Birmingham MPs have been urged to "get off their butts" and secure the hundreds of millions of pounds needed to tackle growing yob culture among the city's young.
The call comes at the same time as an admission that the city's youth service is missing a Government target of spending £100 for every 13 to 19-year old a year by more than £40.
Education chiefs claim the authority is not getting enough from central funds to meet the huge and diverse needs of the city.
It has prompted one city councillor to write to all ten of Birmingham's MPs urging them to start demanding the resources required to prevent a "generation timebomb" exploding.
Coun Reg Corns (Con Northfield) said: "We are not grasping the nettle. It is my intention to lobby all of the MPs to get off their butts and start fighting for the young people of Birmingham."
Coun Corns, who sits on the authority's leisure, social care and education scrutiny committees, claimed the city needed to spend £500 million on youth provision over the next decade.
Birmingham's spending on youth services per 13 to 19-year-old has risen over the last three years, but head of service Yousiff Meah said a core budget of £5.6 million, rising to £7.2 million with external grants, was not enough.
"Local authorities have to look at where their priorities are. If you want (to meet) so many targets and agendas you need to invest to make it happen."
