Cllr Tuli Zefi - Langley Ward

17/07/2026

Great work by the councillors on Sandwell Council’s Licensing Committee.

When serious concerns are raised, conflicting accounts are given and confidence is lost in someone’s ability to hold a licence responsibly, decisive action must follow. Revoking the licence sends a clear message: there must be zero tolerance for dishonesty, poor accountability and behaviour that undermines public trust.

People work hard for their money and deserve to be treated fairly and honestly.

Well done to the committee for standing up for the public and taking firm action.

The council said it had lost confidence in the shop owner after he gave 'several different versions of events' over the missing lottery ticket

17/07/2026

🚨 Labour Government is Taking Decisions Away from Your Elected Councillors 🚨

For years, local ward councillors have been able to ask for planning applications affecting their communities to be considered by the Planning Committee, ensuring residents' concerns are debated publicly by elected representatives.

Now, the Labour Government is changing the system so that many more planning applications will be decided by planning officers instead of councillors. The planning committee reforms are intended to come into force on 31 October 2026

I believe this is the wrong direction.

Residents elect councillors to be their voice. They expect us to challenge applications, represent local concerns and, where appropriate, ask for important planning decisions to be heard in public by the Planning Committee.

These changes reduce the influence of locally elected councillors and give greater decision-making powers to officers. In my view, that weakens local democratic accountability.

If a development affects the people I represent in Langley Ward, I believe I should have the ability to ask for it to be considered by committee where there are genuine planning concerns. That is part of the job residents elected me to do.

Labour says these reforms are about speeding up the planning system. I believe they come at the cost of local democracy and the voices of the communities we represent.

As your councillor, I will continue to stand up for residents and fight to ensure local people have a genuine say over developments that affect their neighbourhoods.

Your community deserves to be heard. Your elected councillors should not have their voice diminished.

17/07/2026

🚔 SAFER 6 IN ACTION – SMETHWICK 🚔

Today I was proud to join partners from West Midlands Police, DVLA Enforcement, Environmental Health, Serco and Sandwell Parking Services as part of the Sandwell Safer 6 Campaign in Smethwick.

It was a fantastic multi-agency operation with one clear message: nobody is above the law.

Throughout the day:
✅ A number of untaxed vehicles were clamped.
✅ Several vehicles were removed by recovery truck.
✅ Fixed penalty notices were issued where offences were identified.
✅ Streets and public spaces were cleaned to improve the local environment.
✅ Agencies worked side by side to tackle crime, anti-social behaviour and environmental issues.

Operations like this show what can be achieved when organisations work together with one common goal – making our communities cleaner, safer and a better place for everyone.

As a Councillor, this is exactly the type of work I want to champion throughout my term. I believe residents deserve streets that are clean, safe and well looked after, where the vast majority of law-abiding people are not affected by the actions of a small minority.

If you choose to ignore the law, whether that's driving an untaxed vehicle, fly-tipping, causing anti-social behaviour or committing other offences, you should expect enforcement action. The rules are there to protect everyone, and they must be applied fairly.

This is only the beginning. I will continue working closely with our partners to bring more operations like this into our communities, listen to residents' concerns, and push for action where it is needed.

Together, we can make Sandwell an even safer, cleaner and stronger place to live.

Thank you to every officer, enforcement team and council service who took part today. Your hard work is making a real difference.

Enough is enough. Let's work together to keep Sandwell safe, clean and a place we can all be proud to call home. 💙

14/07/2026

Another Recycling clothing bin that isn't being managed properly.

This one is located on the corner of Brook Road and Heron Road, and once again it has become a hotspot for dumped bags and fly-tipping, creating an eyesore for local residents.

I have reported this to Sandwell Council today and have asked officers to investigate whether the necessary permissions, including any planning consent if required, were obtained for these bins to be installed.

If the operator is unable or unwilling to manage the site responsibly, then they should be held accountable. If the appropriate permissions are not in place, I have asked the council to take the necessary enforcement action, including contacting the provider and considering the removal of the bins.

These bins must be emptied regularly, kept tidy and managed properly. If they can't be maintained to an acceptable standard, then they shouldn't be there.

Our residents deserve clean, safe streets, and I will continue pushing for action until this issue is resolved

14/07/2026

🖤❤️ Celebrating the best of the Black Country! ❤️🖤🌳

This Black Country Day, we’re shining a spotlight on one of the things that makes our area so special – our incredible parks and green spaces.

Sandwell is celebrating a record-breaking 17 Green Flag Awards, with Britannia Park in Rowley Regis earning the prestigious accolade for the very first time. From Haden Hill Park and Dartmouth Park to Sandwell Valley and Barnford Park, these award-winning spaces are helping local communities stay active, connect with nature and enjoy the great outdoors.

The achievement is a testament to the hard work of council teams, volunteers, community groups and Friends organisations who help keep these much-loved spaces thriving.

🌳🏅🖤❤️💚

10/07/2026

Come on ENGLAND!

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿We’re flying the flag at all of our council buildings ahead of England’s World Cup Quarter Final match against Norway tomorrow🇳🇴

⚽And best of luck especially to former Sandwell Academy student Morgan Rogers and Stourbridge’s Jude Bellingham – so proud to have Black Country links to what will be an amazing match

🦁🦁🦁Come on England!

10/07/2026

📢 Calling All Community Groups – Up to £5,000 Funding Available!

Did you know that Sandwell Council's Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) offers grants of up to £5,000 to help local community organisations improve their facilities and services?

This funding comes from new developments within the borough and is designed to invest back into our local communities.

💷 What can the funding be used for?

The grant can support capital projects, including:

✅ Sports equipment
✅ IT equipment (laptops, tablets, etc.)
✅ Furniture and catering equipment
✅ Building improvements and renovations
✅ Other permanent items that benefit the community

Please note: The funding cannot be used for:
❌ Staff salaries
❌ Rent or utility costs
❌ Events (such as Christmas lights or carnivals)
❌ Consumable items

✅ Who can apply?

The following organisations are eligible:

Constituted community groups
Registered charities
Community Interest Companies (CICs) and other social enterprises
Schools and Academies (where the project benefits the wider community)
Faith groups and organisations

To be eligible, projects must:

Benefit the local community.
Support Sandwell Council's 2030 Ambitions.
Be completed within 12 months of approval.
Include evidence of local community consultation.

I'd love to see more local organisations benefit from this funding. If your group has a project in mind but you're unsure whether it qualifies, please don't hesitate to get in touch. I'm more than happy to discuss your ideas and point you in the right direction.

📩 If your group is interested or would like more information, please contact the Town Grants Team:

📧 [email protected]

Or contact your local Neighbourhoods Officer:

Oldbury
📧 [email protected]
📞 07435 499175

Rowley Regis
📧 [email protected]
📞 07826 940210

Smethwick
📧 [email protected]
📞 07469 104264

Tipton
📧 [email protected]
📞 07469 104220

Wednesbury
📧 [email protected]
📞 07557 065545

West Bromwich
📧 [email protected]
📞 07469 104158

Let's work together to bring more investment into our communities and support the fantastic organisations making a real difference across Sandwell. If I can assist or answer any questions, please feel free to get in touch.

10/07/2026

While driving along Grafton Road first thing this morning, I came across more discarded gas canisters and litter left in the road.

Sadly, this isn't an isolated incident. I'm seeing these canisters appearing more and more frequently across our streets, suggesting they are being used overnight and then simply thrown away.

My biggest concern isn't just the littering - it's the impact on our young people. Many may not fully understand the risks associated with inhaling these gases, which can have serious and sometimes life-threatening consequences. It also raises wider concerns about anti-social behaviour, public safety and the condition of our neighbourhoods.

No one wants to wake up to streets covered in rubbish or have children growing up thinking this is normal.

I believe more needs to be done to prevent these products from ending up in the hands of young people. We need stronger action to tackle irresponsible sales where they occur, better education about the dangers, and firm action against those who are causing nuisance and littering our communities.

09/07/2026

✅ Another issue resolved in Langley Ward!

I recently reported a damaged parking sign in the Langley High Street free car park, opposite The Crosswells Inn.

The large sign had become detached and had fallen against a nearby post box, creating a potential health and safety risk for pedestrians and anyone using the car park.

I'm pleased to confirm that, following my report, Sandwell Council acted promptly and has now made the area safe by reinstating the sign.

Thank you to everyone who continues to report issues to me. Whether it's damaged street furniture, fly-tipping, potholes or other local concerns, I'll continue working to get them resolved as quickly as possible.

If you spot an issue anywhere in Langley Ward, please don't hesitate to get in touch. Together, we can keep our community clean, safe and well maintained.

09/07/2026

✅ Another issue resolved

Following reports from a number of local residents, I raised concerns with Sandwell Council regarding the charity clothing bins next to the old Merrivale Pub.

The bins had been left overflowing for some time, which had attracted fly-tipping, general rubbish, unpleasant odours and reports of rats in the area. This was becoming an ongoing nuisance for residents and was having a negative impact on the local environment.

I'm pleased to confirm that the area has now been cleared, as you can see from the before and after photos.

I have also asked the Council to establish who is responsible for maintaining these bins. If they cannot be emptied and maintained on a regular basis, I believe they should be removed or relocated, as they are becoming a magnet for fly-tipping.

Thank you to everyone who took the time to report this issue to me. Your feedback helps me identify problems quickly and work with the Council to get them resolved