The Mystic Meg award: Councillor Sir Albert Bore
On October 7 he told the Post: “I’m not going anywhere,” as his leadership came under threat. Five days later he resigned.
Let It Go award (...song from Disney’s Frozen): Councillor Waseem Zaffar
Six months after his match-winning score of 55 in the councillors’ cricket match, poor Waseem Zaffar is still seething over his dismissal, called lbw by Tory rival Randall Brew. Not content with sending Councillor Brew the laws of cricket on social media, he even raised it at a scrutiny committee meeting a couple of weeks ago. He really does need to move on.
Singular achievement award: Councillor Barry Henley
He got one vote in the recent Labour leadership election. His own.
The SNP award: Andrew Mitchell MP
Only this time it stands for the Sutton National Party after his plan to split the city up into ten districts. This would mean municipal independence for the Royal Town.
Solution to global warming award: Joint winners are the Labour leadership candidates
Deputy leader Ian Ward, cabinet member Penny Holbrook and eventual winner John Clancy, who took the temperature down a notch or two with the decidedly frosty atmosphere at the Labour leadership hustings.
Worthy successor award: Councillor Jess Phillips.
Some commentators were mourning the demise of outspoken, maverick former MP John Hemming in the general election. But they need not have worried as the good people of Yardley chose outspoken maverick Ms Phillips to replace him.
Oscar Wilde award for being most misquoted person: Birmingham Improvement Panel chairman John Crabtree.
Various people claimed he was privately either endorsing or rejecting each of the four Labour council leadership candidates. Such were the extent of the rumours that he had to publicly declare that he has never given an opinion on anyone's suitability to lead to the city.
The Dennis Taylor award: Councillor John Clancy.
Like the famous 1985 world snooker final which was decided on the last black late into the evening, Clancy’s leadership election was a nail-biter which he sneaked by one vote as dozens of political anoraks on Twitter put off going to bed to see it through.
Get a room award: Labour cabinet member Tahir Ali and his Tory predecessor John Lines
Their heated ten minute exchange at a recent council question time was the latest in a string of angry clashes over their records on housing, traveller policy and homes for heroes which have left colleagues rolling their eyes.
Person of the Year: Lord Bob Kerslake
His report may have been published in 2014, but it has cast a colossal shadow over 2015. His name has been uttered more times than any other within Council House corridors, both with glee from some and dread from others. And it was ultimately responsible for the change of leadership this year.
Geoffrey Howe memorial award: Councillor James McKay
His resignation from cabinet and critique of political mentor Sir Albert Bore was the beginning of the end for the leader.
Eastenders award for ongoing drama: Birmingham Labour group
Its leadership election saga seemed to go on forever. And in common with Albert Square’s residents, despite claiming to be like a family, they manage to spend most of their time falling out, turning each other over and generally feuding.
Aston Villa award for failing to turn up: Councillor Ian Ward.
Around the same time as our local football side went missing at Wembley so did his eagerly awaited and long billed challenge by deputy leader Ian Ward to Sir Albert Bore.
Countdown Dictionary Corner award: Councillor Tahir Ali
The cabinet member in explaining to a scrutiny committee why one business group had council funding and others did not denied he had taken a ‘novel’ decision. “It’s not novel,” he said, “It just hasn’t happened before.”
The Apprentice award for dull team names: West Midlands Combined Authority
The TV show gave us Invictor and Stealth among a long list of cringe worthy brands. But the region’s council leaders have managed to make us wince and roll our eyes in one tedious package. No wonder George Osborne prefers his Northern Powerhouse.
The Celine Dion award: Councillor Ian Cruise
After one rant too many at the behind the scenes plotting, back stabbing and block voting, he resigned from the Labour group and ended up singing ‘All by Myself’ on the council benches.
Paxman award: Gary Sambrook
He impertinently asked the then Labour leader Sir Albert Bore about his succession plan. A question that many on his own benches were keen to hear the answer to but dared not ask, even in private.
The left hand and right hand award for joined up thinking: The city's various transport authorities and bosses
Highways England, Birmingham City Council, Amey and Centro excelled themselves with the sheer weight of roadworks - particularly during the early part of 2015. Surely no one thought it was a good idea to shut M6 slip roads in Erdington, while carrying out works on feeder routes like Chester Road and Lichfield Road so they must have done it in isolation.
