Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council

Until 1932, the town of Solihull was administered as a rural parish with a parish council subordinate to the larger Solihull Rural District Council. As Solihull rapidly developed in the twentieth century, it was promoted to higher statuses within the administrative hierarchy, becoming an urban district in 1932, then a municipal borough in 1954, and then a county borough in 1964, taking over county-level functions from Warwickshire County Council.{{cite web |title=Solihull Urban District / Municipal Borough / County Borough |url=https://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/unit/10199918#tab02 |website=A Vision of Britain through Time |publisher=GB Historical GIS / University of Portsmouth |access-date=13 June 2024}}

The modern metropolitan borough and its council were established in 1974 under the Local Government Act 1972, as one of seven boroughs in the new metropolitan county of the West Midlands. The new borough covered the combined area of the old county borough of Solihull plus ten parishes from the Meriden Rural District and one parish (Hockley Heath) from the Stratford-on-Avon Rural District.{{cite legislation UK|type=act|act=Local Government Act 1972|year=1972|chapter=70|schedule=1|access-date=13 June 2024}} The enlarged district was named Solihull, and the borough status previously held by the county borough passed to the new district on its creation, allowing the chair of the council to take the title of mayor, continuing Solihull's series of mayors dating back to its first incorporation as a borough in 1954.{{cite legislation UK|type=si|si=The Metropolitan Districts (Names) Order 1973|year=1973|number=137|access-date=14 February 2024}}{{cite web |title=District Councils and Boroughs |url=https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/written-answers/1974/mar/28/district-councils-and-boroughs#S5CV0871P0_19740328_CWA_145 |website=Parliamentary Debates (Hansard) |access-date=14 February 2024 |date=28 March 1974}}

From 1974 until 1986 the council was a lower-tier authority, with upper-tier functions provided by the West Midlands County Council. The county council was abolished in 1986 and its functions passed to the county's seven borough councils, including Solihull, with some services provided through joint committees.{{cite legislation UK|type=act|act=Local Government Act 1985|year=1985|chapter=51|access-date=5 April 2024}}

Since 2016 the council has been a member of the West Midlands Combined Authority, which has been led by the directly elected Mayor of the West Midlands since 2017. The combined authority provides strategic leadership and co-ordination for certain functions across the county, but Solihull Council continues to be responsible for most local government functions.{{cite legislation UK|type=si|si=The West Midlands Combined Authority Order 2016|year=2016|number=653|access-date=11 June 2024}}{{cite web |title=Understand how your council works |url=https://www.gov.uk/understand-how-your-council-works |website=gov.uk |access-date=30 May 2024}}

Solihull Council provides metropolitan borough services. Some strategic functions in the area are provided by the West Midlands Combined Authority; the leader and deputy leader of the council sit on the board of the combined authority as Solihull's representatives.{{cite web |title=Contact details WMCA Board |url=https://governance.wmca.org.uk/mgCommitteeMailingList.aspx?ID=137 |website=West Midlands Combined Authority |access-date=11 June 2024}} Parts of the borough are covered by civil parishes, which form an additional tier of local government for their areas.{{cite web |title=Election Maps |url=https://www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/election-maps/gb/ |publisher=Ordnance Survey |access-date=30 May 2024}}

The council has been under Conservative majority control since 2011.

Political control of the council since the 1974 reforms took effect has been as follows:{{cite web |title=Compositions calculator |url=https://www.electionscentre.co.uk/?page_id=3825 |website=The Elections Centre |access-date=10 August 2022}}{{cite news| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/election2010/council/html/3756.stm | title = Solihull | access-date = 2010-05-07 | work = BBC News Online | date=2009-04-19}}

The role of mayor is largely ceremonial in Solihull. Political leadership is instead provided by the leader of the council. The leaders since 2005 have been:{{cite web |title=Council minutes |url=https://eservices.solihull.gov.uk/mginternet/mgCalendarMonthView.aspx?GL=1&bcr=1 |website=Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council |access-date=12 September 2022}}

Following the 2024 election and a change of allegiance in June 2024, the composition of the council was:{{cite news |title=Local elections 2024: full mayoral and council results for England |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/ng-interactive/2024/may/02/local-elections-2024-full-council-results-for-england |access-date=21 May 2024 |work=The Guardian |date=4 May 2024}}{{cite news |title=Solihull Councillor crosses the floor to join Conservatives |url=https://solihullobserver.co.uk/news/solihull-councillor-crosses-the-floor-to-join-conservatives/ |access-date=13 June 2024 |work=Solihull Observer |date=12 June 2024}}

The next election is due in May 2026.

The Green Party have been the largest opposition party since 2014.{{Cite web|url=https://solihull.greenparty.org.uk/solihull-green-party/2014/05/28/greens-celebrate-becoming-2nd-largest-party-on-solihull-council/|title=Greens Celebrate Becoming 2nd Largest Party on Solihull Council|website=solihull.greenparty.org.uk}}

{{also|Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council elections}}

Since the last boundary changes in 2004, the council has comprised 51 councillors representing 17 wards, with each ward electing three councillors. Elections are held three years out of every four, with a third of the council (one councillor for each ward) elected each time for a four-year term of office.{{cite legislation UK|type=si|si=The Borough of Solihull (Electoral Changes) Order 2003|year=2003|number=2508|access-date=12 June 2024}}

File:Solihull Council House.jpg

The council is based at the Council House on Manor Square in the centre of Solihull and adjoining buildings, notably including Church Hill House and the Civic Suite. The latter includes the council chamber and forms part of the same building as the town's register office. Church Hill House was completed in 1967 and the Civic Suite followed in 1968, both being purpose-built for the old borough council.{{cite news |title=Council's new HQ in use today |url=https://www.findmypast.co.uk/search-newspapers |access-date=13 June 2024 |work=Birmingham Post |date=11 September 1967 |page=26}}{{cite news |title=Public must feel welcome - Mayor |url=https://www.findmypast.co.uk/search-newspapers |access-date=13 June 2024 |work=Birmingham Post |date=21 May 1968 |page=45}} The Council House (originally called Orchard House) was subsequently built in front of Church Hill House, opening in 1989.{{cite news |title=Shape of things to come |url=https://www.findmypast.co.uk/search-newspapers |access-date=13 June 2024 |work=Solihull News |date=24 March 1989 |page=10}}{{cite book |title=Church Hill House Refurbishment: Heritage Report |date=2015 |publisher=Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council |page=15 |url=https://publicaccess.solihull.gov.uk/online-applications/files/FFF657A72A027DC7D40A0FA335386FBA/pdf/PL_2015_51507_PPFL-CHURCH_HILL_HOUSE_HERITAGE_REPORT-433605.pdf |access-date=13 June 2024}} Report accompanying planning application PL/2015/51507/PPFL

{{Reflist}}

{{Local authorities in the West Midlands}}

{{Metropolitan districts of England}}

Category:Metropolitan district councils of England

Category:Local authorities in the West Midlands (county)

Category:Leader and cabinet executives

Category:Local education authorities in England

Category:Billing authorities in England

Category:1974 establishments in England

Borough Council