Labour's 17.5% council tax hikes fail to prevent rat infestation as locals fume: 'It's never been this bad!'

Joe Sledge
Tue, 07 Apr 2026 07:49:59 +0000

Residents in Birmingham have seen council tax increase by 17.5 per cent over the past two years, even as local services deteriorate amid the ongoing bin crisis.

Last year, Labour was granted permission to impose a 9.99 per cent increase, exceeding the usual referendum threshold.

Over the past decade, average bills have risen by around 70 per cent, close to £1,000 extra per household, compared with a 56 per cent rise across similar metropolitan areas.

Despite the steep increases, uncollected refuse has built up across neighbourhoods, with residents reporting large infestations of rats as waste remains on the streets for extended periods.

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Long‑standing locals say conditions have deteriorated significantly, describing the situation as the worst they have experienced.

The council’s financial crisis has deepened in recent years.

Birmingham declared effective bankruptcy in 2023, a collapse critics link to internal failures as well as wider pressures.

An IT system project known as Oracle exceeded its budget by £80million, while in 2024 the authority cut £150million from services and allocated nearly £129million to pension‑related costs.

This year alone, the council has implemented £148million in cuts, including £43million from adult social care and £40million from children’s services.

Housing budgets are being reduced by £18million, while city operations, including waste collection and pest control, face a £20million cut.

In the previous year, the authority saved £149million through measures including library closures and shutting centres supporting adults with learning disabilities.

The ongoing bin dispute has continued for more than 12 months, after refuse workers took strike action in March last year in response to proposed changes to roles and pay.

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In some parts of the city, rubbish has remained uncollected for six or seven weeks, with streets lined with discarded household waste and bulky items.

Unite the Union has reduced its affiliation fee to Labour by 40 per cent, citing concerns over the council’s handling of the dispute.

General secretary Sharon Graham told striking workers: "We are in one of the most significant strikes in decades. An attack from a Labour council under a Labour Government.

"Labour should hang their heads in shame."

She warned that workers could withdraw electoral support.

Residents say the impact of service reductions is being felt across the city. A Northfield resident, Trisha, said support previously available for her autistic son had been withdrawn following local centre closures.

Meanwhile, Eboni Green, 23, said: "This current council is rubbish – they get all this money and we have no idea where it's going."

Birmingham ranks as the eighth most deprived local authority in England, according to the 2025 Index of Deprivation.

All 101 council seats will be contested on May 7, with the ruling party facing challenges from across the political spectrum.

The Conservatives currently hold 22 seats, while Reform UK is contesting every ward and the Liberal Democrats recently secured a by‑election win in Moseley.

The Green Party has also campaigned on addressing living costs and ending the bin strikes.