[1] As of 2023[update], he is the council's longest-serving member,[2] and was previously Lord Mayor of Birmingham, in 1993–4.

In January 2016, he announced his decision to stand down as leader of the council's Lib Dem group, a position held since June 2005, but to remain a back bencher.

[2] Following the death in March 2017 of Cllr Ray Hassall, who was Deputy Lord Mayor, Tilsley was elected by the Council to complete his term of office.

One of his responsibilities was to oversee the modernisation of Birmingham City Council's IT system.

[3][self-published source] He was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 1991 Birthday Honours for "political and public service" and Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 2014 Birthday Honours for services to local government.