After 14 years of Labour’s chaotic rule, which has led to a self-inflicted financial disaster, skyrocketing council taxes, and decimated services, the Conservatives’ plan offers a fresh start focused on transformation, efficiency, and putting residents first.
The alternative budget contrasts sharply with Labour’s failed approach, which has seen more than a third of promised savings fail to materialise, risks ignored, and vital information withheld from the public. Labour’s mismanagement has culminated in a £600 ‘bankruptcy tax’ per household, with council tax doubling since 2012, and ongoing crises like the £760 million Equal Pay liability, the collapsed Oracle IT system, and undelivered savings exceeding £360 million. Even with government bailouts, Labour continues to rely on short-term fixes, maximum tax hikes, and pre-election gimmicks that paper over deep structural problems.
Councillor Robert Alden (Con, Erdington), Leader of the Conservative Opposition, said:
“At times in the last year over 25,000 tonnes of rubbish have gone uncollected on the streets of Birmingham. This is unacceptable. Our budget amendment would keep weekly bin collections, introduce dedicated neighbourhood clean up teams, install extra litter bins and increase recycling. When the Local Conservatives last led Birmingham, we were voted the cleanest city in Britain, our budget amendment will make Birmingham clean again”.
Key elements of the Conservative plan include:
· Cleaner Streets and Neighbourhoods: Increased street cleaning, more bins, and expanded Mobile Household Waste Centres (MHWCs) to tackle litter at its source, boost community pride, and reduce repeat cleanup costs. Under previous Conservative leadership, Birmingham was named the UK’s cleanest city – a title we aim to reclaim.
· Protecting Families and Communities: Converting poorly managed Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) and Exempt Accommodation back into family homes to raise standards, curb anti-social behaviour, and increase decent housing supply. A new Community Chest Fund will empower local residents and councillors to address neighbourhood issues swiftly.
· Stronger Local Services: Extended library opening hours to provide more learning opportunities, digital access, and support for vulnerable residents. Renewed investment in high street regeneration to support small businesses, boost footfall, and revive local centres.
· Fixing Infrastructure: Prioritising road repairs, keeping parking free in parks to ensure accessible green spaces, and supporting businesses to break down council barriers, unlock investment, and drive job growth.
· Celebrating Heritage: Marking the 1,100th anniversary of England’s unification in 2027 and the 500th anniversary of Sutton Park’s gifting in 2028 to honour Birmingham’s history, strengthen civic pride, and attract tourism.
“Labour has forfeited any right to trust with their budgets,” said Councillor Robert Alden.
“They’ve ignored warnings on equal pay, Oracle, savings delivery, and regeneration fiascos like Perry Barr, leading to an entirely avoidable financial collapse. Residents are paying the price for Labour’s hubris, but there’s another way. Our alternative budget will clean up the council’s mess, eliminate waste, and deliver real change, starting with cleaner streets and ending the endless cycle of double whammy of higher costs for fewer services.”
To fund these priorities, without burdening residents, the Conservatives propose targeted savings through back-office efficiencies, reducing reliance on expensive agency staff and consultants, and long-term transformation. This includes modernising commissioning and procurement, cutting energy costs via on-site generation and private partnerships, creating an agile workforce to break down silos, expanding shared services with other councils, and flattening management structures. These proven reforms, successfully implemented elsewhere, would improve council responsiveness as well as reduce costs, allowing for lower council tax increases by year three – going further in the long term.
“Labour’s 14 years of poor decisions, ignored risks, and unlawful actions have left Birmingham in chaos,” added Cllr Alden. “Our plan rejects their double whammy of higher taxes for fewer services and instead delivers genuine efficiencies that other councils have achieved. By cleaning up the city literally and the council metaphorically, we’ll protect frontline services, limit future increases, and scrap unfair charges – putting money back in residents’ pockets. And make Birmingham clean again”.
Councillor Ewan Mackey (Con, Sutton Roughley), Deputy Leader of the Conservative Opposition, said:
“With local elections in May, Birmingham residents face a clear choice: four more years of Labour disaster or a Conservative-led clean up that unleashes the city’s true potential. The alternative budget underscores the Conservatives’ proven track record of warnings that went unheeded and their commitment to a responsive, resident-focused council”.
