Birmingham council leader makes job cuts promise

Council leader John Cotton said he recognised it was a "difficult time" for his staff

The leader of Birmingham City Council has promised to work with staff and trade unions as he looks to cut 600 jobs.

The authority is considering the move to tackle its £300m funding gap over the next two years.

John Cotton said he was faced with "a number of really tough decisions in order to balance the budget".

He also promised to minimise the impact on services for the most vulnerable and said he would seek to avoid strikes.

Mr Cotton said: "We've got some incredibly dedicated public servants working for Birmingham City Council."

He said he recognised they would be going through a "difficult time" with the situation the council was in and the rising cost of living.

No decisions on job losses have been made yet and Mr Cotton said there was a "lot of speculation at the moment".

The council is also seeking to cut services to save money and has asked the government for permission to raise council tax by up to 10% each year for the next two years.

The council is due to set its budget next month.