TFWM are inviting residents to give feedback from Monday 6th January to Sunday 30th March regarding proposals for Bus Franchising the links are below

Information about the Bus Franchising Consultation can be found online on TfWM’s website: http://www.tfwm.org.uk/bus-reform and on Commonplace: http://www.busreform.commonplace.is

As we say goodbye to 2024 and welcome 2025 I am reminded as a Christian the need to support our wider communities. A few days before Christmas we delivered to “Seeds of Hope” Kingshurst whom provided a hot meal and a warm place on Christmas Day to this morning at St Johns Church Food bank Sparkhill supporting the local community.

Wishing you all a Very Happy New Year

The stronger we make our community makes it a better place to live.

The two issues we mention in the video are the Food Bank Collections and Security/Safety.

The community was so generous when we asked for donations to the Helping Hands Food Bank charity at the Renewal Centre. We collected 30 full bags of donations and the food bank was so grateful. The images attached to this post shows the donations from week one.

Just a couple of bloopers from this afternoons attempt !!!

This matter came before Solihull Council yesterday evening where a motion objecting to the increase was supported by all but one councillor, with the LibDem and Green councillors supporting an amended motions which Cllr Ken Hawkins proposed.

The motion we agreed reads:

“Council notes the Labour Government’s decision to raise the single fare cap on bus journeys in England from £2 to £3 from January 1st, 2025. This represents an increase of 50%.

It will cost someone who commutes to and from work every day on the bus an extra £450 a year, roughly the equivalent of a 1% tax rise for the average person.

Council believes that such a large, above inflation hike on bus fares will make bus travel more expensive. This comes at a time when the Labour Government is hitting working people who are struggling with the cost of living and who are most likely to rely on bus services. It will also push more people into driving cars, increasing our carbon footprint.

The scheme was introduced by the previous Government to help revitalise the bus services outside of London which had taken a hit during the Covid-19 pandemic. Other measures included the Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP) which pumped over £1 billion into bus services. The West Midlands Combined Authority benefitted from £88 million which was used to enhance bus services and upgrade existing fleets.

Added to the Labour Government’s choice to remove the Winter Fuel Allowance from pensioners and their failure to scrap the Two-Child Benefit Cap, the bus fare hike is the latest in a line of measures that will unfairly impact thousands of the poorest and more vulnerable people in Solihull.

Labour’s decision to end the cap on the cost of travel could put some elderly and disabled constituents at risk, especially those especially in rural areas who do not qualify for a free bus pass. A rise in the cost of travel could impact their chances to get a job, visit friends and family or get to key medical appointments.

Released: Via Solihull Council Website

 Friday 29th November, 2024

Following the withdrawal of Solihull’s Draft Local Plan, the Council is building on the work already undertaken to develop a new Plan for the borough by issuing a ‘call-for-site submissions’, as set out in the report to Full Council in October. 

On 4 September 2024 the Inspectors appointed to examine Solihull’s Local Plan recommended that it be withdrawn. The matter was considered at Full Council on 8 October 2024, and it was resolved that the Plan would be withdrawn.

Those promoting any sites in this previous Plan will need to re-register their interest to ensure the Council has up-to-date evidence on the availability of any proposed sites. The Council is also keen to receive submissions about sites not previously promoted, especially if they relate to brownfield land opportunities.

Call-for-site submissions opened on Friday 29 November and will close on Friday 31 January 2025, giving interested parties nine weeks to make their submissions

As a standing member of the Stronger Communities and Neighourhood Services Scrutiny Board I took the opportunity to raise the question of how SMBC are dealing with Anti-Social Behavior. As a ward Councillor I attend several Parish Council meetings and a local Resident Association group where this topic is often raised as a growing concern. I have called upon SMBC to work closer with resident groups to establish a clear line of communication.

A planning application nos PL/2024/02587/PPFL has been submitted for “Demolition of existing hotel, restaurant and replacement with new building providing additional hotel bedrooms and breakfast room, together with alterations to the car park and associated works.

In a letter to Solihull’s Head of Planning Design and Engagement, Blythe ward Councillors, Ken Hawkins, Richard Holt and Keith Green have called for a major planning application in Dickens Heath to be withdrawn.

An application for 450 new homes was submitted in December 2023 by Richborough Estates and have still to come up with a plan to relocate the sports clubs that will be lost because houses will be built on land they currently use. Clubs affected are Old Yardlians Rugby club, Highgate United football club and Wychall Wanderers football club. For any application to succeed there needs to be a plan for the relocation of sports clubs to at least as good a standard as they are at present.

The Parish of St Patricks is in the heart of Blythe Ward. The original church was built in 1840 with the proceeds from the sale of land in the parish to build a feeder reservoir (now Earlswood Lakes) for the Stratford Canal.