Birmingham 2020 - What do you want to see?

In November 2015 we began engaging with young people across the city about their vision for Birmingham, and how we can all work to achieve this – particularly given the squeeze on council resources and budget at this time. As part of this engagement we launched a survey on 23^rd November that sought to understand young people’s knowledge of council services at the moment, what they wanted Birmingham to look like in 2020 and who they felt could play a part in making this happen.

The young people that responded to this survey want a Birmingham that they can be proud of, one that is safe, clean and attractive, where everyone is welcome, respected, equal and happy. They are happy for the council to work with other organisations – and where appropriate that communities are asked to deliver some services. Whilst recognising that everyone had a role to play in achieving almost all of the visions set out – in particular creating a city to be proud of and promote – young people felt different groups could do more to achieve specific outcomes.  As individuals, they felt they could do more to help keep the city clean and free of litter. Communities could do more to strengthen families, support older adults and those with disabilities as well as to enhance the city’s arts and culture offer. However, when it comes to ensuring that people don’t become homeless young people consider the council to have primary responsibility.

The results of this survey were included a long with those of other youth engagement activities and reported to Cabinet Members as part of the budget consultation. The views presented as part of the budget consultation were taken into account before full council set the budget in March.