Solihull Council has condemned the 'appalling statements' made by three former Castle Bromwich Reform Councillors during their campaign prior to the 2026 local elections. The council leader expressed shared feelings of disgust, stating that the language used was 'deeply racist, misogynist and discriminatory' and does not represent the borough. Formal complaints were received by the monitoring officer, but investigations could not proceed as all three individuals have since resigned as councillors.
An extraordinary meeting of Full Council is scheduled for Monday. The meeting will address the removal of Alan Feeney from the position of Deputy Mayor, though he, along with Chris Whelan and Jamie Campbell, have already resigned as councillors. The council will appoint replacements for committee and external board positions and choose a new Deputy Mayor for the remainder of the Civic Year, which concludes in May. A by-election will be held to fill the three vacant ward councillor positions in Castle Bromwich.
In more positive news, nominations are now open for the Solihull Civic Honours Awards 2027. These awards recognise outstanding individuals, groups, charities, and organisations for their significant contributions to the community. There are nine awards available, covering areas such as kindness, volunteering, health and wellbeing, and innovation. The council encourages nominations to celebrate the dedicated people who make Solihull a great place to live.
The council leader also highlighted recent community engagement, including a well-attended later life drop-in session at The Core, where advisors provided information on finances, future planning, health, housing, and care choices. The Solihull Talking Newspaper Service was also recognised for its work in recording local papers for those who cannot read them.
Upcoming events include the Solihull Apprenticeship and Pathways Show on Wednesday, 21 October, at Cranmore Park in Shirley, offering opportunities to connect with local employers and training providers. Additionally, sign-ups are open for holiday activities provided by the HAF scheme, with over 30 providers offering sessions in sports, arts, crafts, robotics, and coding.
Recent community events also included the Night Walk for Cameron, organised by the Cameron Grant Memorial Trust to support mental health in young people, and an event by Menopause Knowledge CIC, which campaigns for menopause awareness and aims to change misconceptions surrounding the topic.
