I need to start by addressing the appalling statements made by three former Castle Bromwich Reform Councillors whilst they were campaigning prior to the 2026 local elections. I know many residents will have been disgusted by what they have seen and read. I share those feelings. This isn’t who we are as a Council and does not represent Solihull as a borough. The deeply racist, misogynist and discriminatory language contained in the ITV footage is disturbing. The monitoring officer received a number of formal complaints, which they would have investigated fully had any of the individuals involved remained as councillors, but they have all now resigned from their positions.
We will be holding an extraordinary meeting of Full Council on Monday. When the motion was put forward this would have included removing Alan Feeney from the position of Deputy Mayor, but he, Chris Whelan and Jamie Campbell have now resigned as Councillors. The meeting will go ahead to appoint replacements for the committee and external board positions they held, as well as to choose a new Deputy Mayor for the remainder of the Civic Year, which runs until May. A by-election will be held at the earliest possible opportunity to fill the three vacant positions for ward councillors in Castle Bromwich.
I’ve been heartened by how universally their comments have been condemned and I don’t want this ugly incident to overshadow the fact that Solihull is a great place to live, and everyone is welcome here, so let’s talk about some positive things. Starting with the Civic Honours, which recognise the best of our community.
Nominations are now open for the Solihull Civic Honours Awards 2027. The awards recognise outstanding individuals, groups, charities and other organisations who really stand out for the contribution they make to our community. There are nine awards, three for individuals, three for groups, and three which can be awarded to either. They cover kindness, volunteering, health and wellbeing, innovation and other aspects of community life.
We would love to receive as many nominations as possible, if nothing else it’s just a pleasure to hear about all the driven, dedicated people doing their best to keep Solihull such a great place to live. Ultimately, a town or a borough is a reflection of the people who live there, and we’re proud that so many Silhillians put so much time and effort into helping others. So, if you know a person or organisation who deserves to be recognised for all that they do, please take a look at the Civic Honours page and put their name forward.
On Monday I took the opportunity to drop-in to our later life drop-in session at The Core. It was great to see that it was so well attended, with plenty of people turning up to speak to advisors about finances and planning for the future, as well as health, housing, and care choices. Lots of people put off thinking about how their life will look in their later years, but taking the time to plan can make a really positive difference so thank you to everyone who did come along.
I just want to take a moment to recognise the excellent work of the Solihull Talking Newspaper Service. I met David at the Later Life event and he does an amazing job recording the local papers so that people who can’t read them for themselves can still stay up to date with local news. It’s a real lifeline for some, so thank you to David for your brilliant work for the community.
A little reminder about the Solihull Apprenticeship and Pathways Show. It’s next Wednesday (21 October) at Cranmore Park in Shirley and it’s not too late to sign up to attend. Over 1000 people came to the last one and there will be loads of great local employers there to chat to, as well as current apprentices and training providers who can help anyone you know who needs a little help deciding what to do after their GCSEs.
Half term is approaching fast, but there’s still time to sign up for some of the great activities provided by our HAF scheme. This time round over 30 providers will be offering sessions at more than 40 venues including sports, wellbeing, arts and crafts plus robotics and coding.
I mentioned last week that I would be going to the Night Walk for Cameron, run by the Cameron Grant Memorial Trust to aid in their work supporting mental health in young people. It was a really special evening, it was brilliant to see so many people turn out on a nice warm October night to all join together to take the time to walk, talk, and support a brilliant cause.
Finally, I’ve already talked a bit about organisations which do a lot in the community, and another one is Menopause Knowledge CIC. They started out here in Solihull but they’re expanding now. I’m going along to an event they’re running down the road in Stratford this weekend. They campaign for menopause awareness and aim to change the narrative and misconceptions around peri and post menopause through a range of initiatives, which is really important given how misunderstood menopause is even by those experiencing it.
Thanks for reading, enjoy your weekend.
Karen