The Reform UK group on Solihull Council has initiated a consultation inviting local residents to express their views on which council services should be protected and which could be reduced as part of an alternative budget currently being developed.
In recent years, the financial position of Solihull Council has come under close scrutiny. The ruling Conservative administration approved a 4.99 per cent rise in council tax this February, the maximum increase permissible without triggering a referendum or requiring government emergency support.
According to a report by the Local Democracy Reporting Service in February, Andy Felton, the council’s director of resources, indicated that the council might need to seek exceptional financial support permissions to raise council tax by up to 9.99 per cent in both 2027/28 and 2028/29, due to ongoing fiscal pressures.
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There have been frequent debates among councillors regarding these financial challenges. Council leader Karen Grinsell has stated that the administration intends to “explore every option” to manage the situation.
Following May’s local elections, Reform UK became the council’s second-largest group. The party has now announced it is preparing a comprehensive alternative budget and has launched a survey on the Reform UK group leader Samantha Gethen’s webpage.
The survey invites residents to select three services they wish to protect from potential reductions. Options include bin collections, adult social care, children’s services, homeless support, and libraries.
Respondents are also asked which areas they would support the council cutting or reducing first, with choices such as senior management pay and bonuses, councillor allowances, external consultants, using council reserves instead of increasing them, and commercial ventures like the Mell Square shopping centre.
Councillor Samantha Gethen commented: “Solihull residents are being prepared for a council tax increase approaching 10 per cent, not once but in two consecutive years.
“Before expecting any additional financial contributions from hardworking families and pensioners, the council must first demonstrate it has identified all possible savings.
“We do not believe that has happened. That is why we are undertaking this work ourselves, meticulously reviewing the council’s finances alongside officers, and we want residents to be part of this process.
“No one understands the needs of this borough better than its own people.”
Reform UK plans to publish their alternative budget ahead of the council’s official budget-setting process.
This initiative arrives amid scrutiny of Reform UK’s record in managing other local councils. On 1 September, during a BBC radio roundtable, deputy leader Richard Tice MP addressed questions regarding council tax rises in Reform UK-led councils, where presenters noted the party’s prior election literature suggested tax reductions.
Tice defended the party’s record, stating its councillors have demonstrated “financial prudence” and are effectively tackling wasteful spending.