Birmingham council chief Zooms 'on holiday in New York' as authority 'goes bankrupt'

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The leader of Birmingham City Council has been criticized for being on vacation in New York as his authorities declared bankruptcy, putting vital services at risk.

John Cotton was reportedly in the Big Apple for his 50th birthday when local authorities issued a Section 114 notice meaning they cannot balance their books.

The Labor leader was not present at the Cabinet meeting on Tuesday where the announcement was made. on the government body's financial struggles and gave a Zoom interview to the BBC later in the day against a white background.

< p>Council leader John Cotton gave a video interview to BBC Radio West Midlands on Tuesday without knowing his background.

Instead, Deputy Chief Sharon Thompson addressed the meeting and told councilors that the Section 114 notice was a "necessary." as we seek to put our city back on a sound financial footing."

A notice under Section 114 means that a local authority cannot meet its current financial obligations and therefore suspends all new spending, with the exception of its statutory services, which are mainly social services for adults and children.

Mr Cotton then gave an interview to BBC Radio West Midlands, but with the rear -shot of his masked video call, so it was unclear where he was.

He told the TV station that the council would "continue to provide essential services such as the protection of children and social care, social care for adults, education, waste collection, road maintenance and library services.”

Tory and Labor sources told < em>The Independentit believed the leader of the council was in New York for his birthday.

Birmingham City Council blamed their financial troubles on £760m of demands for equal pay, the expense of a new computer system and years of funding cuts by successive Conservative governments for his financial troubles. Its budget shows a financial shortfall of £87m for the year.

As The Independent reported on Tuesday, residents could face drastic cuts in services and an increase in the housing tax.