Protest held against Birmingham City Council cuts

The protest was held outside Birmingham City Council in Victoria Square

Dozens of people have attended a protest against cuts by Birmingham City Council.

The authority declared itself effectively bankrupt in September by issuing a section 114 notice before signing off on £300m worth of cuts and a 21% rise in council tax over two years.

The rally in Victoria Square involved Brum Rise Up - a coalition including unions, service users and citizens, brought together by campaign group the People's Assembly.

The Labour-run council said given "the huge financial challenge" it had "no choice but to make these decisions" but it was doing its "utmost to protect those most in need of our help".

Wendy Collymore's 95-year-old father, John, has dementia and attends Fairway Day Centre, which is at risk of closure.

"I'm saying to Birmingham City Council, 'Think of the future'," she told the BBC.

"Because if you close these day centres today, in 20 years' time, when they will be needed again, you will not be able to afford to rebuild new buildings.

"Reinvest in the ones we have today."

Residents can get involved in consultations for service areas and one on the future of the council's day centres is due to close on 9 July.

After the day centres service was reviewed, cabinet member for health and social care Rob Pocock said they were valued but "had declining attendance and needed to offer more flexible and responsive support to citizens".

He added proposals for the service, "in addition to delivering savings, [are]... to develop a more flexible, person-centred offer that reflects our key outcomes".

The council was committed to ensuring nobody would lose their service, nor staff their jobs, Mr Pocock said.

Wendy Collymore's father attends a day centre threatened with closure

Kate Taylor, from Brum Rise Up, said the proposed cuts would be "devastating". It's going to tear the heart out of our city," she added.

She said the group wanted the council to pause the savings plan until after the general election, and for the government "to reconsider the way that it funds local authorities".

The council and central government have blamed each other for the plight in which the authority finds itself.

A Conservative Party spokesman said: "Despite the impact of Covid and the war in Ukraine, we have stuck to the plan, supporting councils with £4.5 billion in additional funding this year, helping them to deliver quality local services for residents."

Labour spokesman Jim McMahon said if his party forms the next government it would ask "a lot of local government, but in return, we will bring stability and greater certainty".

The Liberal Democrats said they would support local government and review burdens and costs that councils have had.

Green party co-leader Carla Denyer stated it would ensure local government received a boost of £5bn per year.

Reform UK did not respond to the BBC's request for comment.

Additional reporting by Andrew Dawkins