Birmingham landlord's Christmas plea to save local pubs
A Birmingham landlord urges locals to support their pub this Christmas as closures hit 'unprecedented rate' and business rates threaten a 15% hike. Protect your local.
A Birmingham landlord urges locals to support their pub this Christmas as closures hit 'unprecedented rate' and business rates threaten a 15% hike. Protect your local.
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.
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.
UK police face criticism for using 'cumulative disruption' powers quashed in May 2025 to manage pro-Palestine protests. Lawyers warn of a legal vacuum and stifled democracy.
Shirebrook Town Council left unable to function after 11 councillors quit. Bolsover District Council appoints temporary members to restore operations. Read the full story.
Warwickshire Council leader George Finch insists 'big investors' are being secured to revive town centres, amid a heated debate over rising on-street parking charges. Read the full story.
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.
Hinckley Museum and dozens of local volunteers were celebrated at the annual Making a Difference awards. Discover the community champions making a real impact.
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.
Birmingham City Council proposes selling the freehold of the Grade II listed Alpha Tower to aid its financial recovery. Key committee vote set for December 16.
Low-income households can apply for emergency payments of up to £200 via the Household Support Fund. Apply now to your local council for help with food and energy bills.
The DWP gains powers to check benefit claimants' bank accounts from 2026. Experts warn checks may extend to Child Benefit, PIP, and others. Learn the full story.
From a historic pub facelift to a new fly-tipping crackdown, here's your roundup of the latest news and decisions from Solihull Council this week.
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.
A Dudley councillor reveals residents wait up to six months for help with potholes and home repairs due to staffing issues, not technology. Read the full investigation.
The DWP gains seven new powers, including bank account checks and direct cash deductions, to tackle benefits fraud. Critics warn of risks to privacy and vulnerable claimants.
Birmingham City Council's new Local Plan proposes 15 Green Belt sites in Sutton Coldfield for housing, with over 8,200 potential homes. Public consultation extended to December 19.
New laws grant the DWP powers to reclaim cash directly from bank accounts of benefit cheats and check financial data to verify claims. Find out how the crackdown works.
A row erupts in Dudley as a £8,000 consultation for a new Cradley parish council is overwhelmingly rejected by residents. Calls for apologies over 'waste' of taxpayer cash. Full story.
Labour demands apology after £8,000 survey on Cradley parish council, funded as part of a Tory-Lib Dem budget deal, is overwhelmingly rejected by residents. Read the full story.
Gloucester City Council faces a 'financial black hole' and is applying for up to £17.5m in emergency government loans to avoid effective bankruptcy, with severe cuts to services planned.
Labour councillor Jack Deakin resigns from Birmingham City Council after attending just two meetings in a year. Residents left without representation for six months.
Government commissioners will oversee Birmingham City Council until at least 2028. The ongoing bins strike and equal pay liabilities are key challenges slowing the council's recovery.
Dudley Council faces a £56m SEND funding black hole despite a national budget change. Discover the local crisis and what the future holds for special needs provision.
Dudley Council awaits answers on a £56m SEND funding deficit despite a new national policy. The financial 'bomb' could still push the authority towards effective bankruptcy. Read the latest.
Facing a £2.7m debt, Solihull Council is investing over £630,000 in an AI programme to generate significant savings, following the lead of other local authorities.
From a controversial 24/7 casino approval to a rejected 'battery farm' HMO and a UK-first robotic pharmacy. Get the full update on Sandwell Council's major decisions this week.
Solihull Council sees complaints soar to a three-year peak while making crucial decisions on parish mergers, historic building conversions, and the Mell Square redevelopment. Discover the full story.
This week in Walsall: a rooftop food court shuts over safety, tenants face quadrupled energy bills, and a new £50m school's location sparks debate. Get the full local update.
UK households in council tax band D can get 100% discounts, leading to £0 bills before a 5% rise to £2,394. Learn how to apply for Council Tax Support.