Blythe Ward – Monthly Report
- DH/TG/CG/Monkspath – Planning and development + issues up and coming
- ICB
- DH – Main Street
- Shelly Farm Community Centre – CIL
- Hillfield LNR – supporting bid for Veolia community funding
- Report It – page on SMBC website
Planning and Development:
We know that proposals for development at Dog Kennel Lane and Tythe Barn Lane are nearing determination at planning committee (we will inform you of the date when known). We have commented on these two sites on several occasions and that they have already been through an intense review by the planning inspectors at the examination in public carries a lot of weight to the applications. However, it is vital the necessary infrastructure is forthcoming with any future developments.
You can read more about Dog Kennel Lane application on Keiths website post: https://keithgreen.co.uk/dog-kennel-lane-a-positive-update-2/
Integrated Care Board (ICB):
This is an arm of the Birmingham and Solihull NHS and our calls for them to seek more funding from developments to ensure that local medical practices can expand to cope with new residents. The ICB now seeks substantial funding via what we call Section 106 funds, which developers have to pay. In recent years this has been more about education and highways.
We can announce that we have met with developers, managers from Tanworth Lane surgery and the ICB in order to bring about a medical practice, as well as a school, on the Dog Kennel Lane site. We feel we are all knocking on an open door, but funding from the NHS for this purpose is vital. The consultations may bring about a blueprint as to how things could work in other developments in the borough.
Dickens Heath – Main Street:
On Friday 14 March your three ward councillors, Richard Holt, Keith Green and Ken Hawkins, joined MP, Dr Neil Shastri-Hurst, members of Dickens Heath parish council, Solihull highways officers and representatives from the management company and shareholders to discuss how we can move the issues relating to Main Street forward.
We have identified options as to how we can move forward but do await a response when the matter is with the Crown Estate.
Shelly Farm Community Centre:
We are very pleased the community centre received over £28,000 from the Neighbourhood Community Infrastructure Levy fund (CIL). The funds came from both the Monkspath and Shirley South funding pots, with the justification that many people from Shirley use the community centre. The funds are most needed for the upkeep of the centre. Both Ken and Keith submitted letters of support for funding for the centre.
Hillfield LNR – supporting bid for Veolia community funding:
The magnificent Friends of Hillfield Park were unsuccessful in their bid for CIL funding for infrastructure to the park, which sits in three of the boroughs wards (Blythe, Shirley South and St Alphege). However, true to form they are looking at other avenues of funding and have already submitted a request for modest funding from the Veolia Community Fund, which is meant for environmental projects. Your Blythe ward councillors are also looking at other methods to help fund park improvements.
Report it:
There is a page on the councils website where you can complete online forms to report an issue. It really is the quickest and cheapest way to contact the council and your report will go straight to the correct service area whatever time of day you report it.
The page can be reached via this link, just select the categories for each area: https://www.solihull.gov.uk/report