A pledge to build at least 2,000 new council homes by 2020 is the centre piece of the local election manifesto by Birmingham's Labour group.

But city council leader John Clancy says he wants that to be a bare minimum and hopes to be able to deliver more "homes for Brummies" over the next few years.

And the Labour politician, who is entering his first election as council leader, says the council will step in if private developers fail to deliver the 3,500 houses a year Birmingham needs between now and 2030.

Speaking as he launched his manifesto, Coun Clancy said: "There is no question that last year Birmingham City Council was building more houses than anywhere else.

"Housing has, and will be, top of the agenda for our administration. And, if the private sector won't build, we will bring in the investment to do that as well."

He said that, as well as providing homes for thousands of Brummies, the stepping up of construction would be used to create apprenticeships, offer training and skills for the city's workforce.

The Labour-run council has come in for most criticism over missed and delayed refuse collection and the manifesto, called the 'Positive Offer', states 34 new dust cart drivers are being trained to improve the service while a zero-tolerance approach to fly-tipping has led to an "unprecedented" number of prosecutions.

Labour has also made a pledge to fight the Government for a fair funding deal and end to cuts, as well as improve the pay of care workers and begin the rollout of free school meals to more primary school children.

It is the third major local manifesto launch leading up to the city council election on May 5.

The opposition Conservatives have promised to protect parks and playing fields from housing development and are also campaigning against plans to build on the green belt in Sutton Coldfield.

Meanwhile, the Lib Dems have promised a war on fly-tipping and dirty streets and called for the city to improve its poor recycling rate.