Birmingham City Council faces significant public concern over a series of budget cuts impacting various services across the city. The Prevent counter-extremism programme in London will see its budget halved by 2025, affecting operations in 7 boroughs instead of 22 and completely withdrawing from South London. There's tension between the language of redoubling efforts against extremism and the reality of a very tight post-election spending envelope. In Birmingham, nearly 900 vulnerable children will lose access to appropriate school transport due to funding cuts, sparking fears over the end of school transport for older pupils with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). Additionally, the city's youth services and libraries are under threat, with eight libraries in the borough feared to close and youth workers criticizing the council's handling of the situation as a 'veiled attempt to dismantle their service.' From September, pupils with SEND aged 16 to 18 will no longer be eligible for council-funded transport, leading to a potential deluge of appeals from parents. Residents have expressed their intention to resist the council's budget plans, particularly concerning the potential closure of libraries.
The council's budget has sparked uncertainty for many anxious Brummies https://t.co/dKepWFBVDI
Residents say they have begun to plan a 'resistance' to Birmingham City Council’s budget plans amid fears that a number of areas may see their library shut https://t.co/VXHko5LKGY
Birmingham City Council faces a “deluge” of appeals from parents of children with special educational needs and disabilities over cuts to school transport services, parents and insiders have said ⬇️ @connie_dimsdale reports https://t.co/uOO5Xxbcan
From September, pupils with special educational needs and disabilities aged 16 to 18 will no longer be eligible for council-funded taxis or minibuses to take them to and from school or college ➡️ @connie_dimsdale reports: https://t.co/JIXmf3YpAa https://t.co/HGG5cw4VCH
Fears for city's youth as clubs face budget cuts https://t.co/03OyQ3fXYM
Youth workers in Birmingham have accused the financially beleaguered city council of a “veiled attempt to dismantle their service”, leaving them feeling “overwhelmed and abandoned”. https://t.co/eALAaL89cI
Nearly 900 vulnerable children have been left without appropriate transport to school after funding cuts at bankrupt Birmingham City Council, @theipaper can reveal 🔴 Exclusive from @connie_dimsdale https://t.co/OK7GMT42gw
Leicester: Fears over end of school transport for older SEND pupils https://t.co/cMmaxgiixo
Fears for future of eight libraries in borough https://t.co/ICyTjVBw6K
Prevent counter-extremism programme budget to be slashed in London https://t.co/L8xf5kOBHE
Brummies speak out about why they aren't protesting about drastic council cuts https://t.co/GZG1oKx80a https://t.co/GZG1oKx80a
Prevent funding to halve by 2025, working in 7 London boroughs rather than 22, withdrawing from South London entirely. Tension between extremism "redouble effort" language but very tight post-election spending envelope https://t.co/xhT1PSwFKw
Brummies react to Birmingham City Council cuts and there is a common theme https://t.co/GZG1oKx80a https://t.co/GZG1oKx80a