Editing Sutton Coldfield (section)

== Governance ==
[[File:Sutton Coldfield Town Sign, Watford Gap A5127 - geograph.org.uk - 823552.jpg|thumb|upright|The sign when entering The Royal Town of Sutton Coldfield]]

In 1528, a charter of [[Henry VIII of England|King Henry VIII]] gave the town the right to be known as "The Royal Town of Sutton Coldfield" and to be governed by a warden and society. The charter was secured by [[John Vesey|Bishop John Vesey]]. This [[Unreformed boroughs in England and Wales 1835 - 1886|unreformed corporation]] survived until 1885, when it was replaced by a [[municipal borough]]. Although the title "Royal Town" was still used, the municipality created in 1885 was not itself a [[Royal borough]]. However, the townspeople sometimes still use its historic 'Royal' title. This was confirmed to be allowed in 2014 after a two-year campaign by a local newspaper, the ''Sutton Coldfield Observer'', [[Andrew Mitchell]] MP, the Sutton Coldfield Civic Society and various local residents. On Thursday, 12 June 2014 government minister [[Greg Clark]] confirmed during a special adjournment debate in the [[House of Commons of the United Kingdom|House of Commons]] that "there is no statutory ban to the continuance of historic titles for other [non-governance] purposes" in the absence of a local governing structure using a historic name, and thus the use of the Royal title is not prohibited (although any such usage has a "lack of technical legal effect").<ref name=Observer/><ref name=Reaffirmed/> Following that confirmation, the newspaper renamed itself the ''Royal Sutton Coldfield Observer''.

The town and borough were ceremonially part of [[Warwickshire]] until 1974, when it was amalgamated into the City of Birmingham and the [[metropolitan county]] of the [[West Midlands (county)|West Midlands]]. The formal [[Mayor]]al chains of office are now on display in [[Council House, Birmingham|Birmingham Council House]].

[[File:BirminghamSuttonColdfield.png|thumb|left|Sutton Coldfield constituency shown within [[Birmingham]]]]

Sutton Coldfield forms the [[Sutton Coldfield (UK Parliament constituency)|Sutton Coldfield parliamentary constituency]], the largest Parliamentary Constituency in Birmingham whose [[Member of Parliament (United Kingdom)|member of parliament]] (MP) since 2001 has been [[Andrew Mitchell]] ([[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]]). Within the City of Birmingham metropolitan borough, it comprises the wards of [[Sutton Four Oaks (ward)|Sutton Four Oaks]], [[Sutton Mere Green (ward)|Sutton Mere Green]], [[Sutton New Hall (ward)|Sutton New Hall]], [[Sutton Reddicap (ward)|Sutton Reddicap]], [[Sutton Roughly (ward)|Sutton Roughly]], [[Sutton Trinity (ward)|Sutton Trinity]], [[Sutton Vesey (ward)|Sutton Vesey]], [[Sutton Walmley & Minworth (ward)|Sutton Walmley & Minworth]], and [[Sutton Wylde Green (ward)|Sutton Wylde Green]]. The ward of [[Erdington]] ceased to be part of the constituency in 1974 due to the Local Government Act of 1972.  Sutton Trinity ward was created in June 2004, at which time the then other three wards' boundaries were changed. From 5 April 2004, it has been a [[Government of Birmingham|council constituency]], with many local services managed by a [[district committee]] made up of all Sutton's councillors.

In 2015 the eligible electorate within the Royal town's boundary were asked whether they wished to be governed by an independent Town council. The result of the election was that almost 70% were in favour of a Sutton Coldfield Town Council. Work is now ongoing in the [[Birmingham City Council]] to create a new council and decide which powers to transfer.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-birmingham-33591076|title=Royal town calls for own council|work=BBC News|date=20 July 2015}}</ref> The first parish council election took place on 5 May 2016.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.birmingham.gov.uk/cs/Satellite?c=Page&childpagename=Elections%2FPageLayout&cid=1223518507412&pagename=BCC%2FCommon%2FWrapper%2FInlineWrapper |title=Information for Candidates and Agents - Sutton Coldfield Parish Council Elections - 5 May 2016 - Birmingham City Council |website=www.birmingham.gov.uk |access-date=17 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160423064730/http://www.birmingham.gov.uk/cs/Satellite?c=Page&childpagename=Elections%2FPageLayout&cid=1223518507412&pagename=BCC%2FCommon%2FWrapper%2FInlineWrapper |archive-date=23 April 2016 |url-status=dead}}</ref>