Solihull Council has significantly reduced its workforce by 158 posts, saving £2m via a paid-resignation scheme. Agency worker costs also fell by over 36%. Read the full financial scrutiny report.
Down Lane in Frant will close to through traffic for up to 18 months for South East Water works from January 13, 2026. Access for residents maintained. Plan alternative routes.
The long-vacant Beales department store in Lowestoft is on the market for £895,000, years after closure and a council flats plan stalled. Read the full story.
Government commissioners overseeing Birmingham City Council's financial recovery say they are not ready to depart, despite work on an 'assurance plan'. Progress noted, but major challenges remain.
Essex County Council has secured over £68 million in government funding to improve bus reliability, connections, and accessibility across the county. Discover the plans.
Walsall Council leaders will be questioned on housing targets, green belt development, and securing funding for affordable homes. Meeting set for January 12, 2026.
Plans to transform Wolverhampton's empty Marks & Spencer into over 70 apartments get green light. The historic Dudley Street store closed last year after nearly a century.
Martin Lewis highlights the Severe Mental Impairment council tax discount, which can cut bills to zero for eligible households. Learn if you qualify and how to claim.
Millions of UK households will get a two-month council tax break in 2026 ahead of new property bands. Find out if you're eligible and how the new high-value surcharge will work.
Birmingham Conservatives promise to restore weekly bin rounds and end the long-running strike as part of a six-point local election plan. Discover their full strategy.
From a £20m neighbourhood fund to a new Aldi and healthcare revamps, discover the 12 key developments poised to reshape Birmingham's Royal Town in the coming year.
A plan for a permanent 'green stage' on Bournville Green has been submitted, aiming to boost arts and community events. The £63k project is led by a local consortium.
UK households with gas boilers could see a £30 annual levy to subsidise heat pumps under Labour's Warm Homes Plan. Critics warn it hits the poorest hardest. Read the full details.
Parents in Birmingham must submit primary school applications for September 2026 by January 15. Late forms risk children missing their preferred school. Here's the full guide.
Police appeal for information after a woman's body is recovered from the River Waveney in Beccles. The death is being treated as unexplained.
Residents and parents in Hall Green have until 5 January 2026 to give feedback on major road safety proposals, including a new 20mph zone, bollards, and pedestrian refuges around Chilcote Primary School.
Countryfile's Adam Henson shares exciting news of a 'critically endangered' Suffolk Punch foal due in May 2026 at his Cotswold farm. A major boost for rare breed conservation.
New data reveals the shortest and longest council house waiting times across Birmingham wards, with Holyhead at 30 weeks and Quinton at 250 weeks. Discover the full list and council advice.
Sandwell Council approves plans to replace a Bearwood shop destroyed by a major fire with a new building containing nine flats and a ground-floor retail unit. The blaze involved over 70 firefighters.
Ed Miliband's Warm Homes Fund aims to provide grants for solar panels and heat pumps, potentially eliminating energy bills for millions. Discover how the scheme works.
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 Sandwell Council committee is set to decide on a new plan for eight flats in Great Barr after the developer demolished the former GP surgery without permission. Read the latest.
A new planning application seeks to build eight affordable flats on the site of a former day centre and library in Rowley Regis, addressing a critical shortage of family-sized homes in Sandwell.
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.
Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky meet face-to-face in Florida to discuss ending the Russia-Ukraine war, focusing on security guarantees and territorial disputes. Read the latest on the high-stakes peace negotiations.
Birmingham Council plans new traffic calming on Cranes Park Road in Sheldon. The scheme, part of a wider plan to prioritise people over cars, includes a refuge island and mini-roundabout. Have your say in the consultation.
Sandwell Council reveals plans for 12 affordable flats opposite the new Horseley Road metro stop, aiming to ease a severe shortage of family homes where waits can stretch to nine years.
Households with damp and mould are urged to watch for a critical Ofgem letter. Tenants must notify landlords immediately as 98% of ECO4 insulated homes need repairs costing up to £18,000.
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.