A plain-English guide to how Solihull Council works, who makes decisions, how scrutiny operates, and what voters need to know ahead of the 2026 local elections.

How Solihull Council Works

A plain-English guide to Solihull Council — and how councils like it operate across England

Local councils make decisions that affect everyday life — from planning and transport to adult social care, children’s services, and local spending.

This site explains how Solihull Council works: who holds power, how decisions are made, what scrutiny is meant to do, and where accountability can break down.

While examples are drawn from Solihull Council, the structures and processes described here apply to most borough, metropolitan, and county councils in England, particularly those facing full elections in 2026.

Who runs the council?
How decisions get made?
How scrutiny is meant to work?
Where accountability breaks

Quick Plain English Overview of How a Council Works

February 2026 and Solihull is approaching its first full council election since a period of serious failure in Children’s Services, subsequent statutory intervention, and a lengthy process of recovery. Taken together, these events create a moment of public reflection — an opportunity for residents to understand what happened, how decisions were taken, what changed, and what accountability means in practice.
This site is intended to support that reflection by setting out key facts, timelines, and source material in a clear and accessible way. It does not seek to revisit tragedy, assign personal blame, or campaign for any political outcome.