£56m of assets sold amid financial troubles

Birmingham City Council have sold an array of properties and land since January as it attempts to make savings

More than £56m worth of assets, including a city centre car park and a former children's centre, has been sold by Birmingham City Council amid its ongoing financial challenges.

Properties and land, including a petrol station in Hockley, are among sites disposed of since January. The children's centre building was in Quinton.

The former Wheels site in Bordesley Green where a new Birmingham City FC stadium had been proposed has also been sold for more than £30m.

The city council effectively declared bankruptcy last year, following equal pay claims of up to £760m and an IT system overspend of £80m.

A wave of cuts to services and an increase in council tax was confirmed by the local authority earlier this year as it attempts to make £300m of budget savings over the next two years.

A number of the Labour-run council's assets across the city went under the hammer at auction, according to a list obtained through a Freedom of Information request.

Other properties which have been sold the beginning of year include The Punchbowl in Kinghurst and The Elegance Suite in Nechells.

This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service which covers councils and other public service organisations.