As far back as 2005 Liberal Democrat Shadow Chancellor Vince Cable has been pressing the Government to put in place adequate safety nets for people who would be faced with repossession when the housing bubble burst. However it was not until autumn 2008, in the wake of figures showing repossessions shooting up, that the Government [...]

Currently, next years Draft Council Budget is doing the rounds of the various Scrutiny Panels as part of what the controlling Tory Group euphemistically call “consultation”. Truth is they’ve probably already decided what is in and what is out of the budget as can be borne out by the comment made by the Tory Chair of [...]

A meeting which was to have taken place today (Tuesday 20th January) at Walsall’s Council House to make a recommendation on the future for Sneyd Community School has been put off till Wednesday 4th February.  Recommendations from the Childrens and Young Persons Scrutiny Panel will then go on to the towns Tory cabinet with whom the final decision rests when [...]

People living near the M6 in Short Heath and New Invention are concerned about the impact of plans to open up the hard shoulder of the motorway.  Lib Dem councillor Ian Shires has demanded that the Highways Agency and Walsall  Council  reveal more details and give those affected the opportunity to view and comment on the [...]

Willenhall’s Regeneration Project Reference Group met last night (Thursday) along with members of the Willenhall Partnership to discuss, amongst other things, a Community Arts Project and proposals for the planned Morrison’s Superstore. An opportunity has arisen, thanks to Morrison’s injecting £40,000, for a public art project as part of its involvement in improving Willenhall’s Town Centre.  A presentation was [...]

The working group set up to look at options for the future of Sneyd Community School adjourned its meeting yesterday without coming to a decision on what to recommend to next weeks Children and Young People Scrutiny Panel.  The reason given for the  adjournment was yet again a lack of information.  Officers are to have further talks [...]

Work began this week on a £45,000 safety package along the Essington Road stretch of the A462 at New Invention. Welcoming the work local Lib Dem councillor Ian Shires said ” This is the culmination of a long running campaign by local residents supported by the Willenhall North Lib Dem Focus Team.  “This road has transformed over [...]

Commenting on reports that the Government is planning to guarantee up to £20bn of loans to small businesses, Liberal Democrat Shadow Chancellor, Vince Cable said: “The Government’s proposal, essentially the same as that of the Conservatives, potentially involves very large taxpayer liabilities and is in effect a subsidy to bank lending.” “We worry that this [...]

A working group which was set up to look at options for the future of Sneyd Community School on behalf of the Children and Young Person’s Scrutiny Panel is to meet for a second time on Thursday.  The options for discussion will include the setting up of a National Challenge Trust or setting up an [...]

Last weeks Willenhall Partnership provided much food for thought. As well as backing moves to restore the chapels at Bentley Cemetery there were lively debates to a packed meeting on the future of Wood Street Cemetery along with the Locksmiths House and Lock Museum and issues around the economic downturn and what The Partnership might be [...]