The Neighbourhood Overview & Scrutiny Committee, which has a majority of Labour councillors, decided not to uphold the call in request. They also voted down three other requests from other parties.

The councillors asked for the call in because: 

• The decision conflicts with council policies on digital access
• There were a number of concerns around the consultation 
• There was no consideration of the effect of reducing opening hours on libraries’ use and viability. 
• The information around the partner-led proposals was insufficient and potentially inaccurate.

Green Party Councillor Julien Pritchard said:

“This is incredibly disappointing. Many of the points made simply weren’t addressed by the Cabinet Member and officers. Despite this, the Labour Councillors decided not to allow the challenge to the cabinet decision. Yet again, Labour Councillors have shown no regard for the views of residents who rely on these vital community assets in voting for cuts to the Library service.

“Now our Libraries face shorter hours or complete closure for the partner led libraries if they fall through.“

The post Labour Councillors Vote Down Challenge to Library Cuts appeared first on Birmingham Green Party.

Green Party Councillors Julien Pritchard and Rob Grant proposed an amendment to put funding back into Libraries, Youth Centres and street cleaning after they were cut from last year’s budget. They are also proposing to reintroduce free pest control for rats and put more money back into flooding, but unfortunately the amendment was voted down by Labour councillors.

They were able to find officially approved savings in communications, the council’s senior leadership team, support to council political groups and the council cabinet, plus a small reduction in allowances for the council cabinet. 

Green Party Councillor Julien Pritchard said:

“Once again this Council budget is cutting services, which means residents will continue to suffer for a crisis not of their making. There’s a lot of talk about tough choices and difficult decisions. It’s not really difficult for the people making those decisions. It’s not hard for those people at the top.”

“As well as the Council’s self-inflicted mistakes and mis-management, Birmingham isn’t getting the funds it needs from the Labour Government to deliver services for the residents of this city. Austerity is well and truly still alive and kicking under Labour.”

“Vital services could be funded by taxing wealth. It seems that Labour would rather make tough choices that mean ordinary residents suffer, than the tough choices that tax wealth.”

“Without the council leadership sticking up for the needs of residents, more Birmingham Council cuts are to come next year, so there’s not much hope things will get better.”

“We’re trying to give a bit of hope and put back some funding into some of those front line services that really matter to residents.”

Green Party Councillor Rob Grant said:

“People will be rightly upset that they are paying more for less. Residents are rightly asking why they should pay when they’re getting so little service.”

“And what role have residents played in setting this Council budget? Residents have had little say in the prioritisation of how the woefully low levels of funds are spent. Their voices have not been heard in drawing up this Labour budget.”

The Green Party Budget Amendment can be read in full here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1XUGZz95j8UOUHD1W9AkWzgOlDmE2hcFe/view?usp=sharing

The post Greens push for more cash for Libraries, Cleaner Streets, and Youth Centres appeared first on Birmingham Green Party.

The councillors are asking the Neighbourhoods Overview & Scrutiny to call in the decision, which pushes the Labour Cabinet to look again at the proposals. The councillors have asked for the call in because: 

• The decision conflicts with council policies on digital access
• There were a number of concerns around the consultation 
• There was no consideration of the effect of reducing opening hours on libraries’ use and viability. 
• The information around the partner-led proposals was insufficient and potentially inaccurate.

Green Party Councillor Julien Pritchard said:

“Libraries are absolutely crucial to communities across the city. Any changes need to be done carefully. Instead this decision has slashed opening hours and cast uncertainty over several libraries across the city. “

“There’s no consideration of the effect of cutting opening hours on library use, and how to make sure this doesn’t open the door to more cuts in future.”

“The lack of information on the partner led proposals won’t fill people with confidence that it’s not just a fig-leaf to close those libraries.”

“The Labour Administration really needs to think again on this.”

The documents for the cabinet meeting to approve cuts to the libraries can be viewed here: https://birmingham.cmis.uk.com/birmingham/Meetings/tabid/70/ctl/ViewMeetingPublic/mid/397/Meeting/14215/Committee/2/Default.aspx

The call in is here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/12D8Pzq6YyrQrDHNloaY94RSSjCSnGlPo/edit?usp=drive_link&ouid=107060955718882334205&rtpof=true&sd=true

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