By Alexander Brock

Copyright expressandstar

Under a code of conduct which has been adopted by the Labour-run authority, councillors are required to disclose any gifts or hospitality worth more than £50.

During the past year, freebies have included football and cricket matches, theatre tickets and shows at Villa Park.

One Liberal Democrat councillor said she accepted six tickets for a Chris Brown concert and four tickets for a Kendrick Lamar show this year “on behalf of residents” within her ward of Aston.

Deputy leader Sharon Thompson said she accepted tickets for a Villa Park concert too, partly “to hold AVFC [Aston Villa FC] masterplan discussions”, and also received Black Sabbath customised Adidas trainers valued at £115.

Conservative councillor Gareth Moore meanwhile said he accepted 15 VIP weekend tickets from Birmingham Pride this year – a gift estimated to be worth £2,100.

The reason for accepting was listed as “partnership working with business and LGBT community”.

The city council has said maintaining a process and register “aids transparency and assists the council in promoting and maintaining high standards of behaviour”.

“The routine declaration of gifts and hospitality received should also assist in protecting elected members from unfounded allegations of bias and facilitate good and clear transparent decision-making,” it said.

Government-appointed commissioners, sent in to oversee the council’s recovery, have also previously said that such transparency is “crucial in building and maintaining trust in the integrity of the democratic process”.

Here’s a look at the gifts worth more than £50 that councillors have received in the past year since September 2024, according to the council’s own registers.

Deirdre Alden (Conservative, Edgbaston)

Earlier this year, Councillor Alden was given a year’s annual honorary membership to Birmingham Botanical Gardens. The cost was unknown but estimated to be £75 based on a family annual pass.

The reason for accepting this particular gift was that the Botanical Gardens are within her ward. Courtesy of Warwickshire Cricket Club, she was also offered two T20 cricket matches with hospitality, including dinner, in the chairman’s lounge.

Again, the exact cost was unknown but estimated to be £100. The reason was listed as: “In my ward, along with the council leader, I meet regularly with senior people at the club and I am on the Safety Advisory Group for Edgbaston County Cricket ground.”

Robert Alden (Conservative, Erdington)

Councillor Alden was offered two tickets including refreshments to the Birmingham Microplus UK Athletics Indoor Championships, with tickets estimated to be around £200 each. He said he accepted to “represent the city in my role as leader of the opposition”.

He was also offered one ticket to the chairs lounge for T20 cricket at Edgbaston Cricket Ground, valued at approximately £100. The listed reason was: “I’m on the safety advisory group for the ground, promoting the city, the club are a key partner in the city.”

Councillor Alden was also given one ticket to the British Open Squash, worth around £150, which he said he accepted to support a major event in Birmingham and promote the city.

Lastly, he was offered two tickets to the UK Athletics Championships Birmingham 2025, estimated to be worth between £200 and £250. The listed reason for accepting this gift was: “Promoting the city, representing the city council, encouraging sport in the region, city is hosting the 2026 European Athletics Championships.”

Shabina Bano (Liberal Democrat, Small Heath)

Councillor Bano attended an event launch, dinner and football game last October after being invited by Birmingham City Football Club. The cost was £240 and the reason was listed as: “To attend the launch of Birmingham City Foundation Community Hub and attend the game afterwards as a guest of the club with a meal after.”

David Barker (Labour, Brandwood and Kings Heath)

Accepted £500 from Councillor Martin Brooks as “thank you for covering for two months planning meetings as acting chair”, which Councillor Barker describes as an unpaid role within the constitution.

He was also gifted a £500 bursary for attendance at Boosting Middle Leaders by LGA/Leadership Centre Public Sector and Politics. Councillor Barker said this was a “development opportunity that would benefit me in my role as chair of planning committee”.

Baber Baz (Liberal Democrat, Yardley West and Stechford)

Attended an event launch, dinner and football game last October after being invited by Birmingham City Football Club. The cost of this gift was £240 and the reason for attending was listed as: “To attend the launch of Birmingham City Foundation Community Hub and attend the game afterwards as a guest of the club with a meal after.”

Sir Albert Bore (Labour, Ladywood)

Councillor Bore attended a chancellor inauguration and dinner, an opportunity provided by Birmingham City University. He said reception and dinner was part of the inauguration ceremony and listed the cost as over £50, adding there was no set menu at the venue.

Nicky Brennan (Labour, Sparkhill)

Last year, UNESCO provided Councillor Brennan with return flights from Birmingham to Accra in Ghana, hotel (including breakfast) and one dinner as she was speaking at a conference. This was worth an estimated £1,500.

She also attended the LGC Awards, which she accepted as the cabinet member for housing. Costs were listed as unknown but Councillor Brennan said a LGC Networking table event could be £390 per person.

Councillor John Cotton (Labour, Glebe Farm and Tile Cross)

Last year, the leader of the council was invited by Birmingham City FC to their game against Wrexham – an opportunity valued at more than £50. Councillor Cotton said this was an “opportunity to discuss investment in the city”.

He was also invited to the Black Sabbath concert by Aston Villa FC (£400 plus VAT). His listed reason was: “Invited and accepted as leader of Birmingham City Council for the Freedom of the City for Black Sabbath.”

Other gifts and hospitality accepted by Councillor John Cotton since September 2024 can be found below:

Jayne Francis (Labour, Harborne)

Councillor Francis received two theatre tickets worth £60 last November and “attended in role of cabinet member”.

Ray Goodwin (Labour, Castle Vale)

Councillor Goodwin was invited by Birmingham City Football Club to the opening of the community foundation and offered a ticket in the directors box for Birmingham vs Huddersfield last October – including food and drinks. This was worth £450.

He said he accepted the gift to meet key staff to “support the economic regeneration of Birmingham”.

Roger Harmer (Liberal Democrat, Acocks Green)

The leader of the Liberal Democrats at the council attended an event launch, dinner and football game, an opportunity provided by Birmingham City Football Club in October 2024 and worth £240.

The listed reason for accepting the gift was: “To attend the launch of the Birmingham City Foundation Community Hub and attend the game afterwards as a guest of the club with meal provided.”

Adam Higgs (Conservative, Highters Heath)

Councillor Higgs was offered two VIP tickets for Birmingham Pride this year, with an estimated value of £140 per ticket.

Mumtaz Hussain (Liberal Democrat, Aston)

Earlier this year, Councillor Hussain was offered six tickets for a Chris Brown concert and four tickets for a Kendrick Lamar show – both at Villa Park. The estimated value was £900 and £480 respectively.

Her listed reason for accepting was: “Aston Villa is within my ward and accepted on behalf of residents within my ward.”

Katherine Iroh (Labour, Billesley)

Councillor Iroh attended the 150-year anniversary dinner celebration for Birmingham Moseley Rugby Club last year, an invite worth £55. She said: “I was invited as a guest as I am ward councillor.”

Mary Locke (Labour, Stirchley)

Councillor Locke accepted a dinner from the Midlands Art Centre last September as an “appointed member of the MAC from Birmingham City Council”. She was also attending the AGM and said the dinner followed the meeting.

On the cost, she wrote: “There was no ticket to the dinner, so I am unable to provide exact costs but I would expect it to be in the region of £50.”

Ewan Mackey (Conservative, Sutton Roughley)

Councillor Mackey was offered two tickets for a performance by B:Music twice in December 2024, worth £72 and £80. The listed reason for accepting was being “director of company”.

Majid Mahmood (Labour, Bromford and Hodge Hill)

Twice during September last year, cabinet member Councillor Mahmood was given opportunities to attend the chairs lounge at Edgbaston with a guest to watch T20 games, with the listed reason being “networking”.

On the cost, he said: “I am unable to provide the cost as it’s not tickets as such – it was an invitation to watch the match from the chairs lounge – these tickets are not sold to the public. I assume if they were sold it would cost more than £50.”

Gareth Moore (Conservative, Erdington)

Councillor Moore accepted 15 VIP weekend tickets from Birmingham Pride this year, a gift estimated to be worth £2,100. The listed reason for accepting was: “Partnership working with business and LGBT community.”

He was also offered lunch by Galliard Homes, worth around £78, as part of “partnership working about planning developments in Southside/Gay Village”.

Councillor Moore received free entry to Nightingale Club for nine people (estimated £90) towards the end of last year, with the listed reason for accepting being “previous support to business and LGBT community”.

He also received food and drink from Southside BID/Chung Ying Restaurant as a “resident of Southside BID area”. It was not a ticketed event but the hospitality received was likely to exceed £50.

David Pears (Conservative, Sutton Trinity)

Last year, Councillor Pears attended a meal provided by Sutton Coldfield Charitable Trust as part of his role as “BCC appointed representative” of the trust. It was listed as being worth £53.

Saima Suleman (Labour, Hall Green North)

Last year, Birmingham Hippodrome offered two VIP guest night invites for Aladdin – estimated to be £40. Councillor Suleman says she was “invited in role as cabinet member for digital, culture, heritage and tourism”.

She was also invited to a £50 meal by the Night Time Industries Association/Lyle Bignon, which she accepted on behalf of the leader. She also attended the Birmingham Omniplex relaunch screening, also £50, because of her cabinet member role.

Lastly, Councillor Suleman accepted the chance to attend the Black Sabbath concert with a guest – an opportunity worth £595. The listed reason was: “Invited and accepted as cabinet member for digital, culture, heritage and tourism and part of the BCC team leading on the Black Sabbath Freedom of the City.”

Jamie Tennant (Labour, Weoley and Selly Oak)

Councillor Tennant was offered two tickets to the Nutcracker by Birmingham Royal Ballet last year, worth £160. He accepted in his “capacity as council appointee on the board of Birmingham Royal Ballet”.

Sharon Thompson (Labour, North Edgbaston)

Earlier this year, the deputy leader of the council was offered the opportunity to attend the Chris Brown concert at Villa Park with two guests – a gift worth £250. She said she accepted as deputy leader and cabinet member for economy and skills “to hold AVFC masterplan discussions”.

She was also given Black Sabbath customised Adidas trainers valued at £115 by the Give Back Birmingham Project, which she was gifted as “lead on Black Sabbath Freedom of the City”.

Other gifts and hospitality accepted by Councillor Sharon Thompson since September 2024 can be found below:

Ian Ward (Labour, Shard End)

The former leader of the council was invited as a councillor to a 75th Anniversary of China event by James Wong last year. The gift was worth around £100.

Alex Yip (Conservative, Sutton Wylde Green)

Councillor Yip accepted a dinner from University College Birmingham worth £175 earlier this year. His reason was listed as: “Celebrating Chinese New Year and the college’s partnership with Birmingham restaurants their students end up working in, discussing HE in the city and opportunities to support their work in Birmingham.”

Also this year, he was offered a dinner from the Birmingham Chinatown Business Association worth £50. Councillor Yip said this was to celebrate Chinese New Year and the city’s “vibrant Chinese Community Centre, businesses and many community leaders”.

Waseem Zaffar MBE (Labour, Lozells)

Councillor Zaffar was invited by Warwickshire Cricket Club to a T20 Cricket match with a guest, a gift estimated to be worth £100. He said he accepted “as an opportunity to foster partnership working with the club and the local community”.