Applause, cheers and a cross-party handshake marked the jubilant scenes in the council chamber as Birmingham entered a new, uncharted era. Around a month earlier, May's local elections shattered the city's politics into a fragmented mix of parties, with Labour losing its firm grip on the council. This rejection of the two-party system paved the way for a minority coalition of Liberal Democrats, Greens and independents to take control of Europe's largest local authority.
New Leadership and Immediate Challenges
At a meeting in early June, Lib Dem councillor Roger Harmer was voted as the council's new leader and shook hands with Green Party councillor Julien Pritchard, both expressing hope for their alliance. This unprecedented moment followed a turbulent period dominated by a financial crisis and an ongoing bins strike that deeply rocked residents.
Former Labour leader John Cotton had claimed before the elections that the council was no longer 'bankrupt'. However, the legacy of financial strife remains stark.
Drastic Cuts to Services
Until last year, Harborne Day Centre was a lifeline for vulnerable adults and their families. Now it sits vacant, locked behind gates with covered windows. It was one of four centres closed after the council declared itself effectively 'bankrupt' in September 2023. A cocktail of issues—including the equal pay debacle and Oracle implementation failures—had engulfed the authority, with Labour councillors also blaming austerity.
Commissioners were sent in by the government to oversee financial recovery as anxiety grew over council tax hikes and service cuts affecting bin collections, libraries, home-to-school transport, culture and parks. Campaigner James Cross, whose wheelchair-bound uncle relied on Harborne, said: "It's been fairly challenging because it was a big adaptation, he's gone from being at Harborne for over 40 years to going to a new day centre closer to the city centre. The council's vision was to have vibrant, full day centres but that's not what every person needs." He added: "I've seen the importance of adult day services and how much they're needed—they've gone from nine down to five day centres now." His mother Jean, who protested the closure, described the cuts as "drastic", referencing former leader John Cotton's comments: "It's not great days ahead for the people who have suffered from the cuts." Former Labour councillor Rob Pocock, overseeing the council's transformation, said in 2024: "We need to save on costs and the remaining centres need to be fully utilised."
Community Assets Sold Off
The 'bankruptcy' fallout also saw the council sell hundreds of properties and land plots to fund historical budget deficits and equal pay. A Freedom of Information request revealed the scale: the Bordesley Green 'Wheels' site, destined for Birmingham City FC's Sports Quarter, was the biggest sale at £50 million. Other significant disposals include land north of Kingsbury Road (£48m), West Midlands Police HQ Lloyd House (£4.4m) and 10 Woodcock Street acquired by Aston University for £25m. Smaller assets like a former day centre have also been sold, drawing concern from opposition councillors. Conservative group leader Cllr Robert Alden said: "We've seen community assets sold—playing fields, community centres. These are the sort of things that need to be saved for our local residents... The other impact is the lost opportunity down the line." Commissioners recently acknowledged finances are 'much improved' but warned around £370 million worth of asset sales are still required.
Bins Strike and Rat Infestations
After a tough year of cuts, Birmingham received more unwanted global headlines in 2025 when the bins strike left the city suffocating under heaps of rubbish. The industrial action, lasting over 550 days, stemmed from a dispute over the Waste Recycling and Collection Officer (WRCO) role. The previous Labour administration argued a fair offer was made to striking workers, who claimed an £8,000 pay cut. The council pressed ahead with waste service transformation to 'significantly reduce costs'. A major incident was declared in spring 2025, clearing thousands of tonnes of uncollected waste.
Residents expressed fury. Catherine Zinetti said: "There's rats—they're bigger than the cats. It's horrible... We're meant to be the second biggest city in England, it's a disgrace." She added she cannot have her grandchildren visit due to the state of her street. Fellow Selly Oak local Elsa Ralph described the smell as "putrid". Lozells resident Jane Majid called living near an enormous rubbish pile "diabolical" and reported seeing "rats as big as cats". The new leadership has prioritised resolving the strike, with Cllr Harmer acknowledging it "will take a little while".
Can Birmingham Make a Comeback?
May's elections saw Labour's vote collapse, with no party securing a majority. Reform became the largest party but claimed other groups refused to work with them. After closed-door talks, the Lib Dem-Green-independent coalition took control. Attention now turns to whether this alliance can deliver hope. Cllr Harmer said prior to the elections: "We want a city where the rules are followed... As a result, the city is well-run and being cleaned up, we are tackling anti-social behaviour and people stop talking about Birmingham as 'rats as big as cats'." Independent cabinet member Cllr Harris Khaliq added: "People are waiting for positivity... It's on all of us and that should be our success criteria—how we create those smiles and positivity for the city so it gets that buzz." Commissioners recently noted a "great opportunity to improve services". For Cllr Alden, the key is to "listen to the previous learnt lessons reports and to the opposition". With opportunities from HS2 investment, Digbeth's cultural transformation and Birmingham City's Sports Quarter, time will tell if the city can move beyond service cuts and 'cat-sized rats'.
