PROTESTERS and trade unionists gathered outside Birmingham Council House today to rally against cuts to services in the city as councillors met to sign off on a devastating budget.

The council plans to cut £367 million over the next two years, sacrificing services affecting children, families, libraries, youth, roads, parks and the arts.

At least 600 jobs are expected to be axed in the process.

It is also putting up council tax by 9.99 per cent and has requested over £1.2 billion from the government, which will be paid back through the sale of council land, properties, and other assets.

Creative sector unions the Musicians’ Union (MU), Bectu, Equity, and Writers Guild GB came together with other mass trade unions at the protest.

The creative sector bloc also had a separate demonstration outside the Birmingham Rep, one of the organisations affected by the cuts, before marching through the city to the Council House.

TUC Midlands creative and leisure industries committee chairman and MU regional organiser Stephen Brown said: “Many of these services are a lifeline for our communities and once they are gone, they are gone.

“In many cases, local people will be hung out to dry to fend for themselves — whether it’s the lost provision of adult social care or the loss of 25 of 36 libraries people rely on.

“These cuts will affect every aspect of life in the city, cause a loss of hope, loss of pride, loss of work, loss of opportunity, impact the most vulnerable, impact people’s very wellbeing — and send the wrong message out about our city.

“Fourteen years of cuts is enough, it’s time to rebuild, not tear down what’s left.”