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Councillors have backed a call for ‘genuine transparency’ around a £20million pot of funding for a Walsall neighbourhood.

Blakenall South is one of 169 neighbourhoods across the country which has been awarded money from central government to improve the area.

Ward member for Blakenall, Councillor Pete Smith, tabled a notice of motion at full council on November 3, 2025, calling for transparency around the project and for it to be community led.

READ MORE: Reform leader accuses Tory council of sabotaging Walsall finances ahead of election

The independent member said ‘lessons needed to be learnt’ from past and present government grant schemes.

Councillor Smith said he recalled a previous New Deal funding programme in the early noughties which made ‘no difference’ to the h

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