We’ve launched our issues and options consultation for our new local plan today. It will guide where new homes, jobs and supporting infrastructure should be located across the Borough up to 2043. This consultation is your opportunity to comment at an early stage, before any final decisions are made. We’ve had a lot of contact with the government about bringing forward a new local plan quickly, but we’re determined to do it the right way. You can read the letter Councillor Mackiewicz, our Cabinet Portfolio Holder for Climate Change and Planning, and I wrote to the Minister of State for Housing here.
Whilst we still have work to do on that plan for development, we can be sure that Solihull is growing in some ways already. Data from Growth Flag shows that we are one of the top 10 places in the country for high-growth business potential. We know we’re a great place to do business, we’ve seen so many success stories in our borough, ranging from small businesses right up to international giants. Whilst there is a note of concern in the data, showing that the number of businesses expected to grow significantly across the country has fallen, it’s good to see Solihull buck that trend. We love our business community here, and we will always do what we can to support them.
Quite a few of those business success stories were present at the latest Apprenticeship and Pathways show, which I went along to this week. The show is always well attended, and this time was no different, with plenty of young people coming through the doors to meet representatives from JLR, Solihull Moors Foundation, Rolls-Royce, Solihull College & University Centre, British Academy of Jewellery, Reflections Training Academy, Balfour Beatty VINCI, Heart of England Training, British Army, RAF and Solihull Council. I’m proud of these events, as the Council brings together businesses and the community in a way that benefits everyone.
On Tuesday I attended the Holocaust Memorial Day service in the Council Chamber. It was a deeply moving occasion. Martin Hyman, the son of a holocaust survivor, spoke engagingly about his family and their story as they were persecuted and ultimately murdered by the Nazis, with only his mother surviving the war. It was hugely emotional and I’m grateful to Martin for speaking to us all. Rabbi Pink then spoke powerfully about the theme of this year’s HMD ‘Bridging Generations’ reminding us that the responsibility to remember those terrible events continues after the survivors have gone. Thank you to everyone who came and to everyone who organised the service, and in particular to the pupils of Solihull School for their breathtaking musical performances and the Children from St. Augustine’s primary who shared their thoughtful poems.
Thanks for reading,
Karen.