The future of the big TV screen in Chamberlain Square continues to prompt frank conversations between Birmingham City Council and the Civic Society, I hear.
Civic Society bods took exception to an attempt to extend by six months the temporary planning permission allowing the BBC screen to remain in Chamberlain Square, tagged on to the back of the splendidly restored Grade l listed Town Hall.
Totally unacceptable to have garish new technology in the vicinity of such a historic building, they chuntered.
The council, showing that it has a sense of humour if nothing else, suggested compromising by moving the screen a few hundred yards.....to the other side of the Town Hall, on the corner of Waterloo Street and Victoria Square.
That would involve the screen overlooking both the Town Hall and the Grade ll* listed Council House.
Civic Society officials are not amused. They suggested siting the screen in Centenary Square, or at the Bullring. Both locations were rejected, apparently on the grounds of lack of footfall which seems a little odd.
The matter is now being dealt with by council chief executive Stephen Hughes who, presumably, has nothing better to do with his time. Hughes will also be beating off Civic Society objections to plans to cover the facade of the Grade ll* listed Museum and Art Gallery with advertising banners.
Meanwhile, the two men and a dog watching the screen in Chamberlain Square have had to put up with sound only for a couple of weeks. The picture doesn't work.
Perhaps the BBC has forgotten to buy a television licence?
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Not only is he the youngest Birmingham city councillor, but Robert Alden is in the running to be declared the scruffiest city councillor.
Bobbie, as he likes to be styled, turned up at a meeting in the Council House the other day unshaven, with half-beard half-designer stubble, tieless, shirt hanging out exposing pale blue boxers, and a pair of jeans that I would like to report were fashionably holed, but I fear just had holes where there ought not to have been holes.
On his feet, the young Alden was wearing Cameron-type recycled trainers, which was just as well since he was at the sustainability and climate change scrutiny committee.
He bought with him a smoked salmon sandwich and what appeared to be a (reduced) fruit tart.
I fear it is probably too late for his mother, one of the best dressed women in Birmingham, to bring any influence to bear.
This is certainly not the sort of thing that would have been tolerated when David Roy led the Conservatives.
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The positive response by senior Tories to the announcement that Karren Brady would like to be the elected mayor of Birmingham was probably not what Conservative city council leader Mike Whitby wanted to hear.
Party chairman Francis Maude thought Ms Brady would be an impressive candidate.
Sutton Coldfield MP Andrew Mitchell, the Shadow Minister for Birmingham, went further. She would be an extremely distinguished and powerful candidate.
Oh dear. Watch your back Mike.