I spent yesterday evening undertaking school governor training to recognise and tackle Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE). This is an important issue, not just for schools but society as whole. Tackling CSE is everybody’s business. Schools naturally lead in identifying CSE because children are with them more than most other agencies, but taxi drivers, police, health care … More Tackling CSE is Everybody’s Business
SMBC have announced plans for Road works on the Longmore Road / Blossomfield Road junction will begin on Monday 16 January and last up to three weeks. The press release continues: Whilst there will be lane closures, the road will remain open to ensure road users’ inconvenience is kept to a minimum. Although the Council … More Road works to commence on the Longmore Road / Blossomfield Road junction
At my decision making session on 3 October I approved a recommendation to market a new development of shared ownership houses on Richmond Road, Olton. This development has been brought together by the Homes and Community Agency, Waterloo Homes, Solihull Community Housing and Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council. The report relating to this decision can be … More RICHMOND ROAD – MARKETING OF SHARED OWNERSHIP HOUSES
The borough saw about ten illegal encampments in 2016, with one group being a particular problem for police, local authority and residents in Shirley. I do intend to blog in the coming days about how Solihull Council and Police are the forefront of tackling illegal encampments in the region. However, following the recent reporting in … More Travellers – incorrect reporting
I thought I would have posted in 2017 before now but ‘Man flu’ got to me in the end. However, 2016 saw 10,602 actual visits to this website, with 25,250 views from the 59 posts made. I should really have posted more because there is so much going on and will focus more this year. … More Happy New Year to Video bloggings
An interesting report came to Solihull Cabinet last week, with cabinet being asked to ‘approve the development of an affordable ‘extra care’ housing development at Marlene Croft, Chelmsley Wood, being partof the former Coleshill Primary School site’. The full report can be read here: http://eservices.solihull.gov.uk/mgInternet/documents/s43012/EXTRA%20CARE%20HOUSING%20DEVELOPMENT%20CHELMSLEY%20WOOD.pdf This is a significant investment by the Council with £1.400m … More Extra Care Housing Development, Chelmsley Wood
On Wednesday 30 November 2016 Solihull’s Planning Committee (made up of fellow elected councillors) approved the planning application by IM Properties who sought to build on Blythe Valley Park; 750 homes, a 250 room care facility, a 200 room hotel and a commercial centre for the new development and existing offices. There was opposition from … More BVP – Rationale for support
The Councillors Commission, launched by the Local Government Research Unit in partnership with the De Montfort University and the Municipal Journal, has produced an interim report on the role of councillors based on the 20 round tables and 147 written submissions. The report identifies the constant themes with which councillors are continually engaging, such as … More ROLL OF COUNCILLORS – REPORT via Centre for Public Scrutiny
Planning Application PL/2016/02759/PPFL refers to the – Erection of 54 dwellings following the granting of outline permission 2014/1163/S (PL/2014/01985/OLM) for 220 dwellings for land at Tanworth Lane, Cheswick Green, Solihull. | Land Adjacent To Mount Farm Tanworth Lane Shirley Solihull. In brief, permission was granted to for the erection of 220 houses (subject to reserved matters … More MOUNT DAIRY FARM – APPLICATION FOR AN ADDITIONal 54 HOMES
Always a difficult subject and one not to be taken lightly following the decision by the House of Commons to vote themselves a 10% pay rise earlier this year. The issue about Allowances for Councillors is sometimes complex. Should people get an allowance for a task they are willing to undertake? Should the allowance be … More INDEPENDENT REMUNERATION PANEL REVIEW OF MEMBERS’ ALLOWANCES
Ken Hawkins 