Birmingham City Council are proposing drastic cuts in funding from April 2015. Public consultation on the Budget closes on 12^th January 2015. If you want to have your say you need to ACT NOW. Amongst many other cuts proposals include an £850K reduction in funding for Birmingham Museums Trust and a £1.5m reduction for the new Library of Birmingham.

These Budget cuts to the Birmingham Museums Trust could result in:

• Substantial reduction in public access to one or more heritage sites, which include Aston Hall, Blakesley Hall, Museum of the Jewellery Quarter, Sarehole Mill, Weoley Castle and Soho House
• Fewer learning activities for local schools and community groups
• Reduced opening hours at our venues
• Significantly reduced public access to Birmingham’s collection and heritage.

Budget cuts to the new, iconic Library of Birmingham which has already become a major visitor destination, as well as an invaluable resource for the City would mean:

• Cutting the Library’s hours from 70 to 40 a week.
• Reducing Library staff by over 50%.
• Offering only a basic level of service

There will be worse to come with bigger cuts in following years. This will impact our reputation as city of culture and learning and there will be an ongoing domino effect. There will inevitably be less expert support for organisations like the Assay Office, who are investing and working hard to contribute to the City’s  heritage community despite being an entirely self funding commercially focussed operation. There is currently a fantastic impetus being driven by the Centre for West Midlands History, History West Midlands and significant heritage activity in the Jewellery Quarter. This is all contributing to the City’s heritage “critical mass” which is supported by the outstanding resources of our Library, Archives and Museum. Please have your say in this significant consultation: Full details of all the budget can be found at http://www.birmingham.gov.uk/brumbudget15. There will be a Public meeting with regard to the proposed cuts to the Library and Archives at the Library Studio Theatre at 5.00pm on Wednesday 7^th January 2015. Do go along and make your views heard. If you wish to respond with regard to cuts to the Library or Museums Trust, there are two separate petitions at https://www.change.org/p/birmingham-city-council-reverse-the-cuts-to-the-library-of-birmingham and https://www.change.org/p/birmingham-city-council-please-reconsider-proposed-15-cut-to-birmingham-museums Or you can:

• Take part in the consultation http://www.birmingham.gov.uk/budgetviews
• E-mail budget.views@birmingham.gov.uk
• Please note, the deadline for responses is Monday 12^th January 2015.
• Write to Budget Views, Room 221, Council House, Victoria Square, Birmingham B1 1BB

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