Could Birmingham's Christmas lights switch-on be the latest victim of the energy bills crisis?
Festive plans for Birmingham are being “closely monitored” as gas and electric prices are set to soar, with Birmingham City Council unable to confirm that the Christmas light switch on and other festive events wouldn’t be affected.
Multiple councils across the region have already axed Christmas plans as they prepare their budgets for soaring fuel costs.
But when asked whether Christmas and council services would go ahead as normal over the winter period, a representative for Birmingham City Council said: “The full extent at this very early stage is yet to be determined.”
Today at Birmingham City Council’s cabinet meeting, Council Leader Ian Ward declared a cost of living emergency, making Birmingham the first city across the UK to do so. Addressing the cabinet this morning, he said that despite measures such as the £1.3 million emergency top-up fund for struggling families and pensioners, which was introduced in May, and council tax rebates, the support is not enough.
