Cllr Robert Alden, Deputy Leader of the Conservative group urged fellow councillors to save vital city services in Birmingham, during today's Council budget debate. In light of Labour's budget, the Conservative group proposed a fully-costed alternative budget, setting out a positive future for the residents of Birimingham.

During the debate, Cllr Robert Alden said "we ask Councillors from all parties to think of their residents, when they vote today and support our amendment, which will save services that Labour wish to cut or charge for.

"Our amendment would protect Children Centres not trade unions, youth services not council subscriptions, keep funding for adults in care not European officer funding, we would fund community groups not consultants. Our amendment will put Brummies first and Council largesse out the door.

He continued: "Thought of in the office of Sir Albert Bore these Labour Council cuts to services are designed, pushed and agreed by Birmingham Labour - no one else.

Our amendments would stop Labours cuts to Children Centres, Labour's charges to on street parking in high streets and to park in the city's parks. Our amendment would restore grants for meals on wheels, protect grit bins, restore street cleaning and restore Community Chest to £125,000 per ward, undoing Labours 60% cut. Protecting our suburbs as well as the inner cities. The Council does not have to make these cuts, and this amendment would prevent them."

The fully-costed alternative budget is attached below.

Robert and Bob are pictured planting a tree in Short Heath Park, many of the improvements in the park were only possible thanks to Community Chest funding, which Labour have now cut by 60%.