Birmingham Labour leader on bins strike and key topics as local elections loom

Labour candidates across Birmingham are gearing up for a huge battle to keep control of the city council as May’s local elections approach.

All 101 seats in Brum are up for grabs in this election, which follows a turbulent period marked by the Labour-run council’s financial crisis and the ongoing bins strike.

The blame game over the council’s ‘bankruptcy’ saw Labour politicians point to the impact of ‘austerity’ measures introduced during the previous Conservative government.

But Birmingham-specific issues, such as the equal pay and Oracle debacles, were also significant factors in the council’s financial woes.

Recent turbulence has seen Labour’s controlling majority in Birmingham take a hit, with numerous councillors leaving the party.

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As the election approaches, Birmingham Labour leader and current council leader John Cotton was quizzed on a number of issues – and what the party would do if they remained in power in the city.

Here’s what Councillor John Cotton had to say about the bins strike, The Crown, LTNs, 20mph limits, unemployment and more.

Bins strike

One issue which Birmingham Labour and John Cotton has faced heavy criticism for is the handling on the bins strike, now in its second year.

Striking workers have claimed they face a pay cut of £8,000 but the council has disputed this figure and insisted that a fair offer had been made.

“I’m sorry that we found ourselves in a situation where we’ve not been able to bring the dispute to a close as yet,” Coun Cotton said. “But we are back in discussions with Unite to try and find a negotiated settlement to the dispute, something I’ve wanted all along.

“We’ve been clear that the waste service in this city hasn’t been good enough for a very long time.

“[This is] why we introduced the necessary changes to ensure we’ve got an up to date fleet, that we’re making proper use of technology and introducing new services like food waste collection.

“We want to work with our workforce to implement those changes – but we also know that what we can’t do is repeat the mistakes of the past that were made around equal pay.”

He continued that any resolution “can’t come at any price” and has to “recognise the challenges the council faces”.

“All negotiation is ultimately about finding a compromise position and I’m very keen we do that,” Coun Cotton added.

“While I’m not going to comment on the details of those talks that are taking place, the fact we are now engaged in some constructive dialogue is very welcome.”

Road safety, LTNS and speed limits

On road safety, Coun Cotton said: “I think we’ve really led the way on this.

“We declared the road safety emergency, we’ve introduced the 20mph speed limits across the city, we’ve also taken some criticism for taking some bold steps.

“But frankly, you only have to go out and talk to residents in my own patch to see the challenge that is created by speeding motorists and the whole set of challenges that communities face because of inconsiderate and dangerous driving.

“We need to be doing more to address that.”

He continued that the recently-approved council budget would provide “additional resource” to support further measures to make roads safer.

Asked about the controversy surrounding the Kings Heath LTN, Coun Cotton said: “We have implemented a number of LTNs across the city and most recently in Kings Heath.

“Obviously we also need to work with residents and communities – [they won’t] all share the same view on the nuances of every single scheme.

“I think it’s important we try and find a consensus where possible.

“But what we’re not going to step away from is taking steps to ensure we can reduce road speeds and ensure that residential streets are safe for families an all residents.”

Asked if he wants to see more 20mph limits in Birmingham, he said: “We need to be taking all the steps we can to reduce road speeds – the evidence is very, very clear when it comes to the damage that a car causes at high speeds compared to lower speed collisions.”

He added that he had heard “really harrowing stories” about people who had lost their lives due to collisions on the road.

“That’s why we need to do more,” he said. “Those who might be critical of policies that are designed to make the roads safer really need to listen to some of those real life stories.”

He added that the council’s recently-approved budget, as well as the government’s funding settlement, meant that services such as road maintenance could be invested in.

Culture and heritage

The future of Station Street and The Crown, also known as the birthplace of Black Sabbath, has been a cause for concern among campaigners, who argue very little progress has been made in preserving and restoring these landmarks.

“Absolutely get the frustration [with The Crown],” Coun Cotton said. “It’s a really important site and an important part of Birmingham’s musical heritage.

“As we are looking to get City of Music status as well, I want that to be part of the celebration of Birmingham’s incredible musical culture that stretches from the CBSO to Black Sabbath and beyond.”

He continued: “The conversations that have been taking place with [The Crown’s owners] Toyoko have been constructive and there clearly is a commitment to secure a positive future for The Crown that celebrates that heritage.

“There’s some ongoing discussions. Sometimes these things don’t move as quickly as any of us would like – but I’m absolutely committed to seeing that through.”

On wider plans to preserve heritage, Coun Cotton said a new strategy will be brought forward to a future meeting.

“Clearly preserving our heritage is incredibly important,” he said. “This city has a very rich heritage that stretches over a whole series of architectural styles.

“It’s important we preserve some of that while also continuing to push forward as well.

“Our city’s motto is ‘forward’ for a reason and it’s a cityscape that constantly transforms.”

Tale of two cities

Unemployment levels in Birmingham have been in the spotlight recently, with one Labour councillor recently saying they stand at “crisis levels” in some areas of the city.

According to a recent council inquiry, unemployment is at 28.4 per cent in Perry Barr and 24.9 per cent in Ladywood – figures which were recently described as “absolutely shocking” by Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch.

“On one level, we absolutely have record levels of investment coming in,” Coun Cotton said. “But what we cannot allow to happen is for that growth to happen in a bubble – we’ve got to end that tale of two cities.”

He continued: “A lot of this is about skills, hence the work we’ve been doing around the skills and employability strategy.

“How do we create the connections now between schools in Sparkbrook, Stechford or Northfield and aligning what’s happening there into the job opportunities that emerge in the future.”

Coun Cotton added that “greater connectivity” across the city was also crucial, saying: “One of the reasons why I’m so passionate about ensuring we get the Metro extended out to east Birmingham is exactly that.

“You create the connectivity for people to be able to quickly access job opportunities, rather than being effectively trapped in parts of the city.

“We cannot afford that miss that opportunity – you look at the jobs that are being created around the Sports Quarter, you look at the growth that’s in life sciences.”

The vision

Asked about Labour’s vision for Birmingham now the ‘bankrupt Brum’ tag has been ditched, Coun Cotton argued that they had done the “hard yards” and “built the foundations”.

He also said the council was now benefiting from a “fair” funding settlement from the government, which he suggested reflects the “needs of the city” and allows the authority to invest more in frontline services.

He continued that the priorities for a new Labour administration following the election would be:

• Looking at how Birmingham creates jobs and opportunities that benefit “everyone”.
• Building on the strength of being one of the youngest cities in Europe.
• Creating pathways to employment, building new homes for people and delivering a transport network that connects the city “sustainably”

“There’s a huge opportunity to be seized here,” he said. “There’s also the opportunity that comes with the alignment between a Labour-led council, a Labour regional mayor who’s driving forward the investment and jobs agenda, and a Labour government that’s working to grow our economy.”