Serving the Local Community
Following the recent public meeting by Waterloo Housing and Bowsall Developments regarding housing development off Stratford Road, three documents are attached for your information:
The report to the Parish Council meeting on 21st January 2016
The conclusions drawn by Waterloo and Bowsall following the public meeting
The suggested site plan.
Hockley Heath Parish Council have invited Hampton in Arden Parish Councillor Mike Blomer to come along and talk about his experiences in developing a Neighbourhood Plan for Hampton in Arden.
The meeting will be held at 7.15pm on Thursday 11th February in the Pavilion at Hockley Heath Recreation Ground.
Hockley Heath already has a Village Plan but this has no planning power. A Neighbourhood Plan will need to be approved by the residents of the parish and will form part of SMBC local development plan.
If you want to learn more, please come along to this meeting. All welcome.
Please find attached details of proposal Notices for School Road and Shelfield Close, Hockley Heath. The deadline to make representations in regards to these proposals is 19th February 2016.
If you would like to discuss any technical aspect of the Orders, please contact the Council’s Highway Services Division on 0121 704 8004. or for more information on Solihull’s permanent, temporary or experimental Traffic Regulation Orders, please visit:
http://www.solihull.gov.uk/Resident/Parking-travel-roads/roadworks-and-restrictions/tros
Solihull Council wants to encourage anyone not yet registered to vote, to take advantage of National Voter Registration Drive next week and go online to register.
On Thursday 5 May 2016, voters in Solihull will go to the polls to elect local government councillors for Solihull and a Police and Crime Commissioner for the West Midlands. Anyone who isn’t registered to vote won’t be able to take part and have their say. The deadline to register to vote in these elections is Monday 18 April 2016.
Whilst there is still time, it’s running out quickly. The good news is that it only takes a few minutes to register online at www.gov.uk/register-to-vote . It’s a chance to join the thousands of people across the UK being encouraged to register this week.
Nick Page, Electoral Registration Officer for Solihull Council said:
“Anyone not yet registered to vote should do so as soon as possible so they can have their say on issues that affect their day-to-day lives. I’d urge people living in Solihull to use National Voter Registration Drive to spread the message amongst family and friends that it only takes a few minutes to complete the form and register to vote online.”
Ben Brook, Head of Performance and English Regional Teams at the Electoral Commission, said:
“National Voter Registration Drive exists because it’s important that anyone who’s eligible, but has not yet registered to vote, does so. It’s easy and quick to do online at www.gov.uk/register-to-vote. Young people, students and people who move frequently are much less likely to be registered to vote so #NVRD is as important as ever.”
Local residents can contact Solihull’s electoral registration office on 0121 704 6042 or electoralservices@solihull.gov.uk
Correspondence has been received from Highways England in response to a letter from the parish council. The letter outlines planned works to the M42 and surrounding roads.
The emerging West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) is consulting on its proposed role and functions. A survey is on the WMCA website from today (18 January) until 08 February and people are encouraged to take part and leave feedback.
The survey into the ‘Scheme’ document, which was submitted to ministers in October, will help inform the government’s decision on whether it is appropriate and in the region’s best interests to formally establish a Combined Authority (WMCA) ahead of Parliament being asked to approve it.
Councillor Bob Sleigh, Leader of Solihull Council and Chair of the WMCA’s Shadow Board, said:
“As Council Leader I believe that by working together with other authorities we have a tremendous opportunity to move powers from Whitehall to the West Midlands and to our locally elected politicians who know this region best.
“Furthermore the establishment of a combined authority will allow us to work together on the issues that really matter to the people and the businesses in the West Midlands; growth, jobs, skills, transport and homes.”
The West Midlands Combined Authority is based on the geography of the three Local Enterprise Partnerships which cover the Black Country, Coventry and Warwickshire and Greater Birmingham and Solihull. The WMCA is being led by the seven metropolitan councils: Birmingham, Dudley Sandwell , Solihull, Walsall and Wolverhampton.
The website is: http://www.westmidlandscombinedauthority.org.uk/
Solihull libraries are giving people the chance to save money, reduce clutter and go ‘green’ this New Year with digital magazine downloads, eNewspapers and eBooks.
People can read full colour digital copies of over 2000 newspapers and magazines from over 100 countries on their computer, smartphone or tablet, wherever they are, free of charge using their library card.
There are over 50 top magazines to choose from ranging from New Scientist to Cosmopolitan, Auto Express to BBC Gardeners’ World and TV Times to Hello! People can keep them for as long as they like and they can be downloaded at www.solihull.gov.uk/emagazines.
Daily newspapers are available to read online including the Telegraph, Guardian, Independent and Daily Mail at www.solihull.gov.uk/enewspapers. Regional newspapers along with thousands of papers from around the world enable people to keep in touch with news overseas and practise their language skills.
For longer reads, people can borrow an eBook for up to three weeks. People can choose from novels, biographies, true stories, children’s books and more. With books expiring automatically there is no need to worry about fines. eBooks can be downloaded at www.solihull.gov.uk/ebooks.
As if that wasn’t enough, people can also access the Virtual Reference Library at www.solihull.gov.uk/247library which has great resources such as Theory Test Pro for learner drivers and the Oxford English Dictionary.
Cabinet Member for Stronger Communities and Partnerships, Councillor Karen Grinsell said: “Our eLibrary services give people the opportunity to access the news and their favourite titles at anytime of the day or night, no matter where they are. They are particularly useful for people who find it difficult to visit a library.
“It also offers people the chance to save money as our eMagazines and eNewspapers are free to download and read. All you need is your library card number. If you are not a member, then it’s easy to join, simply go into your local library or go online to www.solihull.gov.uk/Resident/Libraries/joinalibrary”
Staff are on hand to help people access eResources at any library. People can find their local library at www.solihull.gov.uk/Resident/Libraries/Find-a-library
