Solihull
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In Brief
Chamber gets on board for transport overhaul
Joan Smith: transport in Solihull is one of the biggest problems for business
A new transport strategy for Solihull has been welcomed by business leaders as a way of tackling one of the borough’s biggest headaches. Solihull Chamber has long campaigned for
improvements to transport in the borough, and the need for action has become greater with the impending construction of the new London – Birmingham high speed rail link. The new strategy – Solihull Connected – is
Solihull Council’s vision for the future of transport in the borough, as well as its policy on transport investment.
‘There is actually something now being addressed about the transport issues with the council, working alongside the Highways Agency’
Solihull Connected is intended as a blueprint for investment in a transport infrastructure that still caters for cars, while encouraging alternative and sustainable forms of transport, including walking, cycling and public transport. The strategy identifies a number of specific schemes which would enable delivery of this vision including a mass-transit network
Solihull Chamber Patrons
consisting of rail, metro and ‘Sprint’ buses, a high-quality cycle network and a master plan for the future development of Solihull town centre. It comes after a six-month period of consultation
with local residents and businesses, during which issues such as traffic congestion, poor public transport connectivity and the cost of public transport were identified as being key problems. Solihull Council director Joan Smith said:
“Transport in Solihull is one of the biggest problems we face. This initiative has been very well received, as there is actually something now being addressed about the transport issues with the council, working alongside the Highways Agency. “Our continued collaborative work with our local
council is crucial to raising awareness to all aspects of planning but most especially for transport as this has such a huge impact on our local businesses and community in their day to day lives.” The catalyst for the new strategy is the arrival
of HS2 in 2026, and this will create an estimated 32,000 jobs and 8,000 new households in the borough during the next two decades, representing a 30 per cent and nine per cent increase on today. The council said that it would also expect
further growth around the HS2 Interchange beyond the 20-year horizon of the Solihull Connected document.
Privilege Partners
Healthwatch Solihull, the independent consumer champion for health and social care in the borough, will be provided by a new partnership of local organisations until March next year. Commissioned by Solihull Council, Healthwatch,
which was established in 2013, is tasked with ensuring that the views and experiences of local people are heard by those who plan, run and regulate health and care services. Solihull SUSTAiN is leading a partnership of
local organisations including Citizens Advice Solihull Borough (CASB), DIAL Solihull, Experts By Experience - Solihull and Independent Advocacy. They have taken over from the previous provider of Healthwatch on an interim contract whilst the Council commissions new long-term arrangements. Chief executive of SUSTAiN, Dave Pinwell said:
“The members of this partnership have a wealth of experience in supporting local people with health and social care related issues and are eager to deliver a high quality Healthwatch service that will help them to inform future developments by sharing their views with us.”
For more information about Healthwatch Solihull visit:
healthwatchsolihull.org.uk or call 0121 704 7861.
Solihull Council is consulting residents on its council tax reduction scheme because of an “increasingly unsustainable” position. In April 2013, the Government abolished
national council tax benefit regulations and local authorities became responsible for delivering their own support schemes with reduced funding from the Government. Since then, certain low income households in Solihull have received a 100 per cent reduction to their council tax bill. The council is now proposing to make some
changes to its council tax reduction scheme with effect from April 2017, which, if agreed, will mean all people of working age paying something towards their bill. The council will be writing to residents who
currently receive council tax reduction to ask for their views on the
consultation.Residents who are not affected are also invited to share their views on the scheme. The consultation will last 12 weeks and the
deadline for residents to give their feedback is Sunday 2 October.
September 2016 CHAMBERLINK 27
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