“The Commissioners should be sacked and Birmingham Council should return to democratic decision making and control” says David Hughes Communications Officer of Birmingham UNISON.
UNISON is angry that the Commissioners, for the first time since their appointment by Tory Michael Gove in October 2023, have used their powers of direction to prevent the call in of a Cabinet decision to close 4 out of the 9 Adult Day Care Centres in Birmingham.
“This is a direct removal of democratic accountability of Cabinet decisions, where individual Councillors can challenge decisions they make” said David Hughes. “This is not a party political issue as the decision is opposed by Labour, Tory and Liberal Councillors and even the local Labour MP Preet Gill, Edgbaston.”
“The Commissioners actions make a mockery of the consultation the Council undertakes with carers and service users as irrespective of the response they intend to carry out the original proposal anyway, it should be called a con, not consultation.”
“As a union we accept the current Labour administration has some responsibility for the current financial position of the Council with poor decision making, for example over the Oracle computer system that has cost over a £100 million to put right. This should not obscure the major cause of the Council’s financial predicament is the 14 years of cuts by Tory Central Government as Gove and his Tory colleagues imposed austerity leaving the Councils without the funds to meet the ever increasing demand of Adult Social Care, Children’s Services and Homelessness.”
“This is why 60 local Councils, of different political control, are facing similar financial crisis. Research by UNISON shows there is a financial shortfall across all Councils of £4.3 billion for 2025/26 rising to £8.5 billion in 2026/27”.
“UNISON is calling on Chancellor Rachel Reeves to use her budget to restore funding to local Councils.”
“Axing the 8 Commissioners (now 7 with the recent resignation of Lord Hutton) would produce substantial savings to Council Tax payers given they are paid between £1,100 and £1,200 a day plus expenses. This would be more than enough to finance the 4 Adult Day Centres under threat of closure.”
“As a union with have seen no evidence to support lead Commissioner Max Caller’s claim that delaying the closure will cost the Council £100,000 a month. We understand most of the saving in relation to Adult Day Care come from not filling existing vacant posts.”
“As a union branch we are becoming increasingly concerned about how enthusiastically the current Labour leadership in Birmingham is embracing the cuts and privatisation agenda, putting the services of the most vulnerable citizens at risk. This will be compounded if ordinary Councillors have no means to hold the Council leadership to account and scrutinise their decisions.”
“We call on the Council leadership to stop meekly going along with Tory cuts and join with citizens and unions to demand fair funding for Birmingham.”