Willenhall Area Panel has met twice this year, 19th January and again last night and on both occasions Willenhall’s two Tory Councillors failed to show up.

That’s two important chances they have missed on putting the interests of Willenhall at the top of the policy agenda.

In January they missed the chance to shape the “Willenhall’s Economic and Development Programme”. Last night they missed the chance to shape planning decisions over the next ten years in a debate on Walsall Council’s controversial “Local Plan Consultation”.

“I can only surmise that they’ve jumped the gun and assumed that they will win at the Local Elections in May so as they plan to do away with Area Panels there is little or no point in attending them” said Lib Dem Cllr Ian Shires after the meeting. “Whatever happened to their commitment to localism?”

The Area Panel also agreed to £15,483 in small Grants to Willenhall voluntary organisations and debated problems of anti social behaviour across Willenhall.

Yesterday’s meeting was the last meeting before the Local Elections on Thursday 5th May and maybe the last ever if the Tories have their way. On a number of occasions now Walsall’s Tory Leader Cllr Mike Bird has said that should his Party win in May then he will ignore the decisions made by full council at its Budget meeting in February and continue with his cuts budget come what may.

At the February meeting  Tory spending cuts were thrown out in favour of a Lib Dem/Labour amendment which saved local libraries, rejected cuts in street cleaning, saved Area Partnerships and reinstated important Grants to voluntary organisations as well as stop damaging Market rent increases in district centres such as Willenhall.