UNIVERSITY NEWS LAST UPDATED : 09 NOVEMBER 2021
Centre for Brexit Studies are hosting a seminar on Friday 26 November 2021, with a panel of experts discussing a more Resilient Birmingham.
By 2030 it’s predicted 60% of the world’s population will be living in cities. As drivers of economic growth, this critical mass has enabled more efficient delivery of services to greater numbers of people. But there are challenges too with new digital realities changing accepted models. Cities are confronting the need to build more efficient infrastructures and connectivity, accelerating the protection of their environment and biodiversity, decarbonising lifestyles and delivering healthy cities with good air quality, improving levels of physical and mental health, high-quality public services and fair access to economic opportunity.
Birmingham has set its ambition to be ‘a fair and thriving city where everyone has the opportunity to share in the city’s success’. During 2021-2022 it has set priorities underpinning our long-term prosperity by being an entrepreneurial city to learn, work and invest in; an aspirational environment to grow up in; a fulfilling city to age well in; a great, clean and green city to live in. It aims to enable residents to gain the maximum benefit from hosting the Commonwealth Games and to take a leading role in tackling climate change.
But Birmingham suffers from acute challenges too. Ranked as the 7th most deprived local authority in England there are 490,000 citizens living in the top 10% most deprived areas in England and claimant unemployment stands at over 15% - above both the West Midlands at 9% and the UK just less than 8%. COVID-19 has had a severe impact on businesses, residents and the economy. In this environment, Birmingham is having to find over £20m of budget cuts after similar sums last year and following a decade of austerity.
Cllr Brigid Jones, Deputy Leader Birmingham City Council will consider these pressing challenges and the ways in which the city council is building on its strengths as the UK’s largest regional capital to deliver a healthy, resilient and green place to live and grow for residents and businesses into the future.
Share your thoughts on social media with the hashtag: #CBSResilientBrum
Hosted by Professor Alex de Ruyter, Director at the Centre for Brexit Studies.
Panel members
Cllr Brigid Jones - Deputy Leader, Birmingham City Council
Beverley Nielsen - Associate Professor and Executive Director at the Institute for Design, Economic Acceleration & Sustainability (IDEAS) as well as Senior Fellow at the Centre for Brexit Studies at Birmingham City University
David Horsfall - Property Director, Webster and Horsfall Group and Director of Tyseley Energy Park. A Chartered Surveyor with the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors and a member of the Royal Town Planning Institute.
More to be announced...
Please note: By registering to this event, we may use your data to invite you to future Centre for Brexit Studies events.