Delivering for the people of Birmingham
Cllr Ian Ward reflects on how the council’s budget will help the city through the cost-of-living crisis and help to build a cleaner, safer and better Birmingham for everyone...
Each February, Birmingham City Council sets its budget for the year ahead. This always brings with it challenges, and this year is no exception as the country experiences rising prices, rising interest rates, and the prospect of a recession.
The cost-of-living crisis is hitting families, neighbourhoods and businesses, but our budget outlines how the Council is collaborating with partners to support people in every neighbourhood and every community across Birmingham.
Costs are also going up for the Council, in the energy that it takes to power our schools and run our bin lorries, to the electricity that keeps our streets lit at night, prices are rising across the Council. However, we will still deliver on our priorities to build a city which is prosperous, inclusive, safe, healthy and green.
We’re spending more money on cleaning up our neighbourhoods and making them safer, and supporting cultural activities in local neighbourhoods as part of our Commonwealth Games legacy.
Crucially, we are further developing HelpinBrum, our cost-of-living initiative, finding a further £6 million to offer targeted support for vulnerable adults across the city.
Passing the budget is a key moment in the Council’s year, and this week I was joined by my colleagues Councillor Brigid Jones and Councillor Yvonne Mosquito as we answered questions at a Facebook Live event hosted by Birmingham Updates.
We all made it clear that this budget shows that Birmingham City Council is on the side of the people of our city, and that our challenge is to now deliver the projects that we know will make our communities cleaner, safer and better for everyone.
Keep an eye on the Council’s social media accounts in the weeks ahead for updates on the budget, including some brilliant examples on how we spend your money to deliver on your priorities.
Birmingham is a bold, growing city with a young, diverse, and creative population. The financial plan outlines how the Council will support people through challenging times, while also playing a leading role in our city's future prosperity.
We will build on our Commonwealth Games success to deliver life-changing and truly inclusive growth for people in every neighbourhood and community.
The Games has given new confidence to Birmingham, and we will use that confidence to continue to Be Bold Be Birmingham.
This blog was posted on 3 February 2023
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