An unauthorised traveller encampment has returned to Daisy Farm Recreation Ground in Maypole, Birmingham, just 48 hours into the new year. Councillor Adam Higgs is pursuing eviction and long-term defensive measures. Read the latest.
A father received a £5,989 council tax refund after acting on Martin Lewis' advice about the Severe Mental Impairment discount for his dad's vascular dementia. Discover if you're eligible.
A month-by-month look at the major political and community stories that shaped Birmingham in the first half of 2025, from the bin strike crisis to council bankruptcy fallout.
Birmingham City Council approves sale of closed Harborne Day Centre to a national retailer for a new supermarket, sparking debate over cuts to vital adult services. Read the full story.
Birmingham City Council faces a critical year with ongoing strikes and financial fragility. Commissioners see progress but warn of major risks ahead. Read the full analysis.
Government commissioners warn of four critical risks, including the bins strike and equal pay liability, facing Birmingham City Council despite 'positive' steps. Read the latest on the authority's fragile financial future.
Councils in England get a £78bn funding boost with a 3% council tax rise cap. Find out what the new multi-year settlement means for your local services.
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.
Dudley Council outlines major regeneration projects for 2026, including a new bus station and Metro link, while confirming council tax will rise by 4.9%. Explore the key developments.
Reform UK seized minority control of Worcestershire County Council in 2025, ending two decades of Conservative rule. Discover the key events, financial crises, and political defections that reshaped the Midlands.
Erewash Borough Council invests £50,000 to upgrade bus shelters across the borough, including in Sandiacre and Long Eaton. Report issues via the council website.
Dudley Council battled a £42m financial crisis, political defections, and protests over asylum seeker housing in a tumultuous 2025. Explore the key events shaping the borough's future.
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.
Birmingham City Council leader John Cotton explains his 'practical' approach to tackling child poverty, defending his relationship with government ministers. Read his full Q&A.
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.
Derby City Council has spent £1,400 on security guards to protect workers removing England and Union flags following 'threatening behaviour'. Full details on the council's U-turn and costs revealed.
Staffordshire County Council's Reform UK-led efficiency review identifies £2.67 million in savings, impacting mobile libraries, voluntary sector contracts, and concessionary fares. Details of the financial strategy to be published in January.
As Birmingham's 2025 bin strike dragged on, mobile waste centres were swamped. We revisit the chaos, fly-tipping and the community efforts that followed. Read the full story.
The Valuation Office clarifies how the new High Value Council Tax Surcharge will work for properties over £2 million from 2028. Learn about the targeted valuations and how it aims to create a fairer system.
Warwickshire's Reform UK leader vows to ignore council vote demanding he withdraw a letter to government seeking powers to cut school transport costs. Opposition unites against the move.
Birmingham City Council approves sale of former Harborne Day Centre site for a new food store, part of property sales to tackle financial crisis. Read the full story.
Birmingham City Council approves the sale of the Grade II listed Alpha Tower to aid its financial recovery. The move follows the council's effective bankruptcy declaration in 2023. Read the full story.
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.
New data shows Birmingham residents face waits up to 250 weeks for social housing. Discover the worst-hit areas and how the council's system works.
New data reveals 16 Birmingham areas are 'red zones' for council housing waits, with Quinton's 250-week lead. Discover the full list and official advice for applicants.
Shirebrook Town Council left unable to function after 11 councillors quit. Bolsover District Council appoints temporary members to restore operations. Read the full story.