It was established on 1 April 1974, by the Local Government Act 1972 and was abolished on 31 March 1986.

It was abolished along with five other metropolitan county councils and the Greater London Council by the government of Margaret Thatcher under the Local Government Act 1985.

[2] The first meeting of the shadow authority was held on 30 April 1973 at Council House, Birmingham.

[6] The first election to the council was held in 1973, initially operating as a shadow authority before coming into its powers on 1 April 1974.

Those councillors elected in 1981 had their terms of office extended until the council's abolition on 31 March 1986.