Bleak outlook is down to Labour mismanagement, say Conservatives

OPPOSITION Conservatives on the council claimed Labour’s financial mismanagement was to blame for the – and proposed a council tax freeze while guaranteeing the higher voluntary living wage of care staff.

They claimed they could cut waste and inefficiency on contracts, including scrapping the council’s costly Service Birmingham IT contract, to put more money into services.

Labour leader John Clancy said the council had listened and reduced cuts to a ‘supporting people fun’ for the vulnerable, parks and museums following public outcry he said.

But during a heated and highly personal debate, Conservative leader Robert Alden hit back, highlighting the Labour run council’s failure to stick to its budget, the recent chaos over the departure of the chief executive and continued Government supervision.

“No other councils are failing like Birmingham,” he said, “The Labour legacy is failing services, external commissioners and litter on our streets. If something drastic does not change the city council will be taken over.”

Liberal Democrat leader Jon Hunt called for more investment in street cleaning and measures to tackle anti-social behaviour and flytipping.

There was also a proposal to bring back free garden waste collections and food waste recycling.

He also described Labour’s handling of last year’s budget a ‘shambles’.

No other councils are failing like Birmingham Conservative group leader Robert Alden