The History of the New Frankley in Birmingham Parish Council
The New Frankley in Birmingham Parish is a community in the south west corner of Birmingham bordering the Waseley Country Park and the Lickey Hills. It is a community of approximately 5,500 electors and some 3,500 dwellings. The Estate was built in the mid seventies by Birmingham City Council to accommodate residents from other parts of Birmingham displaced by redevelopment. The Estate originally straddled the border between Birmingham and Worcestershire with some properties in the area administered by Birmingham City Council and others in the area administered by Bromsgrove District Council and Worcestershire and Hereford County Council. Since the Estate’s establishment, many of the former tenants have exercised their Right to Buy and currently the Estate is an even mix of Social Housing Provision and Owner Occupation.
In 1995, following a review by the Boundary Commission, the whole of Frankley community was unified as part of Birmingham within the Longbridge Ward of the Northfield Constituency.
As a means of improving the environment within community a number of residents, using the provisions of the Housing and Local Government Act 1997, petitioned the City Council for a Parish Council which was eventually established in May 2000. Unlike its rural cousins whose powers have been established over many years, New Frankley in Birmingham Parish Council (NOT to be confused with its neighbour Frankley Parish Council which unfortunately it often is) is still finding its feet. However, it is hoped that the Localisation Programme currently being undertaken by the City Council will result in powers (and the corresponding budgets) being devolved down to the Parish Council and consequently, enabling the Parish Council to provide local services to the local community.
The Parish Council is the first tier of Local Government, representing as it does, the residents of a small area within the larger conurbation of Birmingham. Since its inception it has built up good working relationships with the local City Council officers but, unfortunately, has struggled to make itself known to many officers who work at the centre.
The Parish Council is funded locally by way of a Parish Council Tax which the Parish Council sets and the City collects on its behalf.