Birmingham landmarks not for sale, says Whitby
The leader of Birmingham City Council has denied claims that the authority will sell off landmarks including the National Exhibition Centre (NEC) and the Symphony Hall. Mike Whitby said he could “categorically confirm” that the buildings were not for sale.
Earlier reports suggested that Whitby was planning to part-privatise some of the city’s assets following a statement he made which mentioned public-private partnerships being at the heart of Birmingham’s economic recovery.
Whitby, the Conservative leader of the council, said that comments he made were “taken out of context” and blamed “confused reporters” for the initial story.
Speaking on BBC Radio, Whitby said the council “was not talking to anyone about selling the NEC, the ICC or Symphony Hall. We are trying to get people to invest in the city of Birmingham – if you look at our roads, which are being completed in partnership with Amey, that’s where public-private partnerships are really working.”
The council has a current budget deficit of £330m.
