Central West Midlands News

Politics will resume today following the death of Margaret Thatcher as the Prime Minister visits the Midlands as he resumes his local election campaign.

It has been confirmed there will be no Prime Minister's Questions next Wednesday because of Baroness Thatcher's funeral.

• Politics
• David Cameron
• West Midlands

More people are buying houses in the West Midlands according to the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors. Surveyors in the West Midlands have seen the biggest increase of homes sold in the country since the start of the year - ahead of London.

However the trend of sales increases was found to be flattest in the East Midlands.

• UK
• Housing
• West Midlands

Some manufacturers in the West Midlands are struggling to increase exports, according to the West Midlands Chamber of Commerce.

In the first quarter of 2013, a third of companies in the region saw overseas sales remain the same compared with the previous quarter.

Exchange rates are the biggest concern for manufacturers.

The announcement by the Chancellor in this year's budget that capital investment plans will increase by £3 billion per year from 2015, will help boost manufacturing.

• UK
• West Midlands

The charges relate to an allegation that Burrows and the other member of staff, on or before 27 February 2013, conspired together to commit fraud by false representation by submitting to the Crown Prosecution Service false claims for witness care taxi services to the value of at least £1,000,000 when no such services had been supplied.

The CPS say Lisa Burrows has been charged by West Midlands Police. The other individual has not yet been charged.

Lisa Burrows will appear at Birmingham Magistrates Court tomorrow.

• UK
• West Midlands
• CPS

A Crown Prosecution Service finance manager and another member of staff are to be charged with conspiracy to commit fraud over false taxi claims totalling at least £1 million.

Lisa Burrows and the other member of staff, who has not been named, work for CPS West Midlands.

• UK
• West Midlands
• CPS

• UK
• West Midlands
• Weather

Pedestrian seriously ill after Bordesley Green hit and run - appeal to trace driver of old-style silver Nissan Micra: http://t.co/IxGxiqRU

From @WMPolice on Twitter: ( 6:46 pm, Wed 30 Jan 2013)

Hit and run car would have front end damage (broken lights / bumper) - call police on 101 if you've seen it: http://t.co/IxGxiqRU

From @WMPolice on Twitter: ( 6:47 pm, Wed 30 Jan 2013)

• UK
• West Midlands Police
• Bordesley Green

House prices across the West Midlands look set to increase over the next few months. That's according to the latest housing survey carried out by the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors.

Last month, house sales in the region were stable. It's the first time in 2 and a half years that there wasn't a drop.

• UK
• House prices
• West Midlands

A charity which promotes art by offenders is opening its first exhibition in the West Midlands.

Almost a hundred pieces of artwork, from prisons, secure hospitals and young offender services, will be on display in Birmingham.

The exhibition has been curated by six young offenders.

• UK
• West Midlands
• Offenders art

Councils in the East Midlands recorded an 11% increase in revenue from parking charges in 2012.

In the West Midlands, there was a drop of 4%.

Councils across England made a total of over £411 million in parking charges between 2011 and 2012 - a rise of 15%.

• UK
• Parking charges
• East Midlands