Title

FINANCE

Brum proposes £300m cuts

Cash-strapped Birmingham City Council will cut spending on services by £300m to balance its books.

Cash-strapped Birmingham City Council will cut spending on services by £300m to balance its books.

The UK's biggest local authority will also hike council tax by 21% over the next two years from April, according to its budget proposals for 2024-25 and 2025-26.

Documents released by Birmingham alongside the budget proposals confirmed the Government has approved £1.25bn of exceptional financial support – in the form of loans that must be paid back partly through asset sales.

Council leader John Cotton apologised ‘unreservedly' for the spending reductions and council tax increase.

He said: ‘We have no alternative than to face these challenges head on and we will do whatever is necessary to put the council back on a sound financial footing.'

The local authority has warned that up to 600 posts may be axed.

Birmingham was forced to issue a section 114 notice in September.

The council is facing liabilities for equal pay claims of nearly £800m.

FINANCE

The problem with housing: Viability

By Heather Jameson | 17 July 2026

Uncertainty, viability and devolution: local authorities face a collection of hurdles and opportunities when it comes to delivering much-needed housing. The ...

FINANCE

Expanded cities the winners in reorganisation plans

By Paul Marinko | 16 July 2026

The Government has backed expanded city authorities across the country with its announcement on local government reorganisation for remaining two tier areas.

FINANCE

The key to LGR success

By Jo Walker | 16 July 2026

Gloucestershire CC is calling for a comprehensive review of local government funding, greater local decision-making and a stronger partnership with central g...

FINANCE

Rewiring local government from demand to prevention

By Kim Wright | 16 July 2026

Kim Wright says shifting from crisis response to prevention presents significant financial and other challenges, but by understanding communities deeply, pub...

Popular articles by William Eichler