New Coalition's Pledge Must Deliver on Bins and HMOs, Not Just Words

What's happened

Birmingham City Council's new governing coalition has officially signed a formal priority pledge, setting out its vision for the next four years and introducing stricter consequences for conduct breaches among members. The administration, led by Cllr Roger Harmer (Liberal Democrat) alongside Deputy Leader Cllr Julien Pritchard (Green), brings together the Lib Dems, Greens, and independent groups. According to reports from the Birmingham Mail, the coalition's stated priorities include resolving the long-running bin strike, tackling the unchecked spread of HMOs, addressing the climate crisis, and cleaning up our streets. The new conduct rules aim to restore trust following a turbulent period for the council's reputation, promising swift action against any councillor who breaches the agreed standards.

What it means for Erdington and Pype Hayes

For residents in Erdington and Pype Hayes, high-level political pacts signed in the Council House mean very little until they translate into visible improvements on our streets. We are currently bearing the brunt of systemic council failures. Uncollected bins are creating public health hazards, council tax continues to rise while services shrink, and the unchecked proliferation of Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) is fundamentally changing the character of our neighbourhoods. If this new priority pledge is to be worth the paper it is written on, it must result in immediate, tangible changes for our ward. It means the waste collection vehicles actually turning up on schedule. It means robust enforcement action against rogue landlords exploiting the exempt accommodation system. It means ensuring that our local infrastructure is not overwhelmed by decisions made miles away in the city centre. A pledge to 'get the basics right' is welcome, but our community has heard these promises before. We need to see the budget allocations and the delivery timelines that prove Erdington is finally getting its fair share of resources.

Where I stand

I respect Cllr Harmer for stepping up to lead this city during an incredibly difficult time. Taking on the leadership of Birmingham City Council right now is no small task, and I genuinely want his administration to succeed because if they succeed, our city succeeds. However, as your Reform UK councillor, my loyalty is entirely to Pype Hayes and Erdington, not to any cross-party consensus that fails to deliver. The strongest argument for this new coalition is that it brings much-needed stability after years of chaos. I agree that stability is essential. But stability cannot simply mean managing the managed decline of our public services more politely. Stabilising a broken system is not a victory. We do not just need a stable council; we need a functioning one. Administrative pacts and conduct rules are internal housekeeping. They do not pick up the rubbish on Eachelhurst Road, and they do not stop the flood of HMOs on Tyburn Road. I will judge this administration strictly on the evidence of their actions, not the eloquence of their pledges. We will support good ideas regardless of where they come from, but we will fiercely oppose any continuation of the status quo that leaves our ward behind.

What happens next

Over the coming weeks, the new cabinet will begin implementing their policy agenda. My office will be closely monitoring the specific actions taken regarding the bin strike resolution and the proposed crackdown on HMOs. We will be tracking the weekly waste collection data for Pype Hayes and Erdington to see if the promised improvements materialise. Furthermore, we are preparing a detailed ward-level report on the impact of exempt accommodation, which I will present to the Homes Overview and Scrutiny Committee. I will ensure that the promises made in this coalition pledge are tested against the reality experienced by our residents.

Questions we're asking

As your Reform UK opposition, I am putting these specific questions to the decision-maker on your behalf to ensure these pledges turn into action:

• Cllr Harmer, regarding your pledge to resolve the bin strike, what is the exact financial cost to Birmingham taxpayers of the proposed settlement, and by what specific date will regular weekly collections resume in Pype Hayes?
• You have cited tackling HMOs as a priority; will you commit to an immediate, evidence-led review of the exempt accommodation licensing framework in Erdington, and who specifically in your cabinet will be held accountable if HMO numbers continue to rise?
• The priority pledge includes strict consequences for conduct breaches; can you confirm if these rules will be applied retroactively to ongoing investigations, and who holds the final, independent sign-off on disciplinary actions?
• Given the multi-million-pound pressures on the council budget, what specific frontline services in the Erdington constituency are explicitly ring-fenced from cuts under your new administration's financial plan?

Have your say

Your voice is the most important part of this process. I invite you to register on the website to share your views on the new council coalition. Please leave a comment below, vote in our ward forum poll, and if you feel strongly about the need for immediate action on our local issues, consider signing or starting a petition on our campaigns page. Together, we can hold the council accountable.

Source: Birmingham Mail