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Dear stakeholder,  The consultation on the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) finishes next Monday 8 February.

It’s really important that businesses and key stakeholders within Solihull make their voices heard.

The ‘Scheme’ could unlock nearly £636 million of investment into Solihull over the next 30 years, as part of an overall £8 billion investment package for the WMCA area.

This is a tremendous opportunity to move powers from Whitehall to the West Midlands, and will allow us to work closely together on the issues that really matter to you; growth, jobs, skills, transport and homes.

It’s your last chance to have your say, so please do take a few minutes to complete the short survey, available on the WMCA website.

SOLIHULL METROPOLITAN BOROUGH COUNCIL
Highways Maintenance – Grange Road, Dorridge
Notice of Temporary Road Closure
The Council gives notice under Sections 14 and 15 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act
1984 (as amended by the Road Traffic (Temporary Restrictions) Act 1991), being
satisfied that traffic should be restricted or prohibited by reason of ensuring the tactile
examination of a railway bridge can be undertaken in safety.
The works will require Grange Road, Dorridge, to be closed from 0700hrs to 1500hrs on
Sunday 21st February 2016 and from 0700hrs to 1500hrs on Sunday 28th February 2016.
Informatory warning signs will be deployed, not less than seven days before any
particular road will be closed. Access for emergency services will be maintained at all
times. Pedestrian access to all properties within the restriction will be maintained along
defined routes throughout the period of the closure.
Local Traffic Diversion routes will be provided as follows:
Grange Road, Dorridge – Alternative routes for traffic will be signed via Grange Road,
Earlswood Road, Four Ashes Road, Widney Road and Station Road, and reverse for the
opposite direction.
For further information contact L Pape, Network Rail – 01132775360.

Click on this link to see a plan of the proposed alternative traffic route:

Grange Road, Dorridge - road closure plan

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Solihull Council are working in partnership with Waitrose to help local people secure the 100+ jobs that will be created when their new store opens in May 2016.

The store, on Homer Road, will offer positions covering a range of tasks in the following areas: Customer Café/Service Counters and Checkouts/Replenishment. If you have a passion for good food and delivering exceptional service, you could be the person Waitrose is looking for.

A jointly hosted information event will be held at the Ramada Hotel, New Road, Solihull on Friday 12 February 2016, 5.30 – 6.30pm. This will be a great opportunity to find out more about the roles available, the recruitment process and what it is like to be a Waitrose Partner. Solihull Council will also be there to talk about the employment support that they can offer to local residents.

Councillor Joe Tildesley, Cabinet Member for Education, Skills and Culture said: “We are delighted to welcome Waitrose to Solihull. This new store opening will significantly enhance the town’s retail offer, as well as benefiting the local community with the new jobs this development will bring.”

Speaking of their current nationwide programme of new store openings, Waitrose director of development, Nigel Keen, said: “At a time when many retailers’ estates are contracting, we are delighted to be opening new shops around the country and giving people the opportunity to become Partners in our business. These new shops will go beyond the traditional supermarket, delivering exciting modern shopping experiences.”

To find out more about the information event on 12 February and to book a place, please call 0121 704 8192/8076.

Kenilworth Road and Balsall Street to close for resurfacing works

From Saturday 13 February to Wednesday 17 February, the B4101 Kenilworth Road, running through Knowle, and the B4101 Balsall Street, Balsall Common, will be closed to through traffic to allow works to be carried out to keep the road in a safe condition.

A complete closure of B4101 between Balsall Common and Knowle villages is required. To minimise disruption along this busy route, the work will be carried out during the school half-term holiday week with works commencing on Saturday 13 February 2016. A diversion route via Hampton in Arden will be clearly signed.

In order to complete the improvement works, the road will be restricted between 9.00am and 3.30pm each day – the route will be open to traffic at all other times. Access to local businesses and properties along the roads will be maintained during the works.

The road surface on the B4101 has now reached the end of its useful life and needs to be resurfaced. Whilst this will cause disruption to road users during the works, it will result in a new surface that should remain maintenance-free for around 15 years, meaning less inconvenience in the future.

This scheme is being funded as a result of the Council’s successful bid to the Department for Transport’s –“Challenge Fund”. This additional money is awarded to Councils who demonstrate they are delivering value for money in carrying out cost effective maintenance solutions.

This is part of the Council’s three-year highway maintenance programme to ensure the roads across the borough do not deteriorate and become hazardous. Solihull Council apologises to all road users for any inconvenience caused as a result of these essential works.

Road Name – B4101 Kenilworth Road, Knowle & B4101 Balsall Street, Balsall Common

Section – From High Street, Knowle to Station Road, Balsall Common

Date – Saturday 13 February 2016 for 5 Days.

Times – 09.00am to 3.30pm

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

Waterloo and Bowsall development report to HHPC

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The conclusions drawn by Waterloo and Bowsall following the public meeting

Waterloo and Bowsall Development conclusion report

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The suggested site plan.

Waterloo and Bowsall Development site plan

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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

School Road and Shelfield Close TPOW Jan 2016 Proposed Notice PLAN

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School Road and Shelfield Close Description 2

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School Road and Shelfield Close TPOW Jan 2016 Description 1

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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

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