Walsall Council’s cabinet members are set to face detailed questioning on seven critical issues at the first full council meeting of 2026.
Key discussions will span housing developments, litter control, the status of the new super tip waste facility, and a proposed increase in the statutory walking distance to schools.
A recent proposal by the Reform leader of Warwickshire County Council calls for extending the statutory school walking distance from three to five miles. However, Councillor Matt Ward, leader of Walsall’s Labour group, has urged local leaders to reject this move, warning it could have serious repercussions for working families.
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Independent Councillor Pete Smith, representing Blakenall ward, will request data on volunteer litter pickers’ efforts and the council’s strategies to combat fly-tipping.
Concerns over waste management costs will be raised by Councillor Graham Eardley, the council’s sole Reform member for Pelsall ward. He plans to question the financial impact of keeping the Merchants Way tip open while the newly built, state-of-the-art Middlemore Lane super tip remains unused. Completed in 2025, this new Household Waste Recycling Centre and Waste Transfer Station at the former McKechnie Brass works site awaits operational approval from the Environment Agency. Meanwhile, the council intends to keep Merchants Way operational until the Fryers Road tip in Bloxwich undergoes redevelopment.
In a nod to local history, Labour candidate Lee Jeavons will inquire whether the council plans to commemorate the upcoming 100th anniversary of Walsall aviator Sidney Webster’s achievement. Webster piloted the Supermarine seaplane that won the Schneider Trophy, a milestone that influenced the development of the iconic Spitfire aircraft.
Elaine Williams, chair of the Walsall and Bloxwich Reform UK branch, questions the decision to site a proposed new free school at Reedswood Park when large housing developments are planned in the borough’s west.
Councillor Ward will also probe the council’s efforts to secure a portion of the £1.7 billion government funding allocated for a 10-year social and affordable homes programme.
Lastly, Conservative Councillor Ken Ferguson from Brownhills ward will raise concerns about the government-mandated target of building 1,200 houses annually. He questions the feasibility and consequences if the council opts to develop brownfield sites exclusively, avoiding the green belt.
The full council meeting is scheduled for 6 pm on Monday, January 12, 2026, at Walsall Council House.