Calling all volunteers – we are giving Hockley Heath a Spring Clean! Friday 21st April 2017

Following last years November tidy, Hockley Heath Parish Council and Solihull Council are working together again to hold a one day local tidy up.

Friday 21st April 10am – 2pm

Meet at the Hockley Heath Recreation Ground car park, Old Warwick Road.

For further information, please call Maria Vernon on 07974 79 55 88 or email hhpc2009@hotmail.com

All protective equipment and tools for the work will be provided.

Spotlight on GP Appointments – public meeting called

March 16 @ 5:30 pm – 7:30 pm

Venue: Concert Room, Solihull Moors FC Stadium, Damson Park, Solihull, B92 9EJ

 Fed up with hearing that GP appointments are hard to come by? Come to a public meeting about the situation in Solihull.

Attendees to this open meeting will be able to hear views from informed speakers on the pressures facing local services, and to take part in the Access to GP Appointments in Solihull Survey, which has been created to review patients’ experiences of access to health services at their GP surgeries.

Speakers will include Tony Green from the Patient Participation Group Network and Dr Susan Harrower from Coventry Road Practice, Sheldon who will be answering questions about the ongoing issues facing GP services and their appointments systems.

Places are limited, so book one now using our booking form or call 0121 704 7861 between 10am-3pm, or email enquiries@healthwatchsolihull.org.uk.

And if you cannot attend, you can still contribute to the survey.

SMBC agrees budget for the next financial year

Solihull Council has agreed its budget for 2017/18, which includes an increase to council tax.

At the Full Council meeting on 1 March, councillors agreed a budget of £136.462 million. The Band D council tax figure, excluding police, fire and parish precepts, will be £1,269.13. This comprises £1,209.40 for general council tax and £59.73 for adult social care.

In total, council tax will increase by 4.99% which incorporates a 3% increase to fund adult social care.

The Council also approved a Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) and efficiency plan up to 2020, which is designed to ensure that Council priorities continue to be met against anticipated continual financial constraints. The strategy outlines the Council’s commitment to ensuring resources will be focussed towards services which contribute most to improving outcomes for local people.

Councillor Bob Sleigh OBE, Leader of the Council, said:

“Along with the rest of the public sector, we face a massive challenge over the next few years to deliver public services with a much lower level of funding than previously. This is particularly the case for adult social care with an increasing demand for services.

“However, these are also exciting times for Solihull, with managed growth in the borough’s economy increasing the income we generate locally. This includes participating in a pilot for full business rates retention from April 2017, as part of our involvement in the West Midlands Combined Authority.

“Our priority as a council is to improve and enrich our residents’ lives and to continue to provide essential services at a consistently high standard. We are committed to make the best use of our resources by aligning them to the needs of the people of Solihull.”