Update provided on Birmingham’s Frankfurt Christmas Market amid city council ‘bankruptcy’

The organisers of Birmingham’s Christmas market have said the event will go ahead this year despite the city council’s financial problems.

Birmingham City Council has declared itself effectively bankrupt after being hit by a multi-million pound pay claim.

The city council announced on Tuesday it could no longer balance its books and issued a Section 114 notice. Local authorities in the UK can’t go bankrupt but the notice means they are unable to spend money, which is why it’s often reffered to being ‘effectively bankrupt’.

The council made an alarming admission earlier this summer that it couldn’t afford to pay its equal pay liability - which is currently in the region of £650m and £760m and continuing to accrue at an estimated rate of between £5 million and £14 million a month.

Market set to go ahead

Despite the council’s financial woes, the organisers of the city’s Christmas market have announced it is still set to go ahead.

Kurt Stroscher, one of the organisers of the German market, told the BBC that the market paid for all costs itself and is set to return in November.

He expressed sympathy for the city, and said: “I am very sad that this has happened. But the market will take place this year because we pay the costs ourselves.” He said it’s ‘a pleasure’ to share the market with the people of Birmingham.

The market is returning to New Street and Victoria Square on November 2, and will run everyday until December 23.

Millions of people have attended the event over the years, and residents and visitors from far and wide are expected to travel to the heart of the city once again to indulge in the festivities at the market as it returns for its 19th year.

The event’s organisers – Frankfurt Christmas Market Ltd – are also looking to fill a range of customer-facing and behind the scenes roles ranging from bar staff, catering assistants and salespeople on gift stalls, to kitchen assistants and porters.

There is a mix of part-time and full-time roles. You can apply here.