Hockley Heath Parish Council is one of 9,500 parish, community and town councils throughout England and Wales. In all there are over 80,000 town, parish and community councillors who serve electorates ranging from small rural communities to major towns. The Councils have powers to raise their own funds through council tax.
Hockley Heath Parish Council is the grass roots voice of local government for Hockley Heath Parish which incorporates the villages of Hockley Heath, Dickens Heath, Cheswick Green and Tidbury Green and comprises thirteen local councillors elected for a four year term of office. The next election will be held in 2007 but by-elections may be held to fill vacancies occurring between elections.
The members of the Parish Council safeguard the interests of local people by representing their views and opinions on local matters.

Hockley Heath Parish Montage
Clockwise, top left: Tidbury Green Primary School, Dickens Heath Town Centre, Wharf Tavern Hockley Heath, Illshaw Heath Centre: Cheswick Green Village Centre

Each year the council raises a “precept” on the council tax payers to cover the cost of running expenses and services provided. In 2006/2007 the precept will be £105,000 (costing the average council tax payer £28.72 per annum). In Hockley Heath Parish, the Parish Council provides services and facilities in the area which are not provided by Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council including: 

• Provides funding for provision of youth facilities at Dickens Heath Village Hall and Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council’s Youth Team who run the Youth Club hope to recruit staff to operate a Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme.
• Provided funding for a Police Community Support Officer to work within the parish.
• Hopes to provide funding for the Borough Council’s Youth Team to provide youth facilities at Hockley Heath Pavilion.
• Provides funding for a homework club at Dickens Heath Library.

• Provided funding for work to the Parish Council’s Allotments at Earlswood.

• Maintains and improves local facilities including village halls, contracts for mowing and the collection of litter and dog faeces, and maintenance of trees on the Parish Council’s amenity land.
• Continues to provide funding of recreational facilities for Cheswick Green and various expenditure to the Recreation Ground at Hockley Heath.
• Considers applications for grants from local community groups and organisations.
• Provided funding for hanging baskets to be installed in Dickens Heath Village.
• Comments on all planning applications in the parish – Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council then makes the final decision taking into account our views.

Forthcoming Meetings
17th December 2008 Planning Committee Meeting - Cheswick Green Village Hall

21st January 2009 Finance & General Purposes Committee - Hockley Heath Pavilion
21st January 2009 Parish Council Meeting - Hockley Heath Pavilion
28th January 2009 Planning Committee Meeting - Cheswick Green Village Hall