Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Gaza Media Office: Bloody spectacle shows that these zones have become collective death traps rather than aid distribution zones.
Gaza Media Office: Dozens of citizens are still surrounded under constant fire in the vicinity of the "aid station."
Gaza Media Office: As soon as citizens arrived, occupation and Americans opened direct fire on them.
Gaza Media Office: Occupation, in complicity with the US company, called on citizens to move toward Wadi Gaza Bridge, claiming that aid would be distributed.
Gaza Government Media Office: Occupation set a bloody trap at bridge of Wadi Gaza, luring thousands of starved civilians, and opened fire on them.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in South Lebanon: Israeli drone drops sonic grenade in town of Ramiyah.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in South Lebanon: Israeli drone strike targets vehicle in town of Beit Lif.
The Government Media Office in Gaza: The occupation’s latest crime is further evidence of its ongoing implementation of genocide through starvation.
Gaza Government Media Office: This is a methodical use of aid as a tool of war to blackmail hungry civilians.
Gaza Government media office: Massacre committed by occupation today is a blatant war crime under international law.

Birmingham City Council declares itself 'effectively bankrupt'

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: News Websites
  • 5 Sep 2023 21:49
3 Min Read

According to Liberal Democrat group leader Roger Harmer, "every one of Birmingham's citizens will feel the pain of this decision as we move into unchartered waters."

  • x
  •    Birmingham City Council declares itself 'effectively bankrupt'
    A woman walks in front of the Birmingham City Council building. (AFP)

Europe's largest local council, the Birmingham's city council, has issued a Section 114 notice prohibiting all but required spending to safeguard core services.

The constraints are related to a £760 million obligation to resolve equal pay claims.

The Labour Authority's head and deputy leader Sharon Thompson said in a joint statement with Council leader John Cotton that the decision was a "necessary step as we seek to get our city back on a sound financial footing."

Cotton and Thompson remarked that "unprecedented financial challenges" resulted from a range of factors like increased demand for adult social care as well as rampant inflation.

Read more: Inflation in  the UK forces households to cut on luxury spending

They also explained they have requested additional support from the Local Government Association, noting that the issuing of the 114 Notice is an essential step to put the city "back on a sound financial footing."

Moving into uncharted waters

Related News

Anti-racism protests hit UK streets after days of far-right riots

Two Alabama mass shootings leave total seven dead, nine wounded

Rishi Sunak called on the elected officials to "manage their own budgets," after Downing Street reacted to the announcement, calling it "concerning" for residents of the city.

According to Liberal Democrat group leader Roger Harmer, "Every one of Birmingham's citizens will feel the pain of this decision as we move into unchartered waters."

The notice means social care and education will continue to be funded and non-essential provision could affect parks, roads, libraries, and cultural projects.

Prof Tony Travers, a local government expert at the London School of Economics, stated that Birmingham City Council has been experiencing financial difficulties "on and off" for more than a decade owing to equal pay and other issues.

He told BBC Radio WM that "Birmingham is a very important city within Britain and it is essential for the whole country that its services are good and that the city is seen to be motoring forward."

"The risk is that the city council's provision of services will be trimmed further and further back and that has consequences not only to what the city looks like and feels like to live in, but also the reputational hit to the city as well."

The largest Birmingham City Council staff union, GMB, called the news a "humiliating admission of failure" on the part of the council's leadership.

According to organizer Michelle McCrossen, "Not only are they responsible for creating this crisis through years of discriminating against their own staff, but even they no longer believe themselves capable of fixing it."

McCrossen pledged the union would fight to bring those responsible to justice.

  • Birmingham
  • London
  • Britain
  • United Kingdom

Most Read

President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrive to a news conference in the East Room of the White House, Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025, in Washington (AP)

Rift widens: Trump, Netanyahu clash in heated phone call over Iran

  • Politics
  • 26 May 2025
US judges quietly consider private security amid Trump tensions

US judges quietly consider private security amid Trump pressures

  • US & Canada
  • 25 May 2025
An Israeli army vehicle moves in the Gaza Strip as seen from southern occupied Palestine, Thursday, May 29, 2025 (AP)

Hamas rejects Witkoff ceasefire plan, says alters terms

  • Politics
  • 29 May 2025
Spokesperson for the Yemeni Armed Forces, Brigadier General Yahya Saree, announces a new operation against Ben Gurion Airport on May 29, 2025 (Yemeni Military Media)

Yemen announces successful hypersonic missile strike on Ben Gurion

  • Politics
  • 30 May 2025

Coverage

All
War on Gaza

Read Next

All
MIT bans class president who gave pro-Palestine speech
US & Canada

MIT bans class president over pro-Palestine speech

Arab ministers condemn Israel 'ban' on planned West Bank visit
Politics

Arab ministers condemn Israeli ban on planned West Bank visit

Major General Hu Gangfeng, Vice President, National Defense University, People's Liberation Army, China, leaves after a panel discussion during the 22nd Shangri-La Dialogue summit in Singapore, Saturday, May 31, 2025. (AP Photo/Anupam Nath)
Politics

China blasts Hegseth, calls US top 'troublemaker' in Asia-Pacific

US activists demand shutdown of Musk's 'dirty' supercomputer: Reports
Technology

US activists demand shutdown of Musk's 'dirty' supercomputer: NBC News

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS