Metropolitan Borough of Solihull The Solihull Council is the seat within the Metropolitan Borough of Solihull. The Metropolitan Borough of Solihull is located in the West Midlands of the United Kingdom. The borough is named after its main town of Solihull. The larger part of the communities and residential population is centred in the north of the borough at Castle Bromwich, Chelmsley Wood, Fordbridge, Kingshurst, Marston Green and Smith's Wood. And in the south of the borough are the towns of Solihull and Shirley. For electoral purposes Solihull Council is divided into 17 wards; Shirley West, Blythe, Shirley South, Meriden, Elmdon, Lyndon, Smith's Wood, Chelmsley Wood, Dorridge and Hockley Heath, Olton, St. Alphege, Shirley East, Silhill, Kingshurst, Fordbridge, Castle Bromwich, Knowle, and Bickenhill. Three councilors represent each ward within the Solihull Metropolitan Borough Counci. Therefore, there are a total of 51 councillors. The mayor is elected by the Council and is currently Gary Allport of the Conservative Party, and represents the Shirley South ward. As at May 2008, the council is in the control of the Conservative Party with a representation of 26 out of the 51 councillors. This was followed by the Liberal Democratic party with 18 councillors, the Labour Party with 5 councillors and one each representing the British National Party and the Green Party. Structure of Solihull Council Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council operate the services in Solihull via seven departments: Strategic Services, Customer services, Resources, Community Services, Education and Children's Services, Public Health and Protection, Adult Social Services. At its annual meeting a leader is appointed by the council who then appoints a cabinet, currently consisting of eight members. History of Solihull Council The Solihull Rural District was formed in 1894 in the county of nearby Warwickshire. The district was made up of the parishes of Shirley, Baddesley Clinton, Barston, Lapworth, Balsall, Bushwood, Elmdon, Knowle, Nuthurst, Packwood and Tanworth-in-Arden. The Solihull Rural District Council was succeeded by Solihull Urban District Council in 1932 when some of its rural areas were taken away. In 1954, with the continued expansion Queen Elizabeth II granted a charter transforming Solihull into a Municipal Borough and in 1964 it achieved the status of County Borough bestowed by the Queen This was followed by a further transformation in 1974 and the boundaries, jurisdiction and council responsibilities were redefined. This resulted into the formation of the Metropolitan Borough of Solihull by merging the Solihull County Borough and most of the Meriden Rural District, which consisted of the main rural part of the borough and county. Since then it has included Balsall Common, Barston, Berkswell, Bickenhill, Castle Bromwich, Chelmsley Wood, Elmdon, Fordbridge, Hampton in Arden, Hockley Heath, Kingshurst, Knowle, Marston Green, Meriden, Olton, Smiths Wood, Solihull, Shirley and Temple Balsall. It was at this occassion that it was moved from the county of Warwickshire to the West Midlands. In 1986 the Solihull borough effectively became a single authority when the West Midlands County Council was abolished. It remains part of the West Midlands for ceremonial purposes, and for functions such as policing, fire and public transport. Coat of Arms The coat of arms for the Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council can be seen on its website home in the top left hand corner The constituent parts of the Borough's Coat of Arms are: • Battlements, sickles and an oak tree with golden acorns, which represent the rural and agricultural nature of the Forest of Arden. • The Black Griffin is taken from the arms of the Earls of Aylesford, who are associated with Meriden. • The Silver Fleur-de-lys comes from the Digby family, who were associated with Fordbridge. • The Black Greyhound is taken from the arms of the Greswolds, the family who built the 15th century house called the Manor House in the High Street, Solihull.