Castle Bromwich Community Website

An independent assessment by six inspectorates reports on how well local public services are tackling the major issues in Solihull. Solihull has identified six priority areas:-

• Building healthier communities
• Building safer communities
• Building stronger communities
• Building more prosperous communities
• An equal chance for children and young people
• Narrowing Solihull's Gap in Inequalities

The inspectors did not identify any green flag areas where they felt that there was exceptional or innovative performance that others could learn from, but neither did they identify any red flag areas which gave them any significant concerns.

There were however, some informative pieces of information within the reports. Generally the health of people in Solihull is good and improving with an average life expectancy of 83.8 years for women and 78.4 years for me. However, there is a wide difference between life expectancy in the more affluent areas in the South of Solihull and the more deprived areas in the North with men in the south living on average 8.3 years longer than men in the north, and women in the south living on average 6.5 years longer than those from the North.

Read more about the details and how Solihull plans to reduce health inequalities HERE

IPSEA an independent charity which provides free legally based advice to parents who have children with special educational need is anxious to hear from any Solihull parent who would like help arguing for quantification of provision in part 3 of their child's statement of educational need at Annual Reviews or who has experienced difficulty or resistance from Solihull LEA when they have requested an amendment to their child's statement aimed at achieving greater quantification.

In January 2009, IPSEA lodged a formal complaint with the Secretary of State against Solihull under section 497 of the Education Act 1996. IPSEA alleged that the Authority was pursuing a policy of never quantifying special educational provision in the Statements it produced. In order to investigate IPSEA’s complaint the DCSF examined a sample of Solihull Statements and the Authority agreed to review 50 Statements issued over the period covered by the complaint. Although the DCSF found no evidence of a policy, as such, Solihull has accepted that someof its Statements were

'not sufficiently quantified and specified [and] … has said it willuse the annual review process to further scrutinise the content ofcurrent statements, clarify any perceived shortfall in terms ofspecificity and quantification and make appropriate amendments wherenecessary.’

The DCSF has informed IPSEA that they have

‘… brought this matter to the attention of the Department’s NationalStrategies SEN Adviser for the region and asked that the work theAuthority has committed to is carried through.’

IPSEA welcomes Solihull’s assurance that vaguely written Statementswill be screened out and made more specific at annual review.

Letter of Complaint from Ipsea to SoS

IPSEA's free phone advice line is 0800 018 4016

The Solihull Children's & Young People's Trust is due to launch its 2010-2013 children and young people's plan.

The plan looks at improving the lives of children and young people in Solihull and we would like your views on what you think we should include in the new plan. The consultation process runs from 5 Januaryto 31 March.

Parents can complete a questionaire with their views HERE.

Children can complete an online questionaire HERE

Throughout February & March Solihull Libraries will be hosting a range of fun activities for the under 5s and their carers. From 2pm on Tuesday 9th February, the popular Sally Tonge will be telling stories and singing songs at Castle Bromwich library.

Also entertaining at Castle Bromwich library will be Jo Jingles who makes music and rhymes for children from 18 months to 4 years. Jo will be at Castle Bromwich library from 1pm on  Thursday March 4th.

A range of other activities will be on offer for young children at other libraries throughout Solihull. You can find details HERE

Tony Dallison, National Express West Midlands said: “Smoking on buses is not only illegal but unpleasant for other passengers.  We take this kind of anti-social behaviour very seriously and are delighted to have joined forces with Solihull Council to stub out smoking for good.”

Cabinet Member for Safer Communities,Councillor Mrs Holl-Allen said: “Although most travellers abide by no smoking rules, some continue to disregard the law and disrupt the journeys of others.  This project will punish those that offend, in the hope of achieving completely smoke-free public transport.”

Passengers will also be able to text details of people flouting the no smoking rules  to 07624 818 332. Begin the text with the word ‘bus’ and then as muchdetail as possible, for example, the bus route, time and place. Thisinformation will be used to identify and target ‘hotspots’ for smokingon the bus network.

The recent freezing weather and snow has caused even more potholes to appear in the roads than usual, so Solihull Council is urging residents to report any poitholes near them so they can be dealt with appropriately. You can report them online HERE or by email neighbourhoodmanagementarea1@solihull.gov.uk or by phoning the Neighbourhood Management team on 0121 704 6547.

Do we have anything to learn from the Americans who are making their point by turning potholes into works of art? Urban artists Claudia Ficca and David Luciano transform potholes into eye catching scenes and situations. Davide said they first had the idea when their car was damaged when it hit a pothole. They have now transformed potholes into a stage setting and background for a variety of photo shoots including one showing a woman washing clothes in a pothole, another with a couple having a BBQ and one with a Priest baptising a child. Check out some on the photos in the gallery HERE.

Alternatively should we take up the idea of local businesses sponsoring road repairs to help our cash strapped Councils repair more holes quicker? Personally I hope that we never go as far as to have KFC branded road repairs, but maybe it's an idea that could be played with and tweaked a bit to lower our Council tax and give us better facilities and environment.

Report in Birmingham Mail January 1st 2010

According to a report in the Birmingham Mail, Kingshurst and Fordbridge Councillor Rob Hall has claimed that the ten year life expectancy difference between thiose living in the Noth of Solihull compared to those living in the South, could be linked to anti-social behaviour. Councillor Hall suggested that residents in the North of the borough lock themselves in to feel safe and said that not enough was being done to tackle the problem.

However, Cabinet Members stressed that measures were already being put in place to address the issues. Presenting a report of the Health Inequalities Task & Finish Group at a Cabinet Meeting, the Birmingham Mail quoted Councillor Hall as saying, "The most damning thing about the report is anti-social behaviour in the north of the borough. We can’t have a strong community if it’s not safe. The only people in the north that feel safe are people who lock themselves in."

“We have some beautiful areas in the north that people don’t use because of the fear of crime and anti-social behaviour. What’s the point of spending all this money on regenerating the area when the facilities are not in place?”

The Birmingham Mail went on to report that Councillor Bob Sleigh, cabinet member for Healthier Communities,added the report had been prepared “some time ago” and said recommendations were already being fed into strategies to address issues, including work with Solihull NHS Care Trust.

While there is no difference between medical services in north and south Solihull,those who live in less affluent areas experience “extremely poor health”, are less likely to access services when they are ill and “often make less healthy lifestyle choices as a result of their situation”.

Solihull Council has issued an enforcement notice on land to the rear of the Chester Arms in Chester Road, Castle Bromwich after the land owners allowed it to be used a hand car wash and valeting service without planning permission.

The land had been used as a car park for the pub, but without planning permission it was allowed to be used for a car cleaning business.

There was also a moveable portakabin on the land, which was being used as a site office, and an open-sided shelter under which the vehicle washing took place.

The Council issued the notice to the land owners on 16 December.

The notice requires the owners to;

1) Remove the portakabin, open-sided shelter and/or all plant andmaterials used in connection with the use to wash cars and other motorvehicles.

2) Cease the use of the land as a motor vehicle wash and/or valet service business.

The notice takes effect on 31 January 2010 and requires the owners to carry out the work within one month from that date, unless an appeal ismade beforehand.

Solihull Council's cabinet has given the go-ahead for Smiths WoodSports College to add a sixth form. It will come into being inSeptember 2009.

The school is currently the only school in thenorth of the borough not to offer post-16 education. Last year therewas a period of consultation with the community and members of theCabinet were told that there were no comments or objections to theproject. In future, the cabinet were told, Smiths Wood would continueto work closely with other schools and colleges in the area to ensurethat all pupils had the widest choice of post-16 education available.

RayHawkins, Principal of Smiths Wood Sports College, said, I am delightedand thrilled by the Cabinet decision.....It will mean greater choicefor our young people and encourage more of them to stay in education ortraining and that, wherever they choose to go must be our ultimateobjective."