Local community entrepreneur and business woman Irene Henery (pictured) has spoken about Walsall Council’s Planning Advisory Service report published last month.
On page 1 of the Action Plan, the damning report states, “Planning Committee requires a fundamental overhaul to address issues of perception held, both internally and externally, that planning committee is operating with undue influence and suspicions over probity….this casts a dark cloud over the council and severely affects its reputation. Addressing these issues will be crucial….”
Irene, a qualified accountant and successful entrepreneur, has lived in Walsall since 1994, and said,
“The report is quite shocking. Walsall Council was independently peer reviewed and the report says it all. Mike Bird is the chair of the planning committee so he should be ashamed of this extremely poor performance. There should be questions asked about what has been going on at Walsall Council. The report is alleging that the planning committee is not demonstrating integrity, honesty, and uprightness.
As public servants, the committee should be acting with fairness, transparency, and trustworthiness in all dealings. The report also highlighted that the planning committee is abnormally large, consisting of 21 councillors when the optimum size should be 9-12.”
Walsall Council’s planning committee is under fire for an approved planning application in the Great Barr Conservation Area in Pheasey Park Farm ward. They approved a proposal to build two five-bedroom homes at Barr Lane on 19th June 2025 on green belt land despite objections by five statutory consultees, including conservation, ecology, highways, planning policy, and trees. The decision sparked upset from councillors and the community organisation, Beacon Action Group.
Irene said, “This is an example where the planning committee is acting without transparency as many interested parties who objected have not been given a good sound reason for the application to proceed in spite of their objections. The report from the Planning Advisory Service did state that in 88% of cases taken to the appeal stage, the planning inspector had overturned the planning committee’s decisions when they have gone against officers’ recommendations. Everyone should vote Reform UK next May as the only way that Walsall Council is going to improve its services is when Reform undertakes a fundamental and far reaching overhaul of Walsall Council. If you want change, vote for change.”
Irene previously stood as a parliamentary candidate for Birmingham Ladywood in the General Election in July 2024 for the Reform UK party. She has confirmed that she will be standing in the Walsall Council elections on 7th May 2026.
