Author: Keith Green

One of our regualar updates from Cllr Ken Hawkins and myself The draft local plan looks as though it will be ready for scrutiny by all as we approach the end of 2025, and after consultation will move forward to Planning by Mid 2026, obviously this timeline is a guideline at present and subject to change. Its important to stress that there is a lot of ongoing work and discussions happening behind the scenes to help protect our Green belt wherever possible from over development. Social media is playing an ever increasing part in the way we communicate, and you will see from previous...

Councillor Ken Hawkins and myself have been asked to explain a bit more about precepts, something added to our council tax bills. Funding for the police comes both directly from a central government grant and from the police precept. The policing precept is the amount we contribute to local policing through our council tax bill. The precept varies across the UK. It is collected with the council tax and paid to the relevant police force. West Midlands residents pay £229.50 per annum (Band D properties) and when compared with other authorities this is the second lowest in the UK. Northumbria...

If you glance on social media, wherever you are in the UK, you may find complaints that ‘their’ own council has an exorbitant rate of council tax. I read similar statements here in Solihull, but the truth is, we have one of the lowest in the UK. I have compared Solihull’s council tax with others in the West Midlands Combined Authority area, with just one authority setting a lower amount. That authority is Dudley. I have compared the rate on Bands E, F and H. At Band D, you pay £432.94 more in Walsall, with £348.65 and £347.78 more in Wolverhampton and Coventry...

Section 106 funding supports NHS services by requiring developers to contribute towards healthcare infrastructure impacted by new housing developments. Cllr Kenneth Hawkins and myself have mentioned previous our plea for the NHS to seek more substantial sums to address the extra demand in primary and secondary care that will arise through more development. One big complaint from existing residents is that, if its difficult to get a doctor’s appointment now, then what will it be like when we have more people moving into the area? This complaint is well made and it is fair to state the...

Cllr Richard Holt and I met with Solihull Planning Officers to discuss the new Local Plan and the numerous proposed and speculative developments affecting Dickens Heath and Tidbury Green. We fully understand the Government’s pressure on the Council to allocate more housing in the new Local Plan. However, any sites included must be sustainable, protect the most valuable Green Belt, and follow good planning principles under the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF).