Council sets out budget for a "golden decade"

Birmingham City Council has published its draft financial plan for the coming years, which it says is designed to make the most of a "golden decade" for the city, beginning with the Commonwealth Games this summer.

Under the plans, the council's share of council tax would rise by 2.99 per cent in 2022-23, equivalent to 86p a week for a Band D home.

Five aims

The plan focuses on early intervention and prevention, to improve life chances and spread the benefits of growth to every street, neighbourhood and community. It sets out five aims for the city: to be prosperous, inclusive, safe, healthy and green.

Prosperous means continued economic growth, tackling unemployment, attracting investment and making the most of the Commonwealth Games. Inclusive covers looking after vulnerable children, supporting young people and promoting diversity and culture. Safe includes tackling anti-social behaviour and hate crime, providing housing and addressing homelessness. Healthy means tackling health inequalities, encouraging physical activity and supporting mental health. And green covers cleaner streets, better air quality, cutting carbon and a fair transition to a greener economy.

Council tax

The plan assumes a yearly council tax rise of 1.99 per cent. Because of the long-standing pressure on social care, the council is also proposing to add the one per cent adult social care precept announced by the government in the local government finance settlement, bringing the total increase for 2022-23 to 2.99 per cent.

The draft follows a public engagement exercise late last year, in which residents were asked how the council's money should be prioritised.

"A bold budget"

Council leader Ian Ward said: "This is a bold budget for Birmingham that will help us reap the benefits of a golden decade ahead for the city, its people and its businesses."

"Despite ongoing pressures and challenges, as well as those emerging from the COVID-19 pandemic, we know there is a need to protect and modernise services, whilst investing in areas that are rightly a priority for the people and communities of Birmingham."

"Our strategy focuses on early intervention and prevention to level-up life chances, so that the benefits of growth are felt in every street, neighbourhood, and community and we will work in partnership with other public agencies and the private sector to put Birmingham at the very heart of the levelling up agenda."

Opportunities ahead

The council points to a series of opportunities over the coming years. Birmingham will host the Commonwealth Games from 28 July, the biggest sporting event in the city's history. HS2 is under construction, with the new Curzon Street station taking shape in Eastside, and the city has a strong and diverse economy.

But the budget is being set against a difficult background. Councils across the country are still dealing with the costs of the pandemic, demand for social care continues to grow, and rising prices are beginning to squeeze household budgets.

The draft plan will be considered by the council's cabinet and then by the full council, which is due to set the budget and council tax for the year ahead next month.