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Protests before Birmingham City Council budget meeting Protests before Birmingham City Council budget meeting
(about 1 hour later)
About 40 people have been demonstrating ahead of Birmingham City Council setting its budget.About 40 people have been demonstrating ahead of Birmingham City Council setting its budget.
Up to 1,000 jobs are likely to be cut by the authority over two years under a £102m savings plan.Up to 1,000 jobs are likely to be cut by the authority over two years under a £102m savings plan.
Cuts are set to include £1m at children's centres and about £2m savings from waste collection changes.Cuts are set to include £1m at children's centres and about £2m savings from waste collection changes.
Some protesters had earlier attempted to block car park entrances but a council spokeswoman said access to the building had not been affected.Some protesters had earlier attempted to block car park entrances but a council spokeswoman said access to the building had not been affected.
Godfrey Webster, of Birmingham Against The Cuts, said they were hoping to attract the attention of councillors as they started arriving for this afternoon's council meeting. The Labour Leader of Birmingham City Council, Sir Albert Bore, has been very public in his pessimism about the authority's financial future.
He said: "If these proposed cuts go ahead, it will be devastating for Birmingham. It will mean adult services cut, children's homes closed, and lots of other things we can't afford to lose. His predictions have included the "end of local government as we know it" and the city hurtling towards what he has dubbed the financial "jaws of doom".
"These cuts are primarily the fault of the national government, but as the biggest local authority, we expected Birmingham to lead by example and stand up to them." This year's budget is set against a backdrop of escalating equal pay claims. It is thought the claims from women employed by the council, but paid less than men in the same grade jobs, will eventually exceed £750m.
The meeting is due to take place at 14:00 GMT. Large plants which were used to block the entrance to the car park have since been removed.
The protesters were spread out across several entrances and exits to the Council House, chanting protest rhymes against the cuts.
Godfrey Webster of Birmingham Against The Cuts said they were hoping to attract the attention of councillors as they arrived for the council meeting.
He said: "If these proposed cuts go ahead it will be devastating for Birmingham.
"It will mean adult services cut, children's homes closed and lots of other things we can't afford to lose.
"These cuts are primarily the fault of the national government, but as the biggest local authority we expected Birmingham to lead by example and stand up to them."
The meeting was due to start at 14:00 GMT.
City council leader Sir Albert Bore has previously said the budget proposals were necessary because of "highly significant" government cuts to local councils' budgets.
The authority said it was looking at a total of £615m savings to be made by 2017.