Thousands of Birmingham residents sign petition to stop Birmingham City Council tax rise

Thousands of furious residents have signed a petition to stop Birmingham City Council’s “unprecedented and unjust” council tax rise.

With the Labour-run authority grappling with a financial crisis and a £300 million black hole, proposals have been put forward to raise council tax by 9.99 per cent in the next financial year and the same again in 2025/26. The planned hike has sparked anger and dismay among Brummies.”

An online petition against the proposed council tax rise on Change.org had been signed more than 9,000 times by other angry and worried residents as of this morning, February 26. Its organiser wrote: “As residents of the great city of Birmingham, we are facing an unprecedented and unjust council tax increase.

“We, the hard-working citizens, are being asked to bear the burden of their [the council’s] mistakes.” They continued: “We urge you to join us in voicing our discontent against this unfair tax increase which only serves to punish us for problems we did not create nor contribute towards.”

One resident who signed the petition said: “Council tax is far too high, already struggling to pay as it is.” Many people are already struggling with the rising cost of living,” a second said. “For many, I suspect this increase will just create further hardship and potential destitution.”

Another anxious local added: “This proposal is unfair and frankly ridiculous – I’m just barely getting by as it is.”

Leader of Birmingham City Council John Cotton previously vowed that significant support would be in place for those who might struggle to pay.

He recently said: “Birmingham City Council faces a series of tough financial challenges and we have been left with no choice but to request to increase council tax above the five per cent threshold.

“We will be continuing our generous council tax support scheme so that hard-pressed families across Birmingham receive the help that they need.”

He previously insisted the period of austerity brought in by the Conservative government had contributed to the council’s current crisis while also acknowledging Birmingham specific problems – such as an equal pay fiasco and the disastrous implementation of a new IT and finance system.

Speaking to the media on Monday, Coun Cotton  apologised to residents across the city for the spending reductions and the council tax increase, describing the “savings” contained in the budget proposals as “unprecedented”.

He said: “The council will continue to face financial pressures as it seeks to meet its wide-ranging statutory duties and to protect those residents in the city most in need of support.”