As the centrepiece of the 2007 New Generation Arts Festival, The Big Debate explored the health of Britain's regional arts scene and questioned the perceived cultural hegemony of London.

The event provoked wide-ranging debate across a broad spectrum of interests, including business, politics and local communities.

Congestion on Birmingham's roads costs the local economy an estimated £2.2 billion every year. Everybody agrees the situation can't be allowed to continue - but is congestion charging the answer?

A recent survey by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors claimed 74% of its members supported charges as a traffic-calming measure for the city centre. However, the support for an anti road-charging petition has left many stunned. Can 1.8 million people really be wrong?

MP3 Speaker Downloads
Brian Summers  [5.8MB]
Chris Crean  [5.6MB]
John Spellar  [5.8MB]
Peter Roberts  [7MB]
The Whole Debate  [51MB]

The Birmingham Post’s major series in 2006 on the background and challenges presented by the forthcoming Government’s White Paper on local government moved the City Region debate up the West Midlands agenda. The Birmingham Post teamed up with The NEC Group to host The Big Debate - ‘If a City Region is the answer, what's the question?’.

Some of the most important figures in the world of local government and business gathered to discuss the possibility of Birmingham and the West Midlands attaining City Region status.

The event was designed to provoke wide-ranging debate across a broad spectrum of interests, including business, politics and local communities, on the threats and opportunities of a City Region. It was the first in a series of agenda-setting debates on themes that are critically important to future of the West Midlands.