Solihull council news
Solihull council news, newest first: decisions, budgets, council tax, bins and services, each linked to the council's own papers.
Top story
Solihull Council Asks Government for Councillor Recall Powers
All parties, Reform UK included, backed Monday's motion. The council wants recall petitions for councillors. Castle Bromwich votes on 26 November.
More stories
Council
Castle Bromwich By-Election on 26 November: Three Seats Open
Castle Bromwich elects three councillors on 26 November after all three resigned. Register by 10 November; postal votes by 11 November, proxies by 18 November.
Council
Solihull Reform UK Down to 12 Councillors After Resignations
All three Castle Bromwich seats are now vacant and a by-election will follow. Reform UK has lost five of the 17 Solihull seats it won in May and has 12 left.
Planning
Solihull Local Plan Consultation Opens Week of 26 October
Comments on Solihull's Local Plan and its 21,913 homes open in the week of 26 October for six weeks. Green Belt near stations is not lifted automatically.
Housing
Solihull Council Tenants Set to Lose Rent-Free Weeks in 2027
Solihull's 10,000 council tenants would lose their two rent-free weeks from April 2027 under a new tenancy agreement. What changes and how to have your say.
Planning
Solihull Local Plan: 400 Homes a Year to 2028, Then 1,628
Cabinet backed Solihull's Local Plan on 29 September with a stepped target: 400 homes a year until 2028, rising to 1,628. Full Council then backed it on 6 October.
Council
Solihull Free Advice: Citizens Advice Takes Over From 1 Oct
Solihull's free advice service passes to Citizens Advice on 1 October, with venues promised in all 17 wards. Help starts by phone; venues open in phases.
Planning
Solihull Local Plan: 23,091 Homes to 2043, Council Backs It
Solihull's final draft Local Plan needs 1,289 homes a year, 58% more than in 2020, with 8,219 near railway stations. Full Council backed it on 6 Oct.
Kingshurst
Kingshurst Village Centre: £23.9m Phase 2 Approved
Cabinet approved the £23.9m Kingshurst health, library and retail building on 17 September. Building starts before the year ends, and 47 more homes follow.
Council
Solihull Council Budget Report Names Section 114 Risk
Solihull's own Cabinet report says its section 151 officer may have to consider a Section 114 notice for 2027/28. July's overspend is £1.48m on a £244m budget.
Council
Solihull Zebra Crossings: The Five Roads Sharing £405,000
Five Solihull roads get new zebra crossings from £405,000 approved on 7 September, spent now because the safety data meant to pick the schemes is a year late.
Council
Solihull SEND Inspection: Long Waits, Inconsistent Plans
Ofsted and CQC rate Solihull's SEND arrangements 'inconsistent', the middle of three verdicts. Waits are too long and EHC plans vary. Re-inspection in 3 years.
Council
Solihull SEND: £33.9m debt write-off rests on this month
Solihull's SEND plan reaches scrutiny on 8 September. Approval this month would clear £33.9m of a £37.7m schools deficit. EHC plans are up 12% to 2,805.
Libraries
Solihull Libraries: 3 Get Out-of-Hours Entry From Winter
Dickens Heath, Hobs Moat and Balsall Common libraries get card-and-PIN access outside staffed hours from winter. Current hours, and how to have your say.
Bins
Solihull Bin Collection Days: Fortnightly From 5 Oct
Solihull black bins go fortnightly from Monday 5 October, when weekly food caddy collections start. What goes in the caddy, side waste rules, and garden waste at £49.
Parking
Parking in Solihull: Six Hours for £4.10 at Monkspath
Monkspath Hall Road is £4.10 for six hours and free after 6pm. Brueton and Malvern are free. Shirley gives three hours, Knowle two. Mell Square shut in March.
Council Tax
Solihull Council Tax Bands 2026/27: Band D Is £2,172.96
Band D in unparished Solihull is £2,172.96, up 5.21%. Every band A to H, the council, police and fire split, all 16 parish charges, and the discounts.
Council
Solihull food waste caddies: your area's delivery date
Check when your area gets its food waste caddies: deliveries run in phases until 14 September, and weekly collections begin in the week of 5 October.
Bins
Solihull Christmas Bin Collections: Friday Rounds Move
Christmas Day and New Year's Day 2026 are both Fridays, so Friday bin rounds will move. Last year's changed dates, tip hours and when the 2026 dates land.
Schools
Solihull School Term Dates 2026/27: Half Term 26 Oct
Solihull half term is 26 to 30 October 2026; Christmas break-up is Friday 18 December. Council dates for 2026/27 and 2027/28, plus seven schools' INSET days.