Councillors have expressed their frustration at the decline of Birmingham's suburban shopping centres in the wake of an increasingly successful city centre retail area.
Members of the regeneration scrutiny committee said they were disappointed at the results of a survey showing that almost one-third of local shopping centres were at risk of failing.
Committee chairman Mark Hill (Con Brandwood) said: "My concern is that we seem to consult and develop strategies over so many issues but nothing ever seems to happen."
Coun Nigel Dawkins (Con Bournville) described Stirchley as the ultimate symbol of neglect, where there had been little or no investment during the past 20 years.
Coun Dawkins added: "What we want is action, particularly in south Birmingham. Stirchley hasn't had a single thing happen to it.
When is the talking going to stop and the doing going to start?"
Nechells councillor Tahir Ali said little had been done to address years of complaints that shopping in Birmingham city centre was improving at the expense of the suburbs.
Coun Ali (Lab) added: "Regeneration is happening in the city centre but it isn't spreading out to the neighbourhoods.
"Small traders are working tirelessly for so many long hours simply to survive. We need to get them to work together to create jobs in local centres."
Planning strategy team leader Martin Eade admitted that a lack of parking facilities was helping to put some small shopping centres out of business. The council was addressing the issue, but he could offer no quick solution.
Mr Eade added: "Sometimes it can take time for things to happen. In the city centre it took a long time for something to happen and for things to work through."
A council investigation into the state of local shopping centres found that some small shopping parades are losing out to the growth of large supermarkets.
