Cuts reversed amid government's council cash boost

Plans for unpopular cuts to public services have been ditched by councillors after an outcry from residents and a boost in government funding to Coventry City Council.

Free parking at the city's War Memorial Park would continue, and charity-run adult services, which include Grapevine's support for people with learning disabilities, would not lose funding, budget papers said.

Street cleaning budgets would not be slashed by 10%, avoiding a feared rise in flytipping.

Councillors said they had listened to the public, and extra money from Westminster allowed them to make changes.

Overall, the council's final budget, which goes to a vote on 25 February, has axed a dozen service cuts worth about £3m.

Residents had organised petitions and staged protests.

The authority also plans to spend an extra £2m on services in 2025-26.

That cash will go on road improvements, tackling fly-tipping and antisocial behaviour, and hosting events, which include the Godiva festival.

Figures showed the authority would get £10.5m more from the government this year than it predicted.

Councillor Richard Brown, cabinet member for finance, said: "I think the fact that we've got a little bit of financial headroom and what we're doing now shows that we do listen to what people say."

Leader of the Labour-run council George Duggins said a "far more generous" settlement by the Labour government enabled them to avoid the cuts.

He said: "We will still have talks with national colleagues about our financial situation. But at least there is a case of listening and recognising that somewhere like Coventry needed more resources."

Papers shared with the Local Democracy Reporting Service stated councils nationally got extra money worth £2bn.

Budget papers also revealed the council's annual costs had increased by about £8m compared to original forecasts, including a rise in employers' National Insurance contributions.

This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service, which covers councils and other public service organisations.

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