Cllr Shabina Bano speaks out on behalf of the people of Small Heath

Thank you, Lord Mayor.

Lord Mayor, I rise today to speak on the deeply damaging and profoundly concerning impact of this budget on Birmingham, particularly for my residents in Small Heath. 

Birmingham is not just breaking—it is broken. Broken by incompetence, by poor decision-making, and by a cabinet that continues to ignore the suffering of its residents.

In recent days, I have been inundated with calls from residents who are terrified about how they will cope with yet another council tax increase. Hardworking teachers, nurses, and single parents—already struggling with the cost of living they feel abandoned by an administration that prioritises process over people. They tell me: this council is making our lives miserable. And they are absolutely right.

Birmingham, once a thriving and dynamic city, is now suffering under relentless cuts. Residents expect their bins to be emptied, streetlights to work, pavements to be clean roads to be safe and well-maintained, libraries to be accessible, schools to be well-run, and care services for the elderly to be effective. They want good education for their children, support for vulnerable and SEND children, These are not luxuries—they are basic rights. 

But what we have instead is:

• A devastating impact on children and young people services
• The closure of adult day centres,
• Streetlights dimmed, further compromising public safety.
• Bin strikes leading to mountains of fly-tipping.
• Libraries are closed on Saturdays.
• We have over 10,000 children in emergency accommodation
• Residents frustrated by the lack of action on speeding and dangerous driving.
• The bus fare cap rise from £2 to £2.90, making public transport even less affordable.

The national Labour government have slashed winter fuel payments too, making thousands if not millions of pensioners poorer.

Lord Mayor it seems Birmingham Labour has its priorities completely backwards. While services are being cut, the cabinet member for libraries seems to have no regard for the impact on families. 

Perhaps the excitement of organizing a street party in the holy month of Ramadan has made her forget the importance of how vital the library services are. The Cabinet member for libraries has repeatedly failed to take meaningful action. Her handling of the consultation process has been riddled with contradictions and empty reassurances, with no real commitment to protecting Birmingham’s libraries. This pattern of misleading statements and unfulfilled promises has eroded public trust in the council’s decision-making process. 

Birmingham City Council claims there is no money to keep libraries open, yet thousands have been wasted on consultation exercises that have yielded little to no impact. This city is being bled dry by financial mismanagement. While communities suffer, this administration continues to waste money and evade scrutiny shutting down vital services.

Even more concerning is the allocation of public funds. The Community Recovery Fund—designed to reduce violence and community discord—has instead been funnelled into Ramadan Streets, receiving the largest pay out of £70,000 or more. Even worse, the cabinet member responsible for community safety and cohesion was given control of these funds, despite serious concerns over her ability to manage finances responsibly. 

This council is being run by a cabinet that lacks competence, accountability, and the ability to make decisions in the best interests of Birmingham’s residents. Backroom deals, financial mismanagement, and a complete disregard for public consultation are the hallmarks of this Birmingham labour. Lord Mayor, I ask the Leader: does he have confidence in his cabinet when such failures are being publicly exposed?.

The Liberal Democrats would do things differently. We believe in providing choice and opportunity at a grassroots level Our motion will 

• Increase the proposed opening hours of community hub libraries from four days a week to six and other libraries from 3 days to 5 days
• Ensure full-time library access, including Saturdays,
• Stop wasteful spending on performative consultations and instead redirect funds to frontline services.

I ask everyone to vote for the residents that voted for us to be their voice not play party politics today.