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Welcome to the Website of the Solihull Ratepayers Assn. For our Programme and Activities for 2022 see details below

Thanks for stopping by. Have a look around and get to know Solihull Ratepayers Association. We welcome your views, comments and feedback on local community issues and observations or requests. Please use the contact form to get in touch.

Our Next Members & Supporters Meeting is on Friday 23rd September 2022 at 2.00pm until 4.00pm at The Shirley Centre 274 Stratford Road Shirley B90 3AD. (open to the Public) During the Summer & Autumn Months regular Social Group Members Activities and Outings are Organised for our active social group members. (Details of our public meeting agenda's are published on this Home Page at least 7 days prior to a meeting) The September Social Activity was an "Away Day" to Wolverhampton on 14th September by Train & Metro from Whitlocks End Rail Station. (Details advised direct to booked attenders) The July Social Activity for the Association Committee & Social Group was a Summer Social Get-Together 12.30pm to 4.30pm on Wednesday 20th July at Glascote Close with opportunity to plan our further social activities for 2022. The June SOCIAL GROUP OUTING was Wednesday 22nd June as a Day Out by X20 Bus from Shirley to Stratford upon Avon with Lunch at Wetherspoons & a River Boat Trip. plus Free time to take in shops and places of interest including the RSC Tower with its splendid views. See photos below. Members & Supporters Public Meetings are held at The Shirley Centre located at 274 Stratford Road (next to Post Office)

Solihull Ratepayers Association now incorporates the districts previously covered by the Solihull Residents Association (Central Solihull) and by the Shirley Residents Association)

Solihull Ratepayers are affiliated to the West Midlands Pensioners Convention which campaigns on behalf of the elderly and disabled plus the Taxpayers Alliance which campaigns for lower taxes & better Government

We have now returned to meeting in the Shirley Community Centre, 274 Statford Road, Shirley, Solihull B90 3AD from January 2022

(Next to Post Office)

Agenda's are published at least 7 days prior to the meeting dates.

Forum Meetings are Open to the Public.

We have an "Open Invitation to Residents" to come along and find out about the Ratepayers Work in the Solihull Community.

Our regular Active Members Social Activities and trips out to places of interest have included

Past Members Social Activities;-

Wednesday 20th July 2022 Summer Social 12.30pm to 4.30pm at Glascote close for Committee & Social group Members

Wednesday 22nd June 2022 Day Trip to Stratford on Avon by X20 including a Boat Cruise on the Avon and a visit to the Shakespeare Theatre Tower Wednesday 27th April 2022 New Season activities started with a day out by Train from Whitlocks End (Shirley) to Worcester City

2020 & 2021 all social outings cancelled due to Covid -19 Restrictions.

Friday 6th December 2019 4.00pm Active Members Christmas Dinner & Social at The Plume of Feathers Stratford Road Shirley (All TicketsSold out)

Friday 29th November 2019 9.30am start by Train from Shirley Station to the Historic Worcester Victorian Christmas Market for Lunch, Entertainment and Christmas Shopping Wednesday 31st July 2019 10.00am start for our Outing with Breakfast in Warwicks Historic Market Square followed by a shopping visit to the Stratford on Avon Retail Park before returning to Shirley inclusive cost with lunch £5.00

Wednesday 12th June 2019 Outing to Bourton on the Water 1.00pm from the Shirley Centre with Free Transport by Cars Cream Tea £4.50 Ploughmans cost £7.25 return at Shirley 6.00pm approx

Wednesday 27th February 2019 10.00am Visit to Bicester Village by Cars Lunch at The Acorn a Hungry Horse Pub

Wednesday 12th December 2018 4.00pm Christmas Dinner & Social at the Plume Stratford Road (Menu Selection and Payment Closing Date 9th November all tickets sold out}

Wednesday 29th August 2018 Oxford 10.00am visiting Covered Market & City Centre with Lunch and scenic walk via Bodlian, Radcliffe Camera Christchurch Meadows, Colleges and Tea and Shopping in the New Westgate Centre.
Wednesday 1st August 2018 12.00noon to 4.00pm Summer Association Social & Garden Party

Wednesday 6th June 2018 Great Malvern 9.30am by Train from Shirley Station with Lunch at Foley Hotel Free time for sight seeing and shopping

Friday 11th May 2018 5.00pm Post Forum Meeting Meal at Plume of Feathers

Tuesday 27th March 2018 Supporting West Midlands Pensioners 10th Anniversary of Bus Pass travelling on X20 Stratford Leg of delegation Travel to London by Bus for a presentation to 10 Downing Street - Lunch at Stratford Wetherspoons before returning to Shirley
Friday 12th January 2018 4.30pm New Year Meal at Plume of Feathers follows January Forum Meeting

Wednesday 22nd November 2017 London Shopping and ChristmasLights from Solihull on Chiltern Railways (Picnic Lunch) on train (cost £12 all tickets sold out)

phone 0121 733 8081 or Email info@solihullratepayers.com

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Our website was first launched on 4th October 2008

Look at the News Bulletins page for copies of The Ratepayer Newsletter and other information Material. See also the photo news page for photo stories of our activities and Links Page to Taxpayers Alliance and West Midlands Pensioners Convention.

We recommend the Solihull Observer online edition for an inside track on local news.

The Ratepayers Community Team.

Solihull Ratepayers Association was founded in 1974 in response to a 93% increase in council rates following local government reorganisation at that time. The association played a major role in a national protest campaign, leading to central government funding a substantial rebate to those councils hardest hit, including Solihull.

Over the years the association has continued to act on behalf of the Solihull Community as an independant watchdog on the actions taken by the Solihull Council and other bodies who levy tax or other charges on the citizens of this borough.

Bluebells flowered for the last time in the ancient Shirley 'Ring of Oaks' which were felled to make way for the current Parkgate and parkland residetial complexes.

Our Objects are:

1. To promote the interest of our members and that of the Ratepayers (Now Council Tax Payers) of Solihull.

2. To ensure that services and amenities are improved throughout the area subject to the cost of the Metropolitan District Council Tax being set at an acceptable level in line with inflation.

3. To influence the policy and financial decisions of the local council for the good of the Tax Payers as a whole and organise formal and active opposition to unacceptable changes in the environment and development of Solihull or unreasonable increases in expenditure, as expressed through Council Tax.

4. To promote the traditional Values, Culture, Ethos and use of the English language in Solihull.

The Solihull Ratepayers Association shall achieve its objects by democratic means and will reflect the will of the residents of Solihull at all times.

The Solihull Ratepayers Association is funded soley by Membership Subscription and Donations. Current minimum subscriptions are just £2.00 per annum or £5.00 for 3 years

Membership is open to all residents of Solihull or individuals owning property within the Borough. Membership may be admitted to residents from outside Solihull at the Committees discretion

For more information about becoming a member of Solihull Ratepayers Association, please go to our Membership page on this site.

Solihull & Meriden Residents Association (SAMRA a local registered Political Party) is a separate registered body with the Electoral Commission for the purposes of promoting Independent Ratepayers & Residents Candidates in Council Elections. Solihull Ratepayers Association provides the administration services for SAMRA