News Writer, Abigail Rosser, reports on the projected Birmingham City Council budget cuts, detailing how they are impacting the local community
Due to Birmingham Council’s effective declaration of bankruptcy in September 2023, Tuesday’s budget meeting is expected to announce significant spending cuts. The cuts include the removal of a waste recycling and collection officer, which Unite the Union has described as ‘safety critical.’ In addition, refuse workers are on strike due to concerns about pay cuts.
“The cuts include the removal of a waste recycling and collection officer, which Unite the Union has described as ‘safety critical.’
The service cuts Birmingham City Council is expected to implement have caused hundreds of residents and key service workers, such as refuse workers, adult social workers, and library workers, to protest outside the Council House.
One refuse worker on strike, Dave, stated that he is ‘sorry for the inconvenience,’ but in the face of a lower salary and living conditions, he ‘had to stand up for what’s right,’ and the cuts are expected to be set to continue for months. One-day walkouts have been staged since January, but all-out strikes are set to start from as early as the 11th of March. Concerns over a projected increase in fly-tipping due to overflowing bins are a further cost to local communities anticipated by the upcoming refuse worker strikes.
“The closure of Harborne Day Centre […]threatens the ‘most vulnerable in society.’ Families of adults with learning difficulties have described Harborne Day Centre as their ‘lifeline.’
Planned cuts to children and social services accompany the budget cuts, and the closure of Harborne Day Centre (agreed upon in the previous budget) threatens the ‘most vulnerable in society.’ Families of adults with learning difficulties have described Harborne Day Centre as their ‘lifeline.’
Unfortunately, this is not the only Day Centre set to close: others include Beeches GOLDD, Fairway and Heartlands. This was agreed upon in the 2024 Budget, when they were recommended for closure.
Ultimately, the projected budget cuts affect a multiplicity of public services, which are relied upon to keep residences clean and to support carers.
On Tuesday the projected cuts will be finalised and the council are expected to release more information on how these cuts will impact the residents of Birmingham and its surrounding boroughs.
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