Reform Solihull

REFORM UK LAUNCHES ALTERNATIVE BUDGET TO STOP SOLIHULL'S NEAR 10% COUNCIL TAX BOMBSHELL

The Reform UK Group on Solihull Council has today announced it is beginning work on a full alternative budget for Solihull Council, after the Council's own accounts revealed residents could face council tax rises of almost 10% two years running.

Solihull Council's Draft Statement of Accounts 2025/26 shows the authority is already preparing the ground for council tax increases of up to 9.99% in both 2027/28 and 2028/29. Even after the Council's own planned savings, its accounts show a funding gap of £18.664 million in 2027/28, rising to £22.289 million by 2028/29. Reform UK says residents should not be left facing that scale of tax rise, two years in a row, without the Council first proving it has found every possible saving of its own.

Reform UK, as the Official Opposition to the Conservative Minority, will now work directly with council officers to examine the Council's finances line by line. Alongside this, Reform UK is launching a residents' survey today so that local people can have a direct say in shaping the alternative budget, including which services must be protected and where they believe the Council could cut waste.

The survey is live now at samanthagethen.uk/yourbudget.

Councillor Samantha Gethen, Leader of the Reform UK Group on Solihull Council, said:
"Solihull residents are being softened up for a council tax rise of almost 10%, not once, but two years running. Before a single extra penny is taken from hard working families and pensioners in this borough, the Council needs to prove it has found every possible saving first. We do not believe it has.

"That is why we are doing the work ourselves. We will go through the Council's books line by line, working constructively with officers, and we want residents to help us do it. Nobody knows this borough better than the people who live here.

"A tax rise of this size, two years running, would hit pensioners and families hard at exactly the time they can least afford it. Residents deserve a say before that happens, not after. I would urge everyone in Solihull to take five minutes to fill in our survey and tell us what they want to see."

Reform UK said the alternative budget will be published ahead of the Council's own budget setting process, and thanked residents in advance for taking part in the survey.

Your Budget, Your Say — Cllr Samantha Gethen Solihull Council is planning council tax rises of up to 9.99%. Tell Reform UK what you want to see in our alternative budget.

Great result for local residents from our Reform UK councillor, Cllr Johnson!

Following complaints about late-night access, noise and nuisance at Tanhouse Farm Road car park, Cllr Johnson raised the issue directly with the Council and pushed for real action.

✅ The Council is now preparing a new locking procedure
✅ Gates will be locked at the advertised closing time — even if vehicles remain inside
✅ Any vehicle left behind will stay locked in until the car park reopens at 8.00am
✅ Large permanent warning signs will go up before the new procedure starts

This is exactly what Reform councillors are here to do, listen to residents and get practical results.

A start date will be confirmed soon, and the Council is also looking into the vehicle that’s been abandoned in the car park for several weeks.

Well done, Cllr Johnson 👏

Reform Solihull

100 days of Reform UK as the Official Opposition.

We haven’t sat on the sidelines.

We’ve challenged the administration, fought for residents, brought forward our own policies on HMOs and flytipping, campaigned to save Solihull Police Station and taken action in our communities.

100 days down. The work continues.

CONSERVATIVE COUNCIL'S "WE LOVE THE FLAG" CLAIM EXPOSED AS COUNCIL PREPARES INJUNCTION AGAINST RESIDENTS' FLAGS

The Reform UK Group on Solihull Council has accused the Conservative-run Council of rank hypocrisy, after it emerged the authority is preparing to seek a legal injunction against community flags - despite repeatedly claiming to support them.

Councillor Samantha Gethen, Leader of the Reform UK Group, has held direct discussions with the Council's Chief Executive regarding the Council's intentions, and says officers have failed to rule out pursuing legal action to force the removal of flags flown on lampposts and public land across Solihull.

Reform UK Solihull says the Conservative administration cannot have it both ways - publicly claiming to be proud of the flag while privately instructing lawyers to take it down. The Group says the move exposes the gap between what the Conservatives say to get votes and what they actually do in office.

The flags, which have appeared across streets throughout Solihull, have become a visible symbol of community pride for residents. Reform UK says the display reflects ordinary people's patriotism and love of their neighbourhoods, not any single campaign, and accuses the Conservatives of using an injunction to distance themselves from residents rather than represent them.

If pursued, Reform UK Solihull warns an injunction would mean public money spent on solicitors to remove flags, at a time when residents are already struggling with the cost of living and Council services are under strain.

Reform UK Solihull is calling on the Conservative administration to come clean, rule out an injunction publicly, and explain to residents why lawyers are being lined up against them.

*Councillor Samantha Gethen, Leader of the Reform UK Group on Solihull Council, said:*
"I've spoken to the Council's Chief Executive directly about this, and what's become clear is that the Conservatives are not being straight with residents. They say they love the flag - but behind closed doors they're preparing to spend your money taking it down.

"You cannot claim to be proud of Solihull with one hand while instructing solicitors against your own residents with the other. It is the worst kind of two-faced politics, and people see straight through it.

"This isn't about any single campaign. It's about mums, dads and neighbours who put a flag up because they're proud of where they live - and a Conservative council that would rather fight them in court than stand beside them.

"Every penny spent on this injunction is a penny not spent on potholes, bins or local services. Residents deserve honesty, not hypocrisy - and they deserve a council that represents them, not one that takes them to court."

Reform UK Solihull says it will continue to press the Council for a clear, public answer on whether an injunction is being pursued, and will not allow the matter to be dealt with quietly behind closed doors.

It was great being out today with the Shirley West team (Cllr Sharon O’Connor, Cllr Prish Sharma and Daniel Morris), joined by members of the wider Reform Solihull team, speaking to residents across Shirley West.

It's important to listen to their concerns and hear what people think about the issues affecting our local community. For us, the work doesn't stop when the votes are counted. Your Reform Teams across Solihull are working all year round sorting out the issues that matter to you.

We're still here, we're still listening. If you have any issues get in touch with Reform Solihull.

Reform UK will introduce the Deliveroo Law.

Reform Solihull - always working for the residents

Solihull Reform in Clacton today to support Nigel.