The Tram is an important driver for the whole of the West Midlands County, as we look to the future with the need to increase our connectivity as a conurbation. Its good to see that the metro will soon be active supporting Dudley.

Back in the 1980’s and through the 1990’s I tried hard to convince our sub-region that Midland Metro tram system was needed then as a network, and much needed for our growth into the future.

That need hasn’t gone away. In fact its increased as residents that were not making longer journeys in the 1980’s in search of jobs and homes are certainly seeking them in the year 2,000 going forward.

I tried hard to convince our County about the need to have a tram service crossing East -West across the City of Birmingham, stretching through Neachells, Bordesley, North Solihull to the Airport. I wasn’t successful in that instance, and the then West Midlands County Council lost its battle with the Thatcher Government and was abolished.

What wasn’t abolished though, was the need for the tram system, the investment, the jobs it would bring and help service our economy. I recognise the hard work of the former Mayor Andy Street in his commitment to Light Rail. I am also delighted in seeing our current West Midlands Mayor Parker. Showing equal commitment to deliver a Tram network.

The Line One Wolverhampton to Birmingham is showing that, derelict land, is transformed when the tram service arrives. As well as providing quick links to some of our oldest settlements like Bilston, Wednesbury, West Bromwich, and Handsworth.

Line One (Wolverhampton to Birmingham) of the Metro, has helped to encourage new housing and commercial and industrial build along the length of this tram Line. Providing quick, reliable and green public transport to the areas and neighbourhoods served by the line. Our tram infrastructure, has been crucial to the way that it has transformed our landscapes, turning unused land and often derelict into valuable property.

Birmingham Airport is a key development to the West Midlands as it is the International gateway for our conurbation. It is more than thriving today, as it increases the millions of passengers it both receives and provides flights for journeys across the World. The Airport needs workers and it will find a tram hugely beneficial if it is constructed.

Strong public transport linking to East Birmingham, where the housing estates are still in need of a fast reliable system for their connectivity to Birmingham, and the other city’s and towns of the conurbation.

So Its good to see that in 2025 there is a strong lobby growing again to see a Line extension once again developing. I fully support the needs for Birmingham Airport to be connected to an extensive network of Metro lines serving our really growing conurbation.

Here in Wolverhampton we cannot be without our own extension needs for Metro. We need to see the line from Wolverhampton Rail Station extended through Heath Town and into New Cross Hospital and Wednesfield.

We also need another line extension to serve the City centre and the Molineux, the Stafford Road ‘Green Corridor’ and connect with the Industrial developments which is such an important site for our City at I54 on the Staffordshire County boundary . Staffordshire may also want to see the Line extended towards Featherstone? These are key Metro extensions for connectivity, jobs and investment.
My enthusiasm and my support for a metro network for the future, has not diminished at all.

Councillor Phil Bateman Chair of the City of Wolverhampton Councils Scrutiny Board, produced the report of the Task & Finish Group Flood Risk and Preparation .This was the final report from the Scrutiny Task and Finish Group. .I am pleased to report that the City Councils Cabinet team accepted all 22 of the recommendations made. After being debated by the Cabinet and chaired by the Leader of the Council

Decision:
That the following 22 recommendations set out in the report from the Flood Risk Preparation and Response Scrutiny Task and Finish Group be approved:

1. Publish Section 19 Flood Investigation Reports on the Council website, including findings and recommendations of previous investigations, such as the report on the Birmingham New Road flood on 21 September 2024.

2. The Council to regularly review what further work can be done to encourage residents living in high-risk flood areas to participate in surveys linked to S19 Flood Investigation and encourage feedback to help further improve the timeliness of response before, during and after a flooding incident.

3. Update and review the Black Country Authorities Level 1 Strategic Flood Risk Assessment to ensure accurate mapping of housing developments in flood-prone areas, factoring in local intelligence and climate change impacts. Implement a robust framework for tracking progress on flood risk recommendations, including a desktop review at six months and a follow-up at 12 months, with clear categories for progress assessment (e.g., achieved, on track, slipped, not achieved). Flooding can occur on a local scale when surface water volumes exceed the capacity of the sewer system during an extreme rainfall event. The review should include the identification of key flood pathways and where possible the properties that could be affected and how best they can be protected against such flooding – designing for exceedance.

4. The Head of Highway Network Management to deliver timely progress reports on local flood risk hotspot schemes for 2024-2026, including Compton Road, Tettenhall Ridges, and Park Ward, as well as updates on the 12 Wolverhampton catchment areas funded by Severn Trent Water for reducing surface water runoff.

5. The Director of Resident Services to work with Housing Managing Agents – Bushbury Hill EMB, Dovecotes TMO, New Park Village TMC and Wolverhampton Homes to further identify tenants, particularly vulnerable tenants, living in medium and high-risk flood zones and review upfront communication plan to remind residents about sources of help and advice and action they can do in preparation for a severe storm event. The TFG welcome proposals to possibly extend the use of Wolverhampton Homes My Account App to issue push notifications to alert residents in response to a severe weather warning.



6. The Director of Resident Services to regularly review the effectiveness of arrangements with key partners for sharing important update messages with all residents or in specific areas at risk of localised flooding. There should be a regular evaluation of the effectiveness of the communication methods used and recommendations made to assess the reach and improve the impact where appropriate and provide a process for residents to report flooding, for example which affects a garden to the property, but does not enter the property. As a result, it may not be reported to the local authority or Wolverhampton Homes. Important to consider how such information can be collated and used to fill gaps in knowledge about the area and improve the response to flooding.

7. The Director of Resident Services to conduct a review to address discrepancies between official data and residents’ views on properties affected by flooding. Continue to develop ward-level data, in coordination with relevant stakeholders, to track changes in properties at risk over time and identify trends requiring action. Include classifications of risk levels (e.g., very significant, significant, moderate, and low risk) for both residential and commercial properties. The data should be used to guide targeted flood risk mitigation efforts and identify the condition of assets, flooding incidents and responsible parties to further enhance preparedness and future resource allocation.



8. The Director of Resident Services to lead the collaboration with colleagues in Staffordshire County Council, Severn Trent Water and neighbouring authorities to strengthen response to cross border flooding issues and promote either the development of a new website or update an existing website as appropriate. The site should provide personalised flood risk information, including maps and community-specific pages with sources of practical advice and help presented in an accessible way. The link to this resource should be prominently featured on the Council’s website and neighbouring authorities to enhance public awareness about the importance of preparedness. The site should aim to be a key source for disseminating warnings, coordinating responses, and keeping residents informed before, during and after a flooding incident

9. The Director of Resident Services to give consideration about the measurement of flood risk and what constitutes success – for example, changes in the net number of properties at risk or should it be better protected. Also important not to give false assurance to residents about the preventative measures being planned – the terms ‘flood resilience’ and ‘flood protection’ need to be clearly defined in documents and agreed among key partners and shared with public in a consistent way.

10. The Director of Resident Services to outline plans to improve partnership working arrangements when different agencies are involved and responsibility is shared to work together to resolve the causes of complex flooding issues, for example, fallen trees blocking the flow of watercourse resulting in flooding elsewhere. Important to consider that changes to flood protection measures or resilience work made in one area to protect properties may cause flooding elsewhere.


11. The Head of Highway Network Management to present a review of the performance of the Map16 Asset Management Gully Sensor program to Scrutiny Board against established criteria and evaluate the feasibility of extending the trial citywide or to outline alternatives if the trial is not to be extended. Request an annual update from Severn Trent Water on progress of plans previously announced to increase the number of 400 smart sewer monitoring units currently installed in Wolverhampton and plans to install 40,000 units over the next five years.

12. The Director of Resident Services to update as appropriate on plans to enhance local flood warning systems, leveraging Environment Agency data to target alerts for specific river catchments and overlaying this with vulnerable community datasets for precise notifications. The Director of Resident Services to review and integrate flood mitigation elements into all highway improvement projects, ensuring proper management and monitoring of surface water impacts on risk of flooding or water quality to nearby streams. The Council to continue to proactively explore and evaluate a range of innovative flood mitigation technologies, such as sustainable drainage systems (SuDS), permeable pavements, and natural flood management techniques, in recognition of the need to be resilient and responsive to future climate changes.

13. The Director of Resident Services to request an annual update from Severn Trent Water on key discussions with OFWAT about reducing sewage flooding risk, and progress of implementing Schedule 3 of the Flood and Water Management Act 2010, and improving cross-boundary surface water management with local authorities.

14. The Highways Operation Manager to collaborate with the Head of Planning to consult on planning policy to review effectiveness of the current guidance for integrating Sustainable Drainage Systems (SUDS) into planned housing developments and potential funding opportunities.


15. The Director of Resident Services to undertake a future proofing review of the current SLA and contractual agreement with Staffordshire County Council who deliver services on behalf of Wolverhampton Council in preparation for the end of the current agreement.

16. The Council to continue raising awareness among residents and partners about flood risk, and possible sources of financial support, for example, applying to the Household Support Grant and consider alternatives methods of engaging with people living in medium or high-risk flood areas. Publicise national flood resilience grants using diverse platforms, including social media and radio and promote government’s ‘Build Back Better’ (BBB) program on the Council’s website and encourage residents to consider BBB aligned insurance options during renewals. The aim should be where possible to support and empower residents to be financially resilient and to take proactive steps to reduce risk of property flooding, for example, removing leaves from blocked gutters close to their homes.

17. The Director of Resident Services to consider the possibility of facilitating community workshops, to provide resources for local flood preparedness, and encourage community-led initiatives to foster a shared sense of responsibility. The Council to work directly with residents in high-risk flood areas or who have been repeatedly flooded to better understand their needs and provide tailored support. The information should be shared with partner agencies to support improved responses.

18. Head of Service Health & Safety and Emergency Planning and Business Continuity Manager to share lessons learned from desktop and live severe weather exercises as appropriate with Councillors as part of a weekly Councillor briefing update with a focus on Councillors in those wards with a high risk of severe flooding. Distribute the Preparing the West Midlands for Emergencies – Community Risk Register to all Councillors and encourage them to promote the information on their respective social media pages or community leaflets and included as part of the Councillor Induction training.

19. The Director of Resident Services to lead discussions about the feasibility of creating a shared or pooled budget to manage complex cross-border flooding issues or urgent flood risk projects. The Director of Resident Services to lead the co-ordination of work to pursue funding and grant opportunities to undertake property resilience, environmentally friendly flood mitigation, and sewage overflow reduction schemes in Wolverhampton.

20. The Director of Resident Services to publish an annual online schedule of gulley cleansing and maintenance work on the Council website, similar to bin collection information, to reassure the public about ongoing efforts. Provide clear guidance on the prioritisation of gulley maintenance work in high-risk flood areas and outline the impacts of and proposed funding changes on the frequency of such work

21. The Director of Resident Services to lead the co-ordination of work to collate detailed updates from Severn Trent Water on plans and funding commitments aligned with OFWAT targets to improve storm overflow infrastructure by 2035 and 2050 respectively. The Head of Highway Network Management to monitor and report progress and ensure alignment of local plans with regional flood risk management strategies, focusing on protecting high-priority sites and mitigating ecological harm.

22. The Director of Resident Services contact colleagues in WMCA Environment team to provide updates on climate adaptation research funding opportunities, such as the potential partnership with the University of Birmingham. The WMCA to be invited to report on regional flood risk mitigation plans, including compliance checks for large-scale developments on flood plains and the implications of Schedule 3 of the Flood and Water Management Act 2010. The Director of Resident Services to share progress on the rollout of green infrastructure projects for example, permeable surfaces, rain gardens, swales, green roofs, and other natural flood management techniques aimed at addressing both storm flood risk and drought challenges.

Report author: Martin Stevens

Publication date: 10/04/2025

Date of decision: 09/04/2025

Decided at meeting: 09/04/2025 – Cabinet

Accompanying Documents:

Working hard for our community identifying people who do much to make a difference.

Wednesfield North Councillors, Councillor Rita Potter, Mary and Phil Bateman, have been honouring the untold community work, and the charity workers, and volunteering of individuals and Groups who have done much for this Community, over the years.

In 2019 at the venue of the Ashmore Inn we awarded certificates 42 Awards and 90 people attended the event

In 2022 at the venue The Hub at Ashmore Park we again made awards to 52 hard working members of our Community.

In 2023 at the Venue The Hub at Ashmore Park 31 individuals Groups and business received a certificate because of their endeavours.

This year 2025 we are once again going to run this Wednesfield North Community Excellence Award. So if there are hard – working community volunteers or charity workers who deserve some recognition for the great deeds they do.

Then get ready to inform us when the details of this year Awards are further released.

Councillor Phil Bateman added “This is a well-received recognition award here in our community. Please as in previous years start giving this some thoughts now, and then follow the instructions when the further information is published.”

Boost

All reactions:

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There is never a dull moment in Wednesfield North.

As we approach the end of this working week. Plus, the impending year end. Let me inform you of the issues and actions your Wednesfield North Councillors have taken.

There is a Planning application published, reference 24/00974/FUL It’s a proposal for a two storey side extension ,single storey rear, and single storey front extension. The address is 138 Springhill Road Wolverhampton.
This is a new planning application for this particular site. The neighbours consultation ends in a few days time on the 24th December 2024. Any comments or interest in the planning application needs to be made before
this date.

This week your Councillors have dealt with an allegation of ‘sub-letting’ of a dwelling here in Wednesfield North. We have pressed for the removal of fly tip in conjunction with this case. The Internal Fraud team of The City Council are working in conjunction with Wolverhampton Homes
And our legal team also.

There is a proposal about to be made public for a Road Safety Scheme for Linthouse Lane. The City Council is shortly going to send correspondence to local neighbours, with a set of proposals for safety in the lane and to reduce speeds travelling.

Well, I woke this morning to the news of Lord John Prescot passing away. It’s made me sit and just remember.
Today will be a very sad day for me and Mary, as it will be for his wife Pauline, and family, and the hundreds, and hundreds of Labour Party members, who will also be mourning his passing today.
John was a ‘titan’ of the Labour Party, he was an energetic political campaigner. He was a fantastic bloke, and never ever forgot his roots.
Today, I have a head full of memories, jangling about.
John was the longest serving Deputy Prime Minister, this Country has ever had.
John was a good friend, he was a longstanding friend, that I have known for decades. A guy that I respected, had fun with, and very much enjoyed his company. I campaigned with him and campaigned for him.
He invited me to join with him in 1992, in London and for a memorable few weeks I worked with him and Peter Snape in Westminster.
John visited Wednesfield North, to speak, to ‘gee up’ the local Labour Party in the early 80’s, He spoke in the Corpus Christi Club, on Ashmore Park. He went down a treat!
Both Mary and I have had memorable nights out together, with his good friend, Peter Snape former MP for West Bromwich East.
John Prescot will be missed in our Labour Party, and his legacy will long be remembered by historians. I will remember the intensity JP had for politics, the Labour Party. The friendly times we had together. The long talks about public transport, the enthusiasm he had for Regional Government, and the importance he placed on Local Authorities.
John Prescot we will miss you, but both Mary and I will never forget you.
Rest in Peace, you have made more than a contribution to improving our great Country.

Great Result Mary!
This is the third election you have fought for Labour in three years here in Wednesfield North. It was a great result winning the seat again for Labour. Winning 65.49% of the vote. Great performance.

Wednesfield North – Declared
Candidate Votes
BATEMAN Mary
Labour Party

1431

WILLIAMS Nathaniel Robert
Local Conservatives

754

Majority 677 votes.

Elected = BATEMAN Mary – Labour Party

Turnout = 26.35%

Elections are important, and we are looking forward to the 2nd of May here in Wolverhampton.

We have been busy as a Labour led Council, in building for the future. As part of that planning for the future investments of £500m for new apartments, retail and leisure spaces at the designated City Centre West and St Georges part of the City, will be moving forward.
!
Planning is key to any delivery. and City Centre West has featured heavily in the Wolverhampton Investment Prospectus. It is the largest single regeneration opportunity in the city centre.

The transformation of the west side of the city into a new City Centre West Quarter is set to deliver around 1,000 new homes, along with leisure, retail, and high-quality public spaces.

Its all part of our plan to ‘Build a Thriving City’ which we can all be proud of!