Food bank chief fumes at hefty council rates

A CITY man who helps feed 1,000 hungry Brummies a month says Birmingham City Council rates mean it is now costing them more than ever to turn the lights on.

- NAOMI DESOUZA News Reporter

Scores of people stretch around the block three times a week to access food parcels at Bethany Food Bank in Witton.

Operating in the shadow of an M6 bridge, the food bank has built a reputation for giving out fresh food and having a judgement-free approach with clients who visit from Tuesday to Thursday.

The Birmingham Mail reported in October 2024 how much of a challenge the food bank was facing, despite having a partial discount on the rates it pays to Birmingham City Council and the situation has deteriorated since then.

Chief trustee Kevin Warrington said the charity has an 80% charity relief discount and further 14% discretionary discount on their council rates, meaning it pays roughly £280 in council rates each month.

This is in addition to rent for the unit to a private landlord, which shot up by a whopping £600 in April.

Kevin, 70, has questioned why as a charity they are being charged rates at all, and has pleaded with the council to help him find funding or apply a further discretionary discount, as paying the remaining 6% in rates is continuing to drain the charity.