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Birmingham residents have bemoaned the “failings” of their Labour-run council as it votes on a wave of cuts to services and a 10 per cent rise in council tax.
The local authority is looking to make £300m of cuts and has declared itself effectively bankrupt.
Ministers gave Birmingham City Council permission for the 10 per cent rise in each of the next two years – amounting to a total increase of 21 per cent.
Such a move would usually require a referendum, but the situation has been described as “devastating” by members of the council with urgent solutions required.
People have been protesting against the cuts
GETTY / GB NEWS
GB News’s West Midlands reporter Jack Carson took to the streets of Britain’s second city to gauge the public sentiment.
One resident lamented the “ridiculous” council and said the public are being left to pick up the pieces.
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“We’ve got to suffer the consequences of the failures of the Birmingham City Council”, he fumed.
“It won’t impact me too much but for the people it will, it’s ridiculous.
“People are struggling as it is already and now they’re increasing it even more and we’re getting all kinds of tax increases.
“It’s absolutely ridiculous because if you look at the wider perspective, no country in the G7 is increasing anything.”
Birmingham City Council declared itself bankrupt last yearGetty
Another local resident fears an increase in council tax could lead to a surge in crime.
Asked about services like libraries suffering cuts, she branded the move “disgusting”.
“I think the crime rate is going to go a lot higher and our education is going to go lower”, she added.
“I think it’s disgusting. The cost of living has risen already as it is and we are all struggling.
Furore over the cuts have spilt onto the streets
GETTY
“For most of us, even putting it up by 10 per cent, it’s really going to affect us.”
Another Birmingham resident told Carson “no one is going to be happy” with the proposed cut.
“We’re all hard working people”, he asserted.
“We’re struggling as it is. Everything is going up. We’re getting fed up.”
The budget plans to cut more than £200million over the next two years whilst increasing council tax 21 per cent.
Radical measures such as slashing bin collections and dimming streetlights are in the offing as the council desperately bids to balance the books.
Cllr John Cotton, Leader of Birmingham City Council said:
“The budget before the council today is not the budget I entered politics to set. It is not a budget I ever envisaged for our city.”
“I unreservedly apologise to the people and communities of our city.”
“Quite simply we must get our house in order, because the people of our great city deserve better.”
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