Does Birmingham need more parish councils?

Would you pay less than £1 a week for a new council to be set up in your neighbourhood if it tackled fly-tipping effectively?

That is one of the questions being posed to residents by Birmingham City Council which has launched a consultation around whether local bodies such as parish councils, ward forums or residents' associations should be established.

The authority is looking to devolve down some of its powers in the face of its own diminishing budget.

Among other duties New Frankley in Birmingham Parish Council cleared away more than 180 tonnes of bulky waste last year at a time when the wider city is blighted by illegal dumping.

The council, which is a statutory body but non-political, was established in 2000 and was the first of its kind in Birmingham with Royal Sutton Coldfield Town Council following in 2016.

It serves nearly 10,000 residents in its part of south Birmingham and is paid for by a precept as part of Frankley residents' council tax bill.

This year it cost those living in a Band D property £34 - on top of the £58.84 for West Midlands Fire and Rescue Service, £128.55 for the West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner and £1,315.2 for the city council.

It generated an overall budget of around £87,000 for the parish council.

Out of that, the clerk and assistant clerk are paid a salary, while the current chairman Cllr Ian Bruckshaw is given an expenses account of around £60 a month.

The council's 12 members serve on the body voluntarily.

Operating out of an office at the Arden Road shops between 9am and 1pm Monday to Friday, its main function is to signpost people if they have a problem.

They can advise residents where to go, who to contact and even chase issues up on their behalf if appropriate.

Their other key duty is to provide funding to other local groups and facilities in the area.

They have recently contributed towards refurbishing Reaside Community Centre and also fund the annual Frankley Carnival.

A further project in the pipeline could see them provide sponsorship for a new FA-backed football scheme in the area.

But despite operating for nearly two decades, the council admits to being frustrated at failing to obtain substantial devolved powers from the city council.

"It hasn't happened as yet," said Cllr Sid Grey MBE, a founder member and the council's first chairman.

"There are a lot of things we could do but the city (council) has been reluctant to devolve powers down because of the funding that goes with it.

"It hasn't all been a bed of roses."

They claim they are also hindered by health and safety rules, which prevent them carrying out basic tasks themselves.

Cllr Bruckshaw said: "We aren't even allowed to use power tools.

"I got asked to put up a parking sign and I said I couldn't because I am not allowed to use an electric screwdriver.

"They couldn't get their head around that one."

But one breakthrough has been the Frankley Street Champions project.

The parish council funds the running costs for a group of volunteers to collect rubbish and bulky waste from the streets like sofas and fridges.

Using a charity pass, they are then able to dispose of it at the nearest Birmingham tip, at Lifford Lane.

Frankley is notably cleaner for the service, especially compared to some neighbouring areas.

Other green schemes include providing free dog mess bags for residents.

They recently used additional money from the city council's Housing Liaison Board to cut back hedges at Frogmill Walk, which were significantly overgrown.

The council has recently purchased 10 litter bins for the area, which will soon be installed at key places throughout Frankley.

But the body remains optimistic that they can facilitate more substantial services in the future.

The Local Government and Rating Act 1997 outlines an extensive list of potential parish council powers including providing allotments, bus shelters, community centres, appointing school governors, maintaining footpaths, providing lighting for public spaces, extra parking spaces, supporting crime prevention, dealing with drainage issues and maintaining cemeteries.

But obtaining the land for such endeavours can be difficult.

Cllr Bruckshaw said: "Our relationship with the city council is getting much better now because they need our help.

"We are hopeful we can still get devolved powers.

"We can do a lot that the city do now but we can be a lot more cost effective if we are allowed to do it."

While Cllr Grey was keen to stress what the parish council had already achieved in helping Frankley to shed its 'estate' tag, saying it was now a proper community.

He said: "I think we do a fantastic job. Someone worked it out that every £1 we get is worth about £30 in what we actually do.

"Our biggest achievement has been creating a community.

"It used to be called Frankley estate, but a few years ago I got the hump because it is no longer an estate it is a community.

"With the city pulling the financial reins back hopefully we can work together with them to deliver more services locally."

Cllr Grey added: "The trouble is I don't think a lot of people realise what parish councils do.

"We are a statutory body. We aren't just some boys club. You couldn't just decide to get rid of us.

"At the same time the city council can't just say 'right you are going to have a parish council'.

"There has to be a lot of enthusiasm for it already in the community."

This is what Birmingham City Council had to say about its relationship with Frankley parish council

The city council stated it wanted to establish an agreed charter with the parish council setting out how they will work together.

They also vowed to ensure proper 'devolution deals' become a reality but added they would have 'limitations'.

The council admitted that its parish counterpart can deliver some services quickly and efficiently but they had to ensure they did not duplicate what the city provides.

While they vowed to tackle the 'red tape' getting in the parish council's way but pointed out that much of it was set by national or European law.

A spokeswoman said: "The city council has acknowledged that the relationship between the council and the existing parish councils can be improved.

"The intention of publishing the green paper and consulting on it, signals our intention to put this right and to move to a more positive approach with parish councils in the future."

She added: "It has been a conscious choice to ensure that greater effort is put into improving this relationship.

"We are determined to go forward in that spirit and get the best services possible for our local neighbourhoods.

"The funding reductions affecting all local authorities have certainly created more pressure to find different ways of working that can achieve better results.

"We believe the whole community and local organisations will want to support us in that effort."

Residents can visit www.birminghambeheard.org.uk to take part in the Working Together in Birmingham's Neighbourhoods consultation which runs until September 28.