We’re excited to announce we’ve secured the community stall for the April Kings Heath artisan market on York Road. This takes place on Sunday April 12th, and we’ll have people on the stall from 10-3. We hope to chat to local residents, let them know more about what the Forum does and how they can get involved, and to hear people’s concerns and priorities for Kings Heath and Brandwood.

Although we’re not a political organisation, we do have an important role in coordinating with local residents to draw up the “Ward Plan”, which is a broad vision for the area. Designated Neighbourhood Forums are official bodies empowered by the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 to produce these Ward (or Neighbourhood) Plans to inform and lead the planning process in the area. This helps to guide whoever the ward councillors will be for the next council term on what the area wants and needs, as well as acting as important support and evidence for funding bids to make improvements. Although a Forum has no power as such, through a ward plan the residents can exert some influence on the direction of their local area. Post-election we expect to go through a period of reviewing and updating the ward plan, and as in the last council term anticipate coordinating with local councillors to hold workshops and drop-ins for residents.

The Artisan Market will be a chance to chat to us informally about this work and the other things we get involved with, and to let us know your thoughts.

You can also attend any of our upcoming management committee meetings as a guest, see below