Birmingham Green councillor Julien Pritchard has vowed that the coalition now running the city council 'will provide stability'. The Greens have joined forces with the Liberal Democrats and various independent groups to form a minority administration on the council.
Lib Dem councillor Roger Harmer was voted in as leader at a historic meeting on Friday, but coalition plans mean the leader will be 'formally swapped' in the future, allowing Green group leader Julien Pritchard to officially step into the role in two years' time.
Uncertainty lingered over the local authority – which has a budget of around £4.4 billion to manage – following the results of the local elections last month. Those elections saw voters reject the two-party system and embrace a patchwork of different parties and personalities, a situation which saw Labour lose control of the council and Reform become the largest party on the authority.
No party had even half the number of council seats needed for a majority (51), so talks soon commenced to try and form a coalition. While Reform and Labour said they would not be involved in a coalition, the Lib Dems, Greens, and the Better Birmingham and Birmingham Independent Groups ultimately agreed to work together to provide a stable administration.
In the council chamber on Friday, Coun Pritchard was asked about Brummies who may be anxious about whether a minority administration, made up of various groups, can deliver. 'We're going to approach this as adults, as grown-ups,' the Green councillor told the Local Democracy Reporting Service. 'We have made a commitment to the city to work together.'
'And we will be reaching out and working cross-party within the coalition and across the chamber to provide that stability and reassurance, and get results for residents. We're very proud to step up to be able to do that.'
Reacting to the coalition taking power in Birmingham, he said: 'As a group of Greens, we're really proud to be able to step up and serve the city, try to make a difference and work towards a safer, cleaner city.'
'This is a partnership, we're looking forward to working cross-party – it's a joint leadership really, obviously you have to have a leader in terms of constitution.'
Coun Pritchard went on to confirm that the plan, as part of the coalition, is to formally swap leaders in the future – meaning the Green councillor is set to step into the official leadership role in a couple of years' time. 'We're very proud and pleased to play our collaborative part in giving a bit of hope back to Birmingham,' he said.
On whether talks to form a coalition were difficult, Coun Pritchard said: 'There was a lot we agreed on, a lot of shared priorities. Obviously we don't agree on everything otherwise we'd be in the same party. But there was a lot of common ground and we all approached those negotiations with the right spirit of collaboration, of trying to make it work and trying to do the best for the city. Long may that continue.'
Coun Roger Harmer, the first Lib Dem leader of Birmingham City Council, said: 'The challenges our city faces demand both new policies that put our residents first and a commitment to ensure they are actually delivered.'
'Let us be clear about our priorities. First and foremost, we must get the basics right. Our streets should be free from litter and fly tipping. The bin strike has gone unresolved for far too long, impacting the daily lives of thousands. Tackling this head-on is not optional; it is essential.'
He added: 'This coalition shows what can be achieved when we put our city above narrow party politics. The Liberal Democrats, the Green Party, and the Independent Councillors have come together, united by a vision of progress grounded in action.'
