VICTORY: Suspended chair of Birmingham housing group reinstated after public pressure

Our work does not end here: we demand transparency and accountability from Birmingham Council.

Background

In July 2026, Birmingham City Council suspended the Chair of the Ladywood Local Housing Involvement Board (LLHIB) without following the established disciplinary process. We are pleased to announce that, after a successful campaign of public pressure, the Chair has been reinstated!

Who are Ladywood Unite?

The campaign was led by Ladywood Unite, a local residents' group that formed in response to the unwelcome regeneration of their neighbourhood and the Council's stonewalling. Ladywood Unite raised concerns around the Council's failure to follow due process and the potential impact this could have on both the independent support the LLHIB provides for Ladywood residents and the Chair himself.

With legal support from PILC, the Chair successfully fought his unconstitutional suspension. His reinstatement confirms that citizen-led action can hold councils and developers accountable and ensure that residents are meaningfully involved and consulted in all decisions that impact them.

Next steps

While we welcome the Chair's reinstatement, we demand transparency from the Council on the powers it relied upon to suspend him in the first place. In its last letter to the Chair, the Council fails to take proper accountability for failing to respect its own rules and procedures. Community members deserve confidence that the Council is committed to preventing this from happening again.