Iron Angle had intended this week to convey the thoughts and policy priorities of Kings Heath florist Neville Summerfield, who to the surprise of everyone, not least to Nev himself one suspects, was appointed Birmingham cabinet member for regeneration last week.
Unfortunately, Neville said nothing during the course of Tuesday's full council meeting, which was perhaps not surprising since no one could recall him having spoken in the Chamber since being elected as a Tory councillor for Brandwood four years ago.
Dim-witted Labour councillors ought to have have quizzed Neville during the 30-minute question time session, but couldn't be bothered to do so.
They later disgracefully blamed the Lord Mayor for calling Tory and Lib Dem members to ask questions rather than Labour.
It was left to council leader Mike Whitby to explain that Neville's remit would be to "spread wealth and prosperity across the whole of the city so that everyone benefits from regeneration".
Phew, quite a challenge.
And as for the man himself, Whitby explained that Neville was the co-founder of a thriving business association and brought with him strong academic and artistic credentials, although he strangely omitted to say what these credentials might be.
Floristry is an art, I suppose, but it could hardly be described as academic.
Summerfield did put in an appearance at yesterday's launch of the Birmingham library project, but he didn't get to sit at the top table – where places went to Whitby and assorted VIPs.
As one wag put it, there was no room for any more egos.
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An edgy stand-off has developed between politicians and union leaders over the implementation of Birmingham City Council's pay and grading review, which will leave some 5,000 workers suffering wage cuts.
Letters explaining the bad news were supposed to be posted at the end of last month, but Tory cabinet human resources member Alan Rudge decided against taking the plunge.
Rudge said earlier this week that he had no idea when the letters would go out, since he was conducting final checks to assure himself of the fairness of the new grades.
The word is, however, that the cabinet is scared stiff of the consequences of all-out industrial action when the review is implemented. There's also the likelihood of having to deal with hundreds of appeals by staff whose salaries are to be cut by as much as £10,000 a year, not to mention the possibility of subsequent legal action.
As well as the obvious dissatisfaction of having your pay slashed by 20 or 30 per cent, there's also the matter of Rudge's so-called Employee Bargain – which is being presented as a new style of management.
The bargain is as follows: in return for reduced pay you will be expected to switch jobs if the bosses say so, work any shift pattern, work at weekends without overtime – and in return, the council will continue to employ you.
Ah, welcome to the real world council unions.
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It was just like old times at the Birmingham cabinet this week – the council was already £10 million in the red after only four months of the financial year, and no one could give a sensible answer about how the budget overspend would be clawed back.
The only difference being, of course, that this was Tory-led overspending rather than Labour profligacy.
A report so lacking in detail that it would have had even Sir Humphrey blushing, referred vaguely to "mitigation options" to manage the overspend, unspecified "options" that were being investigated and unidentified savings that had apparently already been put in place.
Bad news indeed for the Tory-Lib Dem coalition, which claims to have fiscal responsibility as its watchword.
Interesting, too, to see the hitherto anonymous scrutiny chief Alistair Dow begin to flex his muscles.
Dow began by saying he wanted to be helpful, but his help extended to suggesting the budget process was less than robust, that the finances were in danger of going astray and that there might be cuts to services as a result.
I'd watch your back if I were you, Alistair.