Councillor at Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council. Blogging about issues in Blythe Ward (Monkspath, Cheswick Green, Dickens Heath and Tidbury Green) and Solihull.
I thought I should post a few comments about the application by William Hill Organisation that came before the Council’s Planning Committee last Wednesday, 19 February. It is not usual for members of the Planning Committee to provide a public rationale for decisions but as a ward councillor I make the following comments as to … More Planning Aplication – Betting shop in Dickens Heath
Video of site for proposed development of 57 houses on green belt land off Creynolds Lane, Cheswick Green, Solihull.
Two areas of tarmac have suddenly appeared in Creynolds Lane, Cheswick Green this week. I will refer to them as ‘verges’ but they are small in size, perhaps 6 feet by 6 feet and finished to a good standard; see photographs: The photograph on the left shows a tarmac area opposite number 298 Creynolds … More The case of the appearing tarmac verges
This is the theme of this evenings debate at Full Council. A special Full Council meeting has been arranged for all councillors to engage in a campaign that has been put forward by the Local Government Association (LGA). The LGA website (http://www.local.gov.uk/campaigns) briefing explains the campaign as ; ‘Rewiring Public Services is an ambitious campaign which provides much-needed … More REWIRING PUBLIC SERVICES
Solihull’s Cabinet meet this evening to make recommendations to Full Council on the budget for next year. As per the last few years, things have been tight and efficiency savings made, with most areas of the council budget seeing either a reduction in revenue or no increase. Again, the staff at Solihull Council have met … More SOLIHULL BUDGET FRAMEWORK 2014 – 2017
West Midlands Fire Service is consulting on its plan for 2014 – 17. They have published a document ‘The Plan 201 – 2017: Making West Midlands Safer’. The document can be viewed here: Plan_Consultation and further information can be found via their website: http://www.wmfs.net/ Please feel free to have your say on how you want the … More FIRE SERVICE CONSULTATION
I wish to gauge residents, and visitors to Solihull, views on cycling. I am a keen cyclist myself but, beware the Councillor, or citizen who thinks they know all the answers just because they ride a bike. I also know a lot has been done in the borough in recent years, some by the local … More Cycling in Solihull
Perhaps some of this has become a sort of political football, but I feel residents of Solihull should demand to know how we use their money and how we prioritise services. We have also come a long way since people started to get to know more about their services when John Major introduced the ‘Citizen … More Transparency in Local Government
At yesterdays Planning Committee there were several applications in respect of Blythe Ward. I have posted here the link to the committee agenda and to access each individual application just click on the relevant agenda item: http://eservices.solihull.gov.uk/mginternet/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=251&MId=301&Ver=4 Agenda items 7 and 8 related to applications to build houses in Dickens Heath. Both these applications are … More PLANNING APPLICATIONS UPDATE
As a keen user of social media I was asked to join officers from Solihull Council to look at how the council can adapt social media to improve services, indeed to become a ‘Great’ Council. The group meets under the title ‘The Social Canteen’ – to tie in with the Social Cafe – a more … More SOLIHULL – A SOCIAL COUNCIL
Ken Hawkins 