The first full meeting of Birmingham City Council since the minority coalition leadership was voted in took place today, with opposition councillors lining up to test them on issues ranging from the bin strike to road deaths, spending plans, and the presence of commissioners.
The five-hour meeting, running from 2pm to 7.15pm, covers administrative duties and general updates but is bookmarked by two major sections giving newly elected councillors their first chance to speak about their communities and interests.
Question Time and Cabinet Scrutiny
The first section is Question Time, where opposition members can fire questions at the new political leaders making up the Cabinet. They are being tested on a range of issues, including the ongoing bin strike that has caused widespread anger among residents.
Debates on Controversial Motions
At the end of the meeting, members will debate two motions on controversial themes. Reform's first move as the official opposition has been to set out a plan to officially withdraw Birmingham from holding 'City of Sanctuary' status—a proposal that has triggered widespread opposition from refugee, anti-racist, and other organisations.
Also up for debate is the issue of supported exempt accommodation, the housing sector that has blighted Birmingham and turned it into a hotspot, with more than 11,000 properties housing vulnerable and troubling tenants from all over the country.
