Dudley Council Staff Morale Crisis in Union Survey
A Unison survey of Dudley Council staff reveals 73% feel undervalued and 67% report unmanageable workloads, sparking heated debate at a full council meeting.
Category : Council Meetings
Council Tax Discounts for Severe Mental Impairment Explained
Households with someone diagnosed with a severe mental impairment may qualify for council tax discounts of 25% to 100%, reducing or eliminating bills from April 2026.
DWP Issues £200 Winter Fuel Payments to State Pensioners
The Department for Work and Pensions is automatically distributing £200 Winter Fuel Payments to state pensioners aged 66 to 79 in England and Wales, with higher rates for those over 80.
DWP Automatic £200 Payment for Pensioner Couples 66-80
The Department for Work and Pensions confirms automatic £200 Winter Fuel Payments for state pensioner couples aged 66 to 80, with higher amounts for older pensioners, amid criticism over income thresholds.
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Politician's 'Women as Queens' Remarks Spark Equality Debate
Akhmed Yakoob, a Birmingham political candidate, claims all women prefer staying home and being 'looked after' by men, drawing criticism for outdated gender views.
DWP Cuts Winter Fuel Payments by £100 for Younger Pensioners
The Department for Work and Pensions has confirmed Winter Fuel Allowance rates for 2026/27, with a £100 reduction for state pensioners born after September 1946. Eligible recipients will receive letters in October or November detailing their payments.
UK Woman Stranded Abroad by New Border Rules
Natasha Cochrane De La Rosa, born in London, was denied re-entry to the UK from Amsterdam due to new regulations requiring dual nationals to present specific documentation.
Rachel Reeves Hints at Keeping 5p Fuel Duty Discount
Labour Chancellor Rachel Reeves indicates the 5p fuel duty discount could be maintained amid rising energy costs due to Middle East tensions, promising responsible economic decisions.
DWP Benefits Crackdown: Thousands Affected, Savings Overstated
Thousands face restricted access to DWP benefits under new migration rules, but analysis shows savings will be far less than the claimed £10 billion, raising questions about the policy's impact.
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Birmingham Council May See No Overall Control in Local Elections
A new forecast predicts Birmingham City Council could end up with no overall control after May's local elections, with Labour projected to suffer a dramatic collapse from 65 to just 13 councillors.
One-Week Deadline for UK Households to Register to Vote
Households across the UK must register to vote by April 20 to participate in the upcoming local council and mayoral elections on May 7, 2026, with voter ID requirements also enforced.
Automatic Winter Bonus for Pensioners Under £35,000
Millions of state pensioners with annual incomes below £35,000 will receive automatic Winter Fuel Payments this year, as the DWP confirms eligibility criteria for 2026.
Birmingham Monday Briefing: Elections, Counterfeit Trade, Teen Link-Ups
This week's briefing covers local election tensions, a £2m counterfeit Gucci operation in Acocks Green, and updates on teen gatherings in the city centre. Plus, plans to save the Electric Cinema.
Conservatives Face Nine Questions at Final Walsall Council Meeting
The ruling Conservatives will be questioned on nine issues including fly-tipping fines, the Saddlers Centre, and canal incidents at the final Walsall Council meeting before the all-out elections next month.
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DWP Sets 2026 Winter Fuel Payment Rules for Pensioners
The Department for Work and Pensions has detailed eligibility criteria for Winter Fuel Payments in 2026, with a £35,000 income threshold determining who receives the £200-£300 support.
Birmingham Labour Leader Confident Despite Polling Predictions
Birmingham Labour leader John Cotton expresses confidence in retaining council control in May's local elections, dismissing predictions of catastrophic defeat and highlighting party's positive agenda.
Pensioners Get £575 as Triple Lock Called 'Timebomb'
State pensioners have received a £575 annual increase due to the Triple Lock mechanism, but economists warn it's a 'ticking timebomb' that could cost billions and drive fiscal crisis.
DWP Announces Two New Cost of Living Payments for 12 Reasons
The Department for Work and Pensions has launched the Crisis and Resilience Fund, offering two new payments to support low-income households with 12 essential needs from April 2026.
Birmingham Labour Leader on Bins Strike, 20mph Limits, Election
Council leader John Cotton discusses the ongoing bins dispute, defends 20mph speed limits, and addresses unemployment figures as all 101 council seats face election in May.
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DWP Announces £50M Heating Oil Support After April Change
The Department for Work and Pensions is distributing £50 million in immediate cost of living payments to vulnerable households using heating oil, with funding available through local councils from April 1.
Reform UK Set to Win 23 West Midlands Seats in Poll
A new YouGov poll forecasts Reform UK gaining 23 constituencies in the West Midlands, including traditional Labour strongholds in Birmingham and the Black Country, with Greens also making significant gains.
HMRC to Reclaim Winter Fuel Payments from Pensioners
HMRC will automatically recover Winter Fuel Allowances from state pensioners earning over £35,000, with deductions of up to £33 per month starting next tax year.
DWP Announces £100 Winter Fuel Payment Increase for Pensioners
The Department for Work and Pensions confirms a £100 automatic increase in Winter Fuel Payments for older state pensioners for winter 2026/27, with enhanced amounts for those born before specific dates.
Automatic £200 Winter Fuel Payments for State Pensioners
The Department for Work and Pensions is distributing automatic £200 Winter Fuel Payments to state pensioners born between 1946 and 1960, with payments starting mid-November 2025.
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State Pension May Increase to £265 Under Triple Lock
The Department for Work and Pensions may implement a significant state pension increase next year, potentially raising weekly payments to £265 through the Triple Lock system introduced in 2011.
State Pension Boost: £740 Monthly for Pre-1953 Born Retirees
The Department for Work and Pensions has confirmed a 4.8% increase in the Basic State Pension, resulting in a monthly payment of £740 for eligible retirees born before specific dates, driven by the Triple Lock commitment.
Walsall Councillors Paid Over £1.22 Million in Allowances
Councillors in Walsall cost taxpayers more than £1.22 million in allowances last year, with leader Mike Bird as highest earner at £48,722.14. All councillors receive a basic £13,887 rate, with extra for special responsibilities.
Tories to Reinstate Benefit Cap for Defence Funding
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch proposes reinstating the two-child benefit cap to finance what she calls the biggest peacetime rearmament in UK history, criticizing government readiness.
DWP Faces Backlash Over State Pension Age Increase to 67
The Department for Work and Pensions is enforcing a rise in the state pension age from 66 to 67, sparking outrage among retirees who fear they may never receive their pension.
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DWP's 'Quiet' State Pension Age Rise Begins
The state pension age has started increasing from 66 to 67 in monthly increments for those born after April 1960, with further rises to 68 planned by 2046.
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