairs: What It Means for Erdington

Birmingham City Council has announced a major milestone in its regeneration strategy, but as always, the devil is in the detail for our local area.

What's happened

The council has confirmed the appointment of independent chairs for all nine neighbourhoods selected for the government's Pride in Place Programme. This £180m initiative aims to deliver up to £20 million per designated area over the next decade. The newly appointed chairs will lead resident-led Neighbourhood Boards, working with local MPs, councillors, and community groups to shape investment priorities and deliver "quick win" projects alongside long-term plans.

What it means for Erdington and Pype Hayes

While investment in Birmingham's neighbourhoods is always welcome, the immediate impact on Erdington and Pype Hayes remains unclear. The nine designated areas receiving the bulk of this £180m funding do not explicitly guarantee a fair share for our ward. The council has stated that learning from this programme will feed into a wider neighbourhoods strategy, potentially exploring how more areas could adopt similar boards. However, for residents in Erdington and Pype Hayes, this means waiting to see if the promised "legacy" translates into tangible improvements for our streets, parks, and local services, rather than just administrative exercises.

Where I stand

As your Reform UK councillor, I believe in ward-first, evidence-led investment. It is positive that the council is seeking to empower local voices through independent chairs. However, I am deeply concerned that areas like Erdington and Pype Hayes might be left behind while funding is concentrated elsewhere. The council argues that focusing on nine specific areas allows for targeted, transformative change. I understand that resources are finite, but my priority is ensuring that our community does not become an afterthought. We need concrete assurances that the "quick wins" and long-term benefits of the Pride in Place programme will ripple out to our ward, and that the dedicated delivery team funded by the council is actually delivering value for all Birmingham taxpayers.

What happens next

The Neighbourhood Boards are now beginning to meet across the city to develop their long-term plans and identify immediate projects. My office will be closely monitoring these developments and scrutinising the council's wider neighbourhoods programme to ensure Erdington and Pype Hayes are not forgotten. I will be pressing the council leadership for clarity on how the lessons learned from these nine areas will be applied to our ward, and when we can expect to see our fair share of investment.

Have your say

What do you think about the council's approach to neighbourhood funding? Register on the site to leave a comment below, vote in our ward forum poll, and let me know your priorities for Erdington and Pype Hayes. If you feel strongly about securing more investment for our area, consider starting or signing a petition on our campaigns page.

Source: Birmingham City Council