38 councils to double council tax on second homes
Up to 12,300 second-home owners face a 100% council tax surcharge as 38 more English councils activate new powers from April. See the full list of affected areas.
Up to 12,300 second-home owners face a 100% council tax surcharge as 38 more English councils activate new powers from April. See the full list of affected areas.
A collision has forced the closure of A459 Dudley Street in Sedgley, Dudley, in both directions. Drivers are warned of significant congestion. Avoid the area.
Birmingham City Council confirms new parking fees for three major parks from 2026, sparking political backlash. Find out the costs and the opposition's pledge.
Up to 400,000 UK homes may be in the wrong council tax band due to flawed 1991 valuations. Check your band now and challenge it to potentially claim thousands in backdated refunds.
Worcester City Council approves extra funding for the Scala Theatre renovation, citing fire safety and National Insurance costs. The £16.2m project remains on track for its 2026 opening.
A petition on housing asylum seekers in Dudley, gaining over 3,000 signatures, triggered a full council debate. Discover the other local issues that mobilised residents in 2025.
Vulnerable Blackpool residents can apply for up to £300 in energy bill support. The scheme, funded by the DWP, runs until 31 March 2026. Find out if you qualify and how to apply.
A man in his 20s was stabbed on Dudley High Street in the early hours of Sunday morning. West Midlands Police are urging witnesses and anyone with footage to come forward.
West Midlands Police could lose £41.1m in funding by 2026, risking 520 officers and neighbourhood policing. Commissioner warns of a 'postcode lottery' and urges government action.
West Midlands Police could lose £41.1m in funding, risking further cuts to officers. Crime Commissioner Simon Foster warns of a 'postcode lottery' and fewer police on streets.
Future Birmingham council leaders elected in 2026 will lack full autonomy, bound by a government-imposed action plan to ensure financial stability. Discover the binding roadmap for recovery.
Campaigners demand Dudley Council reinstates 500 removed grit bins, warning the cost-cutting move risks safety on icy hills. Read the full story and see the petition.
Government commissioners will oversee Birmingham City Council after the 2026 elections, restricting new leaders' autonomy with a strict action plan. Discover the roadmap for recovery.
A man was stabbed on High Street in Dudley at 3:30am on Sunday, December 21. Police are investigating and appealing for witnesses. The victim's injuries are not life-threatening.
A man was taken to hospital after a stabbing on Dudley High Street in the early hours of Sunday, December 21. Police are investigating and appealing for witnesses.
Plans for an Eton Star Academy sixth form in Dudley have been approved, promising 240 places. Local politicians clash over whether it's the right investment for the town's youth.
A planning inspector has upheld Dudley Council's refusal of an MOT centre in Brierley Hill, citing significant highway safety risks from potential pavement parking. Read the full verdict.
Dudley Council is set for a £75.9m three-year finance settlement from the Labour government. While Labour MPs hail a 'turning point', the borough's Conservative leader urges caution, saying 'the devil is in the detail'. Read the full story.
Dudley Council's leader insists he has 'nothing to hide' as a report into a collapsed £1.65m land sale is delayed for nearly a year. Read the latest on the audit committee's concerns.
Planning Inspectorate dismisses appeal for eight apartments in Blackheath, upholding Dudley Council's refusal. The scheme was deemed too dense and a risk to pedestrian safety.
Birmingham City Council secures a massive £651.5m funding increase over five years as part of a new £78bn government settlement targeting deprived areas. Read the full story.
Three Wolverhampton residents have been ordered to pay a total of £7,316 for fly-tipping offences after failing to cooperate with a council investigation. Read the full story.
Dudley Council reports a 17% drop in emissions, but a councillor warns selling buildings to the private sector risks 'false accounting' on climate progress. Read the full debate.
A Bilston children's home must close after a planning inspector rejected an appeal against a Dudley Council enforcement notice. The home was operating without permission, causing noise and police call-outs.
A planned 150-place special school in Shirley, Solihull, has been cancelled after the government redirected £3bn to create specialist places in mainstream schools. Council leader expresses disappointment.
A crucial debate on cutting parking charges was delayed after lengthy discussions on pub rates and council flag policy. Council leader brands debate 'bloody nonsense'.
Grimsargh St Michael’s C of E Primary School receives a £25,000 parish council grant to kickstart a £100,000 playground transformation, aiming for a more inclusive, nature-rich space for local children.
Dudley Council faces a 300% rise in adult safeguarding cases, deploys drones against off-road bikes, and sparks a £10k spending row. Explore this week's key developments.
Warwick District Council must repay double council tax charged on second homes after admitting it 'acted outside the law'. A procedural mistake forces a costly U-turn.
Dudley Council planners are set to decide on 13 new canal-side homes in Brierley Hill, while approving one HMO and rejecting another. Read the latest local planning news.