FAQs

 A CGR is a process where the Council looks at how local communities are represented and managed. This can include:

• Creating new parish councils or changing existing ones
• Deciding what parishes are called and how they are organised
• Setting rules for parish elections, like how many councillors there should be and whether areas should be split into wards

The purpose of a CGR is to secure an arrangement which will improve community engagement, better local democracy and result in more effective and convenient delivery of local services. 

Parish councils are the most local form of government. They collect money from Council Tax payers, known as a “precept,” which is used to improve services and facilities in the area. Parish councils are usually made up of local people elected as councillors to represent their community. They act as the voice of the local area and work with other tiers of government and external organisations to coordinate services and enhance quality of life.

If the two parish councils merge (Option A) then a single new parish council would cover the whole area. All residents in the review area would pay a parish precept to this new council (the precept is set by the parish council, not by Solihull Council).

If a change is selected as part of this consultation, it will not take affect until the next parish council elections in May 2027. 

Under Option A, the merged parish council would be divided into four wards: 

• Berkswell (3 councillors)
• Balsall Common East (5 councillors)
• Balsall Common West (5 councillors)
• Temple Balsall, Fen End and Meer End (2 councillors)

This means residents will vote for councillors representing their specific ward, rather than the entire parish.

Under Option B (move the boundary), Berkswell Parish Council would have fewer Councillors (5) and the renamed Balsall Common Parish Council would have more Councillors (12).

The first stage of consultation asked residents what they thought of the existing arrangements and whether merging the two parish councils was favourable to the electorate. This second stage of consultation details specific arrangements for two options; merging the parish councils or altering the existing boundary. 

No, there will not be a referendum in the sense of a formal, legally binding public vote. The process for a Community Governance Review is set out in the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007, and it requires consultation, not a referendum.

After the consultation closes on 1 February 2026, the Council will review all responses to determine support for Option A (merge), Option B (boundary change), or Option C (no change). We will then prepare a Final Recommendations Report based on feedback and legal requirements, and will publish these recommendations for a short period for comments. If approved, we will then adopt a legal order to set new boundaries and councillor numbers in time for the May 2027 parish council elections.

Please take a look at the Draft Proposals document, which is also available to view at Balsall Common Library. Some residents or local representatives may campaign for particular options and share their views. The Council’s role is to conduct the Community Governance Review and provide impartial information so residents can make an informed choice.