Tax hikes, payment delays and new Council charges: Brummies hit with triple blow during cost of living crisis
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Tax hikes, payment delays and new Council charges: Brummies hit with triple blow during cost of living crisis
The cost of living crisis is hitting families across the UK.
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Supply-chain issues, energy bill increases and the Russian invasion of Ukraine have driven widespread inflation.
Families in Birmingham are struggling and concern is mounting that Birmingham City Council is adding to the pressures they face. The Labour administration’s decision to hike council tax could disproportionately hit working-class families hardest.
Leader of the Conservative Group on the Council, Councillor Robert Alden (Conservative, Erdington Ward) commented, "Whilst Central Government have been working to try and ease the burden of the rising cost of living, the Labour run City Council have sadly failed to do their part.”
Highlighting the increased costs residents face in their Council Tax Bill, he added; “ In 2012 Birmingham Labour promised not to increase Council Tax if they took control yet they are now on their 9th year of Council Tax rises.”
Since the Labour council took control of the Council in 2012, council tax has risen by 39%, hitting family finances across Birmingham. This year, Birmingham Labour are increasing council tax by 2.99%, the maximum amount legally permitted.
Leader of the Council, Councillor Ian Ward (Labour, Shard End) has claimed the council’s finances are healthy, raising questions on how the council tax hike is justified.
Elsewhere, the Council has come under criticism for expensive ‘vanity’ projects such as the £500 million athlete’s village in Perry Barr. The Village was built for athletes coming to the city for the commonwealth games yet due to incompetence this village will not be completed on time. Money wasted during tax rises is never a good look for any government.
The Council continually wasted money by putting a bus lane on the A38 with no local consultation. Due to widespread uproar from local residents, who felt like it caused traffic chaos, the bus lane was removed. With Brummies needing financial help, wasteful practices are making the issue worse not better.
Government support schemes aimed at supporting people with the cost of living include a council tax rebate worth £150. Most local authorities have swiftly paid the rebate to their residents. However in Birmingham, the Labour administration has experienced numerous delays in making the payment.
In nearby Bromsgrove, the Council began payments of the rebate in April. Birmingham Council by contrast have people still waiting, raising questions over the administration’s organisational efficiency. Meanwhile, residents continue to struggle with daily costs with fuel costs alone rising by 43.6% in the last year.
Residents’ pockets will be further stretched if Birmingham Labour go ahead with a planned levy on motorists who park at work. The scheme would charge businesses and their employees £500 for each car parking space. Meaning that workers who want to park at work will have to pay £500 a year which is a huge hit to family finances.
Councillor Alden has vocally criticised the plans, highlighting that Birmingham Labour “campaigned on the cost of living in the 2022 elections and yet are now considering placing a levy on people for parking at work and their budget forward plan makes clear 3 more years of rises are planned”.
From Jack Dixon (Politics Editor)
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