Solihull Regulatory Services

01/09/2026

Last week a closure order was granted by Birmingham Magistrates Court on Boss Mart 2, 53 Warwick Road, Olton after the business sold illegal to***co and v**es.

This follows continued illegal activity from September 2025, which has been investigated by our Regulatory Services Team, and a previous closure order in 2024.

The team seized illegal to***co, v**es and unsafe toys, and carried out test operations purchase operations, during which the shop sold a v**e to a child and illegal to***co to undercover trading standards officers.

You can read more here ⬇️
Read more here 🔗: https://loom.ly/TNVinlY See less

🚫We have been granted a closure order by Birmingham Magistrates Court on Boss Mart 2, 53 Warwick Road, Olton after the business sold illegal to***co and v**es.

It follows continued illegal activity from September 2025, which has been investigated by staff in Solihull Council’s Regulatory Services Team, and a previous closure order in 2024.

The team seized illegal to***co, v**es and unsafe toys, and carried out test operations purchase operations, during which the shop sold a v**e to a child and illegal to***co to undercover trading standards officers.

Our Cabinet Member for Communities, Cllr Wazma Qais, said:

"Cases like this demonstrate both the determination of our officers and the frustrations councils face when dealing with this sort of activity.

“Despite repeated enforcement action, some businesses continue to break the law, and local authorities do not always have the powers residents might expect to permanently prevent repeat offending. That makes closure orders an important tool in helping us protect the public."

Read more here 🔗: https://loom.ly/TNVinlY

21/08/2026

What's that pile of rubbish? Is it a fly-tip?

Everyone dislikes fly-tips. Those discarded piles of rubbish, such as household waste, building materials, broken furniture etc are not only unsightly and encourage vermin, but are also costly to remove.

Our Regulatory Services Team has recently dealt with one such case which involved fly-tipped waste in a garage area that had built up over a period of time, and was affecting nearby residents. The team investigated this incident and the area was cleared of all waste, creating a clean environment to enable residents to use their garages.

Fly-tipping is an offence under the Environmental Protection Act 1990. If you are caught fly-tipping, or evidence which relates to your address is found within the fly-tipping itself, you can be issued with a £600 Fixed Penalty Notice.

You can report a fly-tip to the Council via this link -
https://www.solihull.gov.uk/roads-pavements-and-streetcare/fly-tipping

20/08/2026

Yesterday our Environmental Compliance team executed a warrant at a property in the borough under Section 83 of the Public Health Act 1936. This legislation enables the Council to deal with filthy or verminous premises which could be a risk to health.

Our officers were successful in accessing the property with the help of the police. They were able to meet with the resident and organise help for the property to be cleared of waste.

Working together with our stakeholders is helping to make the property a safe environment for the resident.

19/08/2026

Multi-Agency Visit - Targeting Illegal Workers at Solihull Premises

A joint visit involving Officers from Solihull Council's Licensing and Trading Standards teams, and Immigration Enforcement, took place at a retail premises in the borough on the morning of 18th August 2026.

The visit was carried out following concerns that the business may have been employing illegal workers. Following inspections and enquiries, no issues relating to illegal working were identified.

Although no enforcement action was required, Licensing Officers took the opportunity to provide advice on a small number of licensing matters to help ensure ongoing compliance.

The visit demonstrates the continued partnership working between the Council and other agencies to support legitimate businesses and maintain confidence within the local community.

17/08/2026

🔥 Disposable BBQs and the Heatwave 🔥

With drought conditions and extreme temperatures increasing the risk of wildfires, the Government has issued guidance advising that disposable BBQs should not currently be sold or supplied in Great Britain. Disposable BBQs have been linked to a number fires across the country.

If you're planning to enjoy the sunshine, please think carefully about fire safety and help protect our parks, green spaces, wildlife and local communities. 🌳☀️

For more information, visit: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/statutory-guidelines-on-disposable-bbqs

- please share

14/08/2026

BBQ’s and bioethanol burners are popular during the summer but it's important to use them safely.

To help prevent fires and burns:

✅ Keep children away to help reduce the risk of burns

✅ Keep BBQs, patio heaters and bonfires away from fences, sheds and plants

✅ Only use bioethanol burners with bioethanol

✅ Never refill while the burner is lit or warm, and store fuel safely away from heat

Check out Rospa’s garden safety advice: https://www.rospa.com/home-safety/garden-safety

BBQ’s and bioethanol burners are popular during this time of year but it's important to use them safely.

To help prevent fires and burns:

✅ Keep children away to help reduce the risk of burns

✅ Keep BBQs, patio heaters and bonfires away from fences, sheds and plants

✅ Only use bioethanol burners with bioethanol

✅ Never refill while the burner is lit or warm, and store fuel safely away from heat

Check out Rospa’s garden safety advice: https://www.rospa.com/home-safety/garden-safety

07/08/2026

With more good weather forecast, its worth considering if you need to have a bonfire. 🔥🔥

There are no set restrictions on the time of day you can have a bonfire but it pays to be considerate of your neighbours.

If your neighbour’s bonfires are interfering with the use or enjoyment of your property (for example, if they happen regularly and go on for a long time), try talking with them to see if you can sort it out before contacting us.

You can find out more about our Bonfire Code of Conduct and how to report a bonfire via our website using the below link ⬇️

https://www.solihull.gov.uk/environment-and-animals/bonfires-and-fireworks

There are no set restrictions on what time of day you can have a bonfire but please be considerate of your neighbours.

07/08/2026

You may be wondering what Regulatory Services means?

Our team covers a wide range of areas including Environmental Compliance, Food & Safety, Licensing and Trading Standards. The work we carry out includes a variety of activities such as -

✅ Issuing licences for taxis and pubs
✅ Noise complaints and bonfires
✅ Food hygiene inspections
✅ Investigating fly-tips
✅ Rogue traders
✅ Seizing counterfeit goods.

If you need to report an incident you can do this via our website

https://www.solihull.gov.uk/report-it

Report a problem using our online forms.

04/08/2026

‼️Don’t trust AI – do your checks‼️

If the result of an AI search recommends the use of a website, use that website with caution. It is not unknown for criminals to educate AI into directing consumers to their scam website, rather than a genuine one.

Here are some things you can do to avoid being scammed:
🟢 Check the website address for anything unusual, e.g. misspellings
🟢 Be suspicious of any deal that looks too good to be true
🟢 Look on the website for the name and address of the business running it - if they aren’t there, avoid
🟢 Check that the website includes terms and conditions and a privacy policy
🟢 Copy and paste the website address into –
◼️ Trustpilot or Google Reviews – do the results cause suspicion
◼️ https://www.fca.org.uk/consumers/fca-firm-checker - if it’s a financial business
◼️ https://www.getsafeonline.org/checkawebsite/ - for any website

Scams can be reported to -
Report Fraud (www.reportfraud.police.uk)
or call Citizens Advice on 0808 223 1133

Check a website - Use our free website scam checker tool to check if a website is unsafe or a scam before visiting. No sign up required.

22/07/2026

Following concerns raised, our team responded to complaints relating to a potential waste site which was located on an abandoned commercial site.

Officers from Environmental Compliance and Planning Enforcement undertook several visits to the site and conducted investigations into the use of the site. Working in conjunction with the land-owner, the site was secured to prevent unauthorised access and it was established that works to clear waste from the site were being undertaken.

Notices were served on waste contractors so an audit could be undertaken to establish where any waste removed from the site was deposited.

If you have any concerns regarding abandoned land being used for the depositing of waste, contact Connect at Solihull Council MBC on 0121 704 8001 or the Environment Agency on 0800 80 70 60 – incident hotline.