City budget backed after council chaos

Plans include putting £130m back into services

- JANE HAYNES Political Reporter

BIRMINGHAM has ended up with more cash earmarked for potholes, street cleaners and youth services after a tense finale to days of wrangling over the council's budget.

The city's Labour leaders succeeded at the second attempt in getting their budget for the year ahead approved after a week's delay but also agreed some last minute changes.

A council tax hike of 4.99% is now on its way, alongside a balanced £4.4billion budget designed to safeguard services after two years of massive cuts.

The meeting was adjourned last week after Labour failed to make a decision on the proposed budget for the next financial year.

The meeting restarted in the expectation of more drama and vote shenanigans but it was over and done with in minutes once council lead John Cotton, realised he had the majority his group needed.

He was able to rely on a turnout of 40 Labour councillors (out of a possible 52) to get the budget over the line.