That was the motto of the late lamented Birmingham Municipal Bank from its foundation around 1916 right up to its closure on 31 March 1976.

As readers of my blog and the Birmingham Post will be aware, I’ve been campaigning for the re-establishment of a Municipal Bank for some years. Never was it needed more than now and I’m pleased to say that the City Council accepted (with support from all parties) my resolution last week that consideration be given to this. There is a desperate need for a real alternative operating on near-forgotten principles of service with fairness and responsibility. Many people recall the Municipal Bank (and still cherish their ageing passbooks) and the security that it offered with the council guaranteeing deposits.

The idea would be to offer complete security to small savers and fair and consistent interest rates for saving, to encouraging thrift - even explaining what this is to some younger people today. As well as “Security with Interest” (note the order) there are mottoes inside the old headquarters building on Broad Street reflecting virtues worth re-adopting today such as: “Saving is the Mother of Riches” and “Thrift radiates Happiness”. In other words real prosperity comes through saving in a trustworthy institution and you don’t have to be miserable while you’re doing it!

The Council no longer owns this building, but there are plenty of alternatives, especially as the Council plans to reduce the number of buildings it occupies. Furthermore, a Birmingham Municipal Bank could keep both money and jobs in the city and be the means through which the oft-suggested ‘Brummie Bonds’ could be issued to allow ordinary folk to support civic projects (the Town Hall restoration would have been a good example) while offering a secure return.

There will be some way to travel however since Government legislation makes the establishment of civic banks difficult and restricts the services they offer. But a start could be made with a savings bank (as was done in 1916) with the scope broadening later if lobbying of the Government to restore former powers proved successful. This would be complementary to existing Credit Unions, which perform valuable if small-scale services. And while it is true that the commercial banks could attempt to stifle such an initiative (as they tried to do in 1916) I’m sure that such resistance could be overcome.

Birmingham could lead the way again - just as it did in 1916 and indeed in the earliest days of commercial banking. We are often told that the City should distinguish itself. What better way than by knocking aside the obstacles and putting people first with the renaissance of our own Birmingham Municipal Bank?

I’ve recently returned from the United States where we have been visiting relatives in Massachusetts – hence the longish gap in posting new items on this site - for which apologies. Before this next posting I thought that I would wait a day or two longer to see the result of the United States presidential election the campaigning for which I have had the opportunity to observe at close quarters.

An inspiring victory in my view for an outstanding candidate running a positive campaign on liberal social and economic values. On my blog (see the link on the left-hand sidebar) I reflect on matters related to both Birmingham and Boston. Here, before the next fully local posting I noticed an admittedly tenuous connection (apart from the support of relations!) between the president elect and Hall Green.

The picture above shows the Obama family home. Does this not bring to mind a characterful building that we once had in Hall Green? It reminds me of Highfield House before the developers razed it to the ground (I have just had them written to about the state of the site). But returning to a positive note, let us hope that the benefits that the new president brings will extend in good measure to our own country and the rest of the world.

As we come to terms with the loss of the Robin Hood Post Office (which served its last customer at 1-30 on Monday) and other branches, there remains the threat of yet another blow to the network within the next few weeks. This is because in that time the Post Office will find out if the Government has taken away another service crucial to the survival of those Post Office branches that now remain open. The concern this time is whether or not the Government will extend the contract for the Post Office Card Account, which runs out in 2010.

The Post Office Card Account (POCA) is used for pensions and benefits by around 2,000 people in Hall Green and about four million people nation-wide. POCA is a lifeline for many struggling branches and if the Government does decide to take the contract away from the Post Office, the result would be disaster with thousands more closures across the country, with Birmingham likely to lose even more than in the latest round of cuts. The Government, as usual holding all the cards, should not gamble with so essential a service. The impact of a bad decision would, as with previous losses, be felt most keenly by the most vulnerable members of society.

When you look at the billions after billions having to be poured into the banking sector by which we have been so badly let down, the annual grant awarded to support the post office network (which came to little more than 1p per person per day) before the recent cuts, is clearly outstanding value. Let us hope that in the coming weeks the Government will, for a change, feel able to support ordinary people and the remaining post offices so vital to sustaining local communities.

The latest government intervention in the financial crisis to prevent the collapse of Bradford & Bingley brings to an end the sorry saga of those former building societies that so ill advisedly threw away their trusted mutual status.

It was in 1986 that the then government allowed building societies to cast caution to the winds, throw away their mutual status and cave in to the carpetbaggers. Behaviour contradicting the principles of thrift on which ordinary people are brought up was reinforced.

But as local residents throughout the city will know, a majority of people still hold fast to sound traditional values. This is a hopeful fact, but what is needed is more opportunity for them to put the principles into practice. This is one of the reasons why I have argued for the re-establishment of trusted and trustworthy Municipal Banks serving the general public.

It is my personal view that there is a major role for the public as well as the voluntary sector in the realm of savings and loans. This I would like to see in good times as well as bad. It should not be confined to clearing up private sector messes, picking up liabilities and organising fire sales. There would be obstacles to be overcome (many put there by governments) but it could be done, if the will was there. I am sure that public support would be there in large measure.

Five years before throwing away their status as a Building Society, the would-be big shots at Bradford & Bingley bought Stan Laurel’s bowler hat. Would that the joke was now on them, but there’s little chance that they will be out of the door with only cap, or rather bowler, in hand. Laughing all the way to some other commercial bank no doubt.

[A longer version of this item is available on my blog]

Since the telephone system was privatised in 1984 successive cuts have reduced the number of callboxes to 12,747 (there were once about 70,000 of them) of which 4,619 are now under threat from a further cull. To this end BT are going through a consultation exercise which is open until November 1^st. It is to be hoped that the ‘consultation’ in this case means more than it did in the recent round of Post Office closures. But one thing is certain, once again it’s all about money and BT, as if it didn’t make enough already, will be looking to pass on most of the costs of those, if any, that are saved. So guess who you gonna call? Why the local Council of course! In fact, at the very least, local councils need to act quickly to save the historic red telephone kiosks within their boundaries.

Designed by Sir Giles Gilbert Scott to mark King George V’s silver jubilee, the red telephone kiosks (designated K6) made their first appearance in 1936.

Councils can either sponsor or adopt K6 boxes within their area. Sponsored kiosks remain fully functioning with the council paying £500 a year for maintenance. BT claims that the maintenance cost is £1,000 (forgive me if I am sceptical) and takes all the income. ‘Adoption’ means that just the historic (I am trying not to use the word ‘iconic’ - but I see that I’ve failed!) box is retained, the telephone equipment being removed. The Council takes ownership for £1 and assumes responsibility for the upkeep.

These options are set out in more detail at:

 www.payphones.bt.com

Having sought clarification, I can report that the City Council will ensure that all of the remaining K6 kiosks will be kept as they are. Most are located in the city centre near the Council House. You can often see visitors being photographed by the telephone boxes. There is also one in Bournville. These beautiful structures have graced urban and rural landscapes throughout the country. We must do all that we can to ensure that the few that are left continue to do so, reminding us of an age that valued many things beyond cash flow.

Some time ago we warned residents about wheel clampers operating in our area. Council officers do sterling work combating this thugish trade but, as so often happens, they are hindered by the pathetically weak state of the Law in England. Not for the first time, people have it far better in Scotland, where wheel clamping is illegal.

And things are getting worse. It’s now quite rare for vehicles to be clamped at all - they tend to be towed away at once so that a higher price can be extracted from the victim. This can be £400 or more as against around £150 for removing the clamp. So a clamper who tows away 3 or 4 cars a day (all too achievable) can turn over £400,000 a year. All demands are for cash (again this is legal) - and no doubt handy for the clampers dealings with the tax-man too.

These knaves can be challenged in Court. But this is the Small Claims Court and those motorists that do this invariably win. But guess what - the clampers then ignore the fine. This contemptuous behaviour for the legal process goes unpunished. Since it’s a civil case it’s up to the motorist rather than the authorities to chase the thugs for the money. We don’t know a single case where a clamper has coughed up.

The Council is now writing to the Home Affairs Committee recommending a total ban on clamping. In the event that the Government continues to allow this odious practice in England we’ve requested stringent conditions and real powers - to be administered by Local Authorities rather than the toothless and useless Security Industry Authority. Let’s hope they listen for once.

We are extremely sad to learn that the Hall Green WWF Volunteer Group is closing down this year after twenty years of raising funds and the level of awareness for endangered wildlife. The hard working group have raised well over £50,000 for WWF, but dwindling numbers of volunteers, red tape and masses of paperwork have conspired with major changes at WWF to cause the closure, along with most other WWF volunteer groups.

WWF has chosen to abandon its presence in the regions, having closed all regional offices a couple of years ago, ceasing to work with local volunteers. They have moved towards more corporate fundraising. Group bank accounts were closed as a cost cutting measure, though it had worked satisfactorily for many, many years, and local trading was also withdrawn. It has ceased all practical support for groups and no longer supports the annual ‘Walk for Wildlife’ though it is happy for volunteers to go on fundraising!

The group survived a year longer than most, thanks to a small but dedicated band of volunteers, but with so few people prepared to give time and effort it became impossible to continue. Like so many voluntary groups it became strangled by red tape, bureaucracy and paperwork and was overburdened with health and safety regulations.

Councillor Michael Wilkes comments: “I share fully the anger of local WWF members. Other volunteer groups will recognise these factors and I could certainly cite further examples. One particularly destructive tendency these days is for official bodies (including the Council) to require individual volunteers to sign extensive forms, taking full responsibility if anything goes wrong at some events - individual people giving their time and energy that is - not their organisations and despite insurance cover at group or higher level. It’s a wonder anything voluntary gets done at all. Volunteer groups have been the lifeblood of communities for centuries. This regulation-ridden, ‘safety’ obsessed, increasingly centralised society, cod managerialism and so-called ‘professional’ (i.e. require paying for what volunteers do freely) attitudes are destroying people’s willingness and ability to contribute to the life of their local communities. It is sometimes said that ‘You can’t put the clock back’ (meaning mistakes can never be undone and you can never retrace your steps). Oh yes you can! And it’s high time we did if we want to hang on to this vital aspect of our English way of life”.

We would like to offer our sincere thanks to the very dedicated and loyal volunteers of the Hall Green WWF group, past and present, for their commitment and service to such a worthwhile cause and for turning out at so many community events in and around Hall Green.

The date for closure of the Robin Hood Post Office has been set at October 6^th. It is greatly to be regretted that Post Office Ltd in implementing the Government’s requirements for their closure programme did not accept the strong case that was made for keeping the Robin Hood office open and the very large petition that went with it.

The impending closure will impact on elderly residents who will now have difficult journeys to make. At least one resident has been using Robin Hood Post Office for over 45 years - some people perhaps for even longer. But in 2008 governments are little concerned about people such as these. Today’s equivalent of ‘Let them eat cake’ is surely ‘Let them use the Internet”.

On top of the closure announcement came the attempted robbery at Hall Green Post Office on the Stratford Road. I understand that a pickaxe was used to smash the screen protecting the staff but that staff fortunately escaped physical injury and these vicious robbers escaped with little or nothing. The office is closed while repairs are carried out and in the meantime, ironically, people will be using the Robin Hood as well as Shirley. It can truly be said that both these closures are criminal. The times we live in.

We thank the staff present and past at Robin Hood for all that they’ve done and we pledge to carry on fighting on behalf of post offices throughout our area.

We deeply regret the forthcoming enforced closure of the Robin Hood Post Office. The petitions, letters and on-line campaigning fell on deaf ears. Post Office Ltd. were unmoved and so the Government directed closure problem will have a further impact on residents of Hall Green following the closure of the Highfield Road branch in an earlier cull.

The valuable branch in Shaftmoor Lane is also to be closed. In fact all bar a token one of the intended 51 closures in Birmingham, Coventry and Warwickshire will now be imposed, adding to the 4,000 post offices already closed under Labour following the 3,500 closures under the Conservatives. We should hold this whole closure policy and the so-called ‘consultation’ process in contempt. This would reflect the evident contempt in which the Government must hold its citizens when they act in such flagrant breach of our wishes.

There will be enormous adverse impacts on all people who depend on the services that the Robin Hood Post Office provides. For example, it is going to be very difficult for residents in areas such as Pitmaston to get down to the Baldwins Lane branch - people could have a wait of up to an hour if one of the 41 buses doesn’t arrive.

The needs of people in our area seem to be of precious little concern to this wretched government. High time for a major branch closure in Westminster we feel.

The recent, outrageous price hikes from ‘British’ Gas will have a severe impact on a wide range of people, particularly, but by no means only, the millions who are already in desperate fuel poverty. Average bills are well into four-figure territory and are likely to be pushed much higher still. In my view, the fuel companies benefit from a so-called ‘market’ where the main competition is about getting away with new charges and inflated prices, making more profits, taking bigger bonuses and treating people as monetary cannon fodder.

They point to rising prices in the wholesale ‘market’ for gas. But they keep secret the prices they actually pay for supplies. They choose the timing and extent of price changes to suit themselves. Like other notorious sections of business today, they operate in effect, quite legally, as an informal cartel. They set their prices and margins in the same way and take it in turns to hike prices according to what they think they can get away with. Whether it’s gas or petrol, one thing is certain, unless there is action they will be getting a way with a lot more of your money and mine and their profits will not suffer one bit as a result.

Still, at least we needn’t lose sleep at night worrying about their executives’ remuneration; they at least will be comfortable in success or failure. Even if pensioners can’t afford to keep a room warm, the board will still have money to burn!

In my opinion there should certainly be windfall taxes on fuel, power (and other) profiteering - the only question should be about the extent. It is clearly wrong that companies should make fat and inflated profits while people struggle to make ends meet, faced with rapidly rising costs for other essentials such as food or even hanging on to their own homes.

Electricity generation is now dominated by six firms that can in turn dominate you and me. Industry ‘regulation’ in all quarters has been weak under successive governments and will remain so. The exhortation to ‘shop around’ is worth little over time. It has been found out that a third of switchers make themselves worse off. And do they think that elderly and now vulnerable people who have built the country up should be spending their retirement ‘switching’ between fuel companies (and banks) to reduce the extent to which they are exposed to highway robbery?

In my view also it is no defence for these organisations to retort that they are operating globally. Who has paid to make their fat global profits possible in the first place? We have! We’ve already paid ‘global’ companies with the British jobs they have exported and the higher prices they extract from us for the same products sold in other countries. This has fattened their profits and we’re entitled to a return on that too! Furthermore, companies have profited from their very own windfalls from the emissions trading scheme - the vast majority of permits to produce carbon dioxide being given away - and energy companies can decide to sell rather than use these free permits.

Since privatisation, foreign owned firms with even less concern for people here, sell North Sea gas to themselves during the summer for storing in Europe and reselling here at higher prices in the winter. Those companies who use (by whose consent?) the label ‘British’ should be made to act as if they were. Big business in general should not be a morality-free zone. They should think of those who have to eke out a small pension. They talk about their tough choices. How would they like to try the really tough choice between food and warmth?

Those who take big from society should also give back in comparable measure. Long gone are the days when those in near monopoly positions could be relied on to do this to some extent on their own account - or to be socially responsible in the first place. So they need now to be taught how to be generous. That would certainly be one way to create a warm glow all round!