Birmingham City Council has approved its budget for 2026\/27, signing off plans that include an additional \u00a3130m for frontline services and marking a key step in the authority\u2019s financial recovery.<\/p>\n
The proposals were agreed at a reconvened full council meeting on 2 March, following initial debate the previous week.<\/p>\n
Councillors voted 40 to 37 in favour of the budget, with two amendments also approved. The decision confirms that the council has set a balanced revenue budget for the coming financial year.<\/p>\n
The package includes extra investment aimed at improving visible local services, with a focus on cleaner and safer streets, community facilities and support for young people.<\/p>\n
Funding has been allocated to increase spending on street cleaning, strengthen action against fly-tipping and maintain library services, including keeping Community Hubs open for an additional day each week.<\/p>\n
The budget also makes provision for new cultural and youth initiatives, alongside further work to address issues around exempt accommodation.<\/p>\n
Leader Birmingham City Council Cllr John Cotton said: \u201cWe have reached an important milestone in the council\u2019s recovery and that is down to the sheer hard work that has been undertaken here in Birmingham by members and officers, supported by commissioners.<\/p>\n
\u201cNow – thanks to two years of decisive action, tough choices, and a great deal of hard work by members, officers, and Commissioners – the Section 114 is gone, and we have ditched, once and for all, the tag of \u2018Bankrupt Birmingham\u2019. We have closed a \u00a3300 million budget gap, tackled our equal pay liabilities, and are getting to grips with improving the services that the council provides for the residents of Birmingham.<\/p>\n
\u201cI am determined that the mistakes of the past will not be repeated, as we drive further efficiencies to deliver better services and value for money for council taxpayers \u2013 there will be no backtracking on the progress that we have made over the last two years.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m ambitious for Birmingham\u2019s future. Now we will step up our work with the West Midlands Mayor and Government to invest in our communities, delivering the homes, jobs and services that the people of this city deserve.\u201d<\/p>\n
The approved budget sets the financial framework for the council as it moves out of its recovery phase and seeks to stabilise services while responding to ongoing demand pressures.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Councillors voted 40 to 37 in favour of the budget, with two amendments also approved<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":266702,"featured_media":2074468,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[120782,136545],"coauthors":[127717],"class_list":["post-2109167","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-economy","category-local-government","tag-featured-story","tag-greater-birmingham","tag-top-story"],"yoast_head":"\n