Ruling Conservatives to be questioned at final Walsall Council meeting before elections

The ruling Conservatives will be quizzed, maybe for the last time, on several issues at the meeting tonight (April 13).

Three questions have been submitted by Reform candidates in the upcoming local elections.

Scott Simmons, candidate for Beechdale, Leamore and Reedswood, will ask why there has been very little increase in flytipping fines over the last eight years.

Elaine Williams, candidate for Short Heath, says the Saddlers Centre is losing over £2.5m a year and asks why Marks & Spencer were allowed to surrender its lease losing the centre its main anchor tenant.

Robin Perry, Harden, Goscote and Ryecroft candidate, asks if any officers have been reprimanded following an incident at Walsall Arboretum earlier this year.

As reported by the LDRS, Walsall Council dumped swathes of waste at the beauty spot, and was ordered by the Environment Agency to remove it.

Six questions have been submitted by four Labour councillors and one independent.

Councillor Eileen Russell, Labour member for St Matthew’s, asks the council to review whether the Silver Thread Embroideries, which she describes as Walsall’s own Bayeux Tapestry, currently stored at the Arboretum visitor centre could be showcased somewhere with more footfall.

Councillor Pete Smith, Independent, Blakenall ward, asks how imposing a council tax rise, above the rate of inflation, will assist in tackling the £29.5million in arrears.

Councillor Michael Coulson, Labour member for Bloxwich West, asks that the council pursue a Compulsory Purchase Order for the former Leathern Bottle site on Cresswell Crescent.

Councillor Tina Jukes, Labour, Birchills Leamore ward, asks what is underway by Walsall Council to address fly-tipping on private land.

Councillor Matt Ward, leader of the Labour group, calls on the council to undertake a review of the council-owned assets in Darlaston ahead of the Government’s £20m Pride in Place Programme.

He also asks the leader of the council, Councillor Mike Bird, to confirm how many ‘small boat incidents’ have taken place on the borough’s canal network over the last five years.

Three Notices of Motion have been submitted by members of Walsall Independent Group.

Firstly, all twelve Walsall Independent Group members have submitted a motion to amend burial fees, including out of hours.

The same 12 have submitted another Notice of Motion following the recent incident in the Streetly cemetery where graffiti was sprayed next to Muslim graves.

The motion calls on Walsall Council to install CCTV on site, have more staff patrolling the grounds and engage with the community.

Finally, Councillor Pete Smith has submitted a Notice of Motion to welcome the £20million Pride in Place government funding allocated for the area of Blakenall South and asks that the future board considers youth facilities, road safety and health initiatives.

The final meeting of the municipal year is set to take place at 6pm tonight, at Walsall Council House.