Hundreds gather to protest against council cuts

There are plans for large-scale funding cuts for 25 out of Birmingham's 35 community libraries

Hundreds of people gathered in Birmingham city centre on Monday to protest a range of cuts proposed by the local authority.

Birmingham City Council declared itself effectively bankrupt in September by issuing a section 114 notice, before signing off on £300m in cuts and a 21% rise in council tax over two years.

The cuts, described by those on the Labour-run council as "devastating", include slashing funding for 25 out of the city's 35 community libraries.

Protesters in Centenary Square told the BBC the city's libraries were a "vital resource" in communities.

Campaigners used the bank holiday to protest against Birmingham City Council's proposed cuts

"The library's been a really important place that I've been to get me on my feet in hard times," said Bramwell Griffiths, who attended the protest.

"I just can't imagine a Birmingham without all of our libraries."

Another protester, Sally Cherry, said libraries were "such special places".

"They just wrap themselves around you. I just feel really, really sad that they might not be there."

Carli Lloyd is a community and youth worker and told the BBC at the demonstration that "it's really important that everyone in the city has access to that vital resource".

'Talk to residents'

Regional organiser of the Unison union, Ravi Subramanian, urged the council to talk to residents to try and find a solution.

"What we're seeing today is the people of Birmingham people coming together to protest about the council cuts that have been forced upon Birmingham City Council by austerity that's been implemented through government cuts to council funding," he said.

"The first thing that the council's got to do is talk to the trade unions and talk to the residents because there may be ideas that we will have.

"Particularly our members who work at the council and deliver the services day in and day out, they know where the inefficiencies are."

Birmingham City Council has announced details of £300m savings over the next two years, which includes cuts to libraries

Birmingham's Labour council leader, John Cotton, previously said the cuts were unprecedented in scale and blamed the government for causing wider financial issues at local council level.

"The mistakes made in Birmingham have not occurred in a vacuum and councils are facing a perfect storm of smaller budgets but higher costs," he said.

A government bail out loan of £1.25bn has been agreed to help the council deal with its financial issues but it will need to be repaid through the sale of assets.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said Birmingham City Council had massively mismanaged its finances and that the government had "repeatedly expressed concern" over the council's governance arrangements.