00:00Birmingham's financial struggles are well documented, but as residents brace for a further
00:077.5% rise in council tax this April, concerns are growing over how much the council is actually
00:12collecting. A recent report found the collection rate for the current financial year sits at
00:18around 75%, falling short of the council's target of 78%. Some critics say this raises
00:25serious questions about financial stability. One in ten people's council tax wasn't collected last
00:30year, something opposition councillors have called appalling. They say the trend getting
00:35worse is a major concern, warning that if payments aren't recovered, residents could
00:40be hit with even bigger bills in the future. The city remains in crisis after years of financial
00:45mismanagement, legal issues and service cutbacks. External auditors have pointed to costly mistakes
00:51in budget planning, a disastrous RT system rollout and the ongoing AblePay dispute.
00:58Many LIBOR councillors blame years of central government cuts, arguing local authorities of
01:03all political backgrounds are struggling. Some households benefit from council tax support,
01:08which helps cover costs for a quarter of the city's residents, but for those who don't qualify,
01:13the lightest roys means band D households will soon be paying over £2,200 a year, up from just
01:19over £2,000 this year. The increase will take effect from April, adding to the financial strain
01:25many already feel. With Birmingham's finances under scrutiny, the focus is now on improving
01:30collections, while managing a budget already stretched to its limits. Residents are left
01:36wondering whether the council can balance the books, or if more cuts and higher taxes lie ahead.
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