Jewellery Quarter to move to Winson Green (part 2 of 2)
The Jewellery Quarter is to become part of a new Winson Green Ward, represented by 2 Councillors. We’ve outlined the details in a separate post. These proposals are out for public consultation.
The Jewellery Quarter Neighbourhood Forum is minded to object to these proposals, on the grounds that:
- The Jewellery Quarter and Winson Green are very different communities with differing needs. The JQ is a city-centre community, inextricably linked with the city core, and is it likely we will be poorly served by a 2 member ward that covers an area with such diverse needs
- We have to ensure our representation on the council can give sufficient focus to the specific needs of the Quarter. Especially given the growth that is expected in the area in the near future; the residential population could reach 10,000 in the next five years or so.
- The Jewellery Quarter has a distinct identity (physically and as an economic driver within the city) and, irrespective of the proposed boundary change, the opportunity must be taken to embrace ‘Jewellery Quarter’ within the new ward name.
The Jewellery Quarter by itself does not have enough voters to justify its own Councillor. But we feel the boundaries can be re-drawn in a better way, one which better reflects existing communities.
We propose the creation of a Jewellery Quarter and St Mark’s Ward to be represented by 1 Councillor.
- The area contains what most people think of as the Jewellery Quarter, alongside an area to the north and east of Great Hampton Street: this is arguably part of the historic Jewellery Quarter (and indeed forms part of the proposed Neighbourhood Plan area) and will be come to be seen as such as developments occur.
- We have also included communities located on the city-side of Sandpits and Summer Hill. These communities already join us as part of the current Ladywood Ward, and the Jewellery Quarter acts as their nearest hub for services and amenities.
Click here to download a map which outlines our proposal © OpenStreetMap contributors Licence information: www.openstreetmap.org/copyright
The Jewellery Quarter Neighbourhood Forum would like your comments on:
- the implications of the proposed change and concerns arising
- our counter-proposal for a Jewellery Quarter and St Mark’s Ward
Please email these to:info@jqnf.org.uk
If you agree with our proposals, you can sign our online petition here. Every signature counts.
Please get any responses to us by Thursday 4th February. We will take your comments into account when drafting our final submission to the Boundary Commission.
We also urge you to comment as an individual to the Boundary Commission. You can access the consultation area here.
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The Local Government Boundary Commission’s plans for Birmingham City Council’s new ward boundaries is a direct result of last year’s Kerslake review which found the council was under performing. The aim for the boundary changes is to give voters better representation.
Commission chairman Max Caller CBE is on record as stating that the commissions proposals should reflect the interests and identities of local communities. I do not believe that combining the Jewellery Quarter with Winston Green achieves this aim due the distinct identities and characteristics of each area.
The Winston Green proposal would have 2 councillors for a forecast 14,978 voters. Under the current proposal for the 77 wards, the average number of voters per councillor is 7,215. There are 7,000 residents (albeit not all currently registered to vote) in the Jewellery Quarter, with many new residential developments planned in the next few years. I believe that these numbers justify the Jewellery Quarter belonging to a single member ward.
I support the JQNF counter-proposal for a Jewellery Quarter and St Mark’s single member Ward.
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[…] The Local Government Boundary Commission has made proposals to change the Wards within Birmingham City Council’s administrative area. This would see the Jewellery Quarter join a new Winson Green Ward. Details of the proposals can be found here. The JQNF response can be found here. […]