Birmingham Conservatives Outline Election Pledges on Bins, Potholes and Urban Planning
An all-out Birmingham City Council election is scheduled for May, occurring at a critical juncture for the city. Thousands of residents are expected to head to the polls, with Labour facing an intense battle to maintain control of the council.
All 101 council seats in Birmingham will be contested, and the Conservatives, currently the second-largest party, are optimistic about winning over voters and taking power, despite competition from Reform UK. The council has been crisis-hit, recently experiencing financial turmoil described as 'bankruptcy' and an ongoing bins strike.
These elections will determine which party or coalition runs one of Europe's largest local authorities for the next four years. In an interview, Councillor Robert Alden, leader of the Conservative group, outlined his party's plans if they gain control.
Bins Strike and Waste Collections
The ongoing bins strike, now in its second year, is set to dominate the local elections. The dispute between the council and Unite union stems from the loss of the Waste Recycling and Collection Officer role, with striking workers claiming they face a £8,000 pay cut. The Labour-run council disputes this figure, insisting a fair offer was made before negotiations ended last summer.
Councillor Alden stated that the Conservatives would end the strike by engaging directly with Unite. "The first thing the council should have been doing all this time is actually engaging with Unite," he said. "You can’t possibly hope to come to a settlement if you don’t actually have a meeting and that should have started from the top."
He proposed a framework where senior council and union officials meet to set negotiation parameters, then step back for detailed talks, with high-level intervention to break any deadlocks. Alden also emphasized avoiding further equal pay liabilities and pledged to maintain weekly bin collections while introducing dedicated clean-up crews for each ward.
Road Safety and Potholes
Alden highlighted road repairs as a priority, calling the potholes across Birmingham "frankly embarrassing." He noted daily reports from residents about vehicle damage and dangers to cyclists, stressing that the council has a ringfenced highways budget that should be used to fix roads.
On road safety, he pledged to clamp down on uninsured and unlicensed drivers and consider local ward highways budgets to address community-specific needs. Regarding the divisive Kings Heath Low Traffic Neighbourhood (LTN) scheme, Alden said it would be scrapped under Conservative control, arguing it unfairly concentrates pollution and that cleaner air solutions should not burden one group.
Culture and Heritage
Alden asserted that heritage and culture should be central to the city's plans, with more effort needed to protect historical buildings like The Crown and The Electric Cinema. The Conservatives would "drastically" change planning policies and the Local Plan to prioritize "building beautiful," ensuring development reflects Birmingham's heritage.
He criticized generic glass tower blocks, advocating for a gentle density approach instead. "Frankly building a load of high-rise tower blocks that investors buy doesn’t deliver the homes that families and people in Birmingham need," he said. Additionally, he proposed investing in museum services and increasing access to collections citywide, potentially displaying items in empty shops through partnerships with Business Improvement Districts.
Tale of Two Cities
Addressing disparities in life expectancy across Birmingham, Alden emphasized tackling this by increasing aspiration and access to work. He warned against building housing on all brownfield sites designated for employment, stating it could lead to job shortages. "It won’t be a quick fix," he added, but the council can work with partners and businesses. He also stressed the importance of libraries in improving literacy and providing internet access.
The Vision
When asked about his party's vision, Alden listed key priorities:
- Changing the council's culture to clean up finances.
- Implementing a programme to buy exempt accommodation and convert it into family homes.
- Tackling anti-social behaviour to make communities and suburbs safe again.
- Scrapping plans to introduce parking charges at three Birmingham parks.
At a recent budget meeting, Labour council leader John Cotton declared the council was no longer 'bankrupt,' with an extra £130 million invested in services focused on cleaner, safer streets. Labour councillors have attributed the financial crisis to factors like equal pay and Oracle issues, while also pointing to funding cuts during the previous Conservative government.
