Tom Edwards

Herefordshire Council deputy leader Elissa Swinglehurst says rural councils face ingrained unfairness because delivering services across sparsely populated areas costs more, while funding increases are expected to lag behind those for urban councils. The council faces a budget gap of up to £30 million in 2026–27, has made more than £40 million in cuts over five years and is considering further job reductions. The government says its fair funding reforms account for rural needs and will provide Herefordshire with an additional £20 million by 2028–29.

Drone footage shows the severe condition of Droitwich’s Grade II listed Raven Hotel nearly a year after it was destroyed by fire. Wychavon District Council has renewed pressure on owners Live Urban Two following a court order requiring the site to be made safe, parts to be demolished, and historic sections to be weatherproofed. The council said the owners met an initial deadline for planning advice, with work potentially beginning in autumn; if further deadlines are missed, the authority may carry out the work and bill the company. The road beside the hotel could reopen once the remaining structure is secured.

Transport for London has granted private-hire licences to a fleet of electric Ford Mustang Mach-Es equipped with Wayve’s autonomous-driving technology, allowing robotaxi trials in London later this year. A qualified human driver must initially remain behind the wheel and responsible for each journey; fully driverless operation would require separate approval from the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency. Uber plans to offer rides to some of the 100,000 people who expressed interest, while taxi unions are concerned that wider adoption could lead to significant job losses.

Transport for London has granted private-hire licences to autonomous Ford Mustang Mach-Es using Wayve technology, allowing Uber-backed robotaxi trials in London later in 2026. A qualified human driver must initially remain behind the wheel and responsible for each vehicle; fully driverless journeys would require separate approval from the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency. Uber expects to offer rides to some of the 100,000 people who registered interest before a wider launch. Wayve says the technology could deliver safer, cleaner and quieter streets, while minicab unions fear autonomous vehicles could lead to substantial job losses. London is expected to become the first city to use Wayve's system for commercial journeys.

Pershore College has been awarded £4.8m in government funding to expand its construction academy. The investment will increase capacity from 67 to 275 students, renovate an old machine workshop, convert a hostel into an apprenticeship centre and introduce courses in areas including electrics, painting and decorating, brickwork and groundworks. The funding responds to expected construction demand linked to housing growth in south Worcestershire, including a planned 10,000-home development near Worcestershire Parkway.

Herefordshire Council will introduce weekly food waste collections across the county from September 2027, providing about 85,000 homes with indoor and outdoor caddies. The £3.7 million launch, with annual running costs of about £1.6 million, was delayed by disputes over central government funding, but a financial settlement has now been reached. The scheme is expected to collect about 6,500 tonnes of food waste annually and save £119 per tonne diverted from energy-from-waste facilities. A county-wide rollout was chosen over a phased approach, with tailored arrangements planned for roughly 6,000 homes with access difficulties. Across Worcestershire, collection dates remain uneven because of funding concerns: Malvern is due to begin in October, Worcester in spring 2027, while other districts have no firm plans or may not launch until 2028.

Reform UK tabled a no-confidence motion against Worcestershire County Council leader Matt Jenkins, arguing the coalition government lacks legitimacy after excluding the largest party. A Conservative-Green-Lib Dem–independent alliance took control in May but was reshaped following intervention by Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch, leading to suspensions and resignations within the Tory group. Jenkins dismissed the motion as premature and politically motivated, noting the coalition is focused on financial reforms, limiting council tax rises and preparing for local government reorganisation. The motion will be debated at an upcoming full council meeting.

Community leaders Pete Martin and Hannah Harrison have been appointed to oversee the Pride in Place programme, which allocates £20m each to Woodrow, Birchen Coppice and Warndon to support improvements chosen by local residents. Early suggestions include youth activities and expanded mental health services. Public engagement will be encouraged through an interactive website and in-person submissions, with the goal of ensuring lasting benefits for the communities involved.

The mayor of Redditch, Reform UK councillor Sue Eacock, issued a public apology for past social media posts that criticised Black, Asian and LGBTQ+ communities. She acknowledged the harm caused, described entering public office as a steep learning curve and said personal difficulties at the time were not an excuse. Conservative and Labour councillors accepted her apology, as did organisers of Redditch Pride, who expressed hope for positive future cooperation. Two LGBTQ+ community members questioned her publicly before the meeting, and Eacock agreed to attend an upcoming educational event at Redditch Library.