Britain's biggest local authority has put £30,000 of public money into the Spirit of Pakistan festival, which began on August 1 and runs for 14 days, despite a waste collection dispute that has now lasted 18 months.
The grant supports an event celebrating "identity, belonging and community" connected to Pakistan. Activities include a women's cricket showcase, music, art and a Pakistan flag-raising ceremony in Birmingham's central Victoria Square on Pakistani independence day, August 14.
Funding authorised before election
Saima Suleman, the former council cabinet member for digital, culture, heritage and tourism, approved the grant while still in that role. She lost her Labour seat in May's local election and is now chair of the festivities, which began on August 1. There is no suggestion of any wrongdoing on her part.
Eighteen months of bin strikes
Residents of Britain's second city have seen sporadic bin collections return, with pockets of recycling resuming. However, the union Unite and Birmingham City Council remain deadlocked since an all-out walkout in March last year.
Households have also faced a cumulative council tax increase of around 21% over the past three years under the previous Labour-led authority led by Cllr John Cotton. Labour lost 48 seats at the local elections in May, and the council is now run by a minority administration made up of the Lib Dems, the Green Party and the Better Birmingham Independent Group.
Political reaction
Kevin Hollinrake MP, chairman of the Conservative Party, said: "This tells you everything you need to know about Labour's priorities. While hundreds of thousands of local residents have been impacted by a bin strike, Labour has signed off £30,000 for these events.
"Of course, there is nothing wrong with the event going ahead, but it is fair to ask whether, at a time when council tax has risen by more than 21% over the past two years, if this is the right priority.
"Perhaps most concerningly, it appears that the Cabinet member who signed off this funding is now chair of the Spirit of Pakistan. There are clearly questions to answer about how this decision was made."
Jex Parkin, leader of the Reform UK group, which now holds the largest number of seats on the council, said: "Birmingham City Council has spent the last three years telling residents there is no money. It has hiked council tax by around 25%, cut services and remains under Government intervention.
"Yet somehow it found £30,000 for this grant. At a time when Birmingham is supposed to be getting its financial house in order, taxpayers are entitled to ask whether this is really the right priority for £30,000 of public money.
"The funding programme was authorised by the former Cabinet Member. She has since lost her seat and is now chair of the organisation behind the Spirit of Pakistan Festival that received the grant. We are not alleging any wrongdoing, but the public is entitled to ask serious questions about how this decision was made. The council should recognise how this looks."
Festival organisers and council respond
In a statement, the Spirit of Pakistan team said: "Saima became chair of Spirit of Pakistan after leaving the council following the local elections. This is an unpaid role supporting the celebration of Birmingham’s rich cultural heritage."
A council spokeswoman said: "Birmingham is a proudly diverse city with a great cultural offer across all our communities.
"The council has already supported a number of events this year, including The Somalino Festival, The Nowka Bais Festival, The Middle Earth (Tolkien) Festival, Flatpack Film Festival 20th anniversary, Black Sabbath week / Ozzy Osborne Day, with more to come, and all grant requests are subject to a formal application and approval process.
"Birmingham has a large population of Pakistani heritage so it is great to see the Spirit of Pakistan festival back after a successful first year."
