7 topics to be discussed by Walsall Council this week - including litter, super tip and school walking distance

While some questions revolve around housing, others touch on issues of litter, the new super tip, and an increase in the statutory walking distance to schools.

The Reform leader of Warwickshire County Council has recently called on the government to increase the statutory walking distance to school from three to five miles.

Leader of the labour group, Councillor Matt Ward, has called for assurance from Walsall leaders that the authority will not follow Warwickshire’s lead, saying it would have ‘serious consequences for working families’.

Independent ward member for Blakenall, Councillor Pete Smith, will ask for data on the efforts of volunteer litter pickers, as well as the council’s plans to tackle fly tippers.

The authority’s only Reform member, Councillor Graham Eardley for the Pelsall ward, will ask how much it is costing taxpayers to keep the Merchants Way tip open while the new ‘state-of-the-art’ Middlemore Lane super tip ‘lies dormant’.

The new Household Waste Recycling Centre and Waste Transfer Station on the former McKechnie Brass works site is set to replace the existing tip at Merchants Way.

It was completed during 2025, but the council has been unable to open the site until the Environment Agency issues an operating permit.

The council does not plan to close the Merchants Way site until the Fryers Road tip in Bloxwich has been redeveloped.

Lee Jeavons, a labour candidate for the May 2026 local elections, will ask if the council plans to celebrate the 100th anniversary of a seaplane winning the Schneider Trophy, which was piloted by a Walsall aviator, Sidney Webster.

He said: “Next year is the 100th anniversary of the Supermarine company winning the Schneider Trophy for the fastest seaplane, and this seaplane was piloted by group captain Sidney Webster, Walsall’s greatest aviator.

“Given that this project led to the development of the Spitfire, does Walsall Council have any plans to mark the 100th anniversary of this momentous event?”

Elaine Williams, chair of Walsall and Bloxwich Reform UK branch, asks why Reedswood Park has been chosen as the proposed site for the new free school, when thousands of homes are set to be built in the west of the borough.

Councillor Ward also asks what measures Walsall Council is taking in order to secure part of the £1.7 billion government funding for its 10-year social and affordable homes programme.

And finally, conservative member for the Brownhills ward, Councillor Ken Ferguson, will ask a question about the 1,200 houses per year that the labour government has instructed Walsall Council to deliver.

He raised concerns about what will happen should the authority not reach the target by choosing to use brown field only sites only and not green belt.

The meeting is set to take place at 6pm, Monday January 12, 2026, at Walsall Council House.