MP launches campaign to "scrap" council
The MP for West Bromwich West, Shaun Bailey, has called on the Government to abolish Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council, claiming the local authority is an "embarrassment".
Announcing his campaign to "scrap Sandwell" during a debate on an amendment to the Levelling-Up and Regeneration Bill in Parliament on Tuesday (24 October), the Conservative MP said the council was a "stain on the local government scene in the West Midlands".
He added: "We're going through somewhat of a review of local government in the West Midlands at the moment - my only conclusion I can draw is that it is now time to abolish Sandwell Council and subsume the towns that make up that authority into other parts, particularly my communities in Tipton and Wednesbury.
"They need their identity back, but more importantly, they need better accountability."
Bailey has launched a petition on his website asking respondents whether they support the campaign to abolish the Labour-run council, how they would rate the council's performance and whether they identify with the "brand of Sandwell" as the place they are from.
It also asks for opinions on how respondents think the "council's should look" if Sandwell is abolished.
Commissioners were sent into the council in March 2022 after a Grant Thornton report suggested that the council had failed to comply with its best value duty.
Three reports have been issued by the commissioners since, with the third setting out plans for intervention to end after improvements in the council's financial position.
The third report also noted that the council was showing signs of having greater political stability and had begun to improve its scrutiny arrangements.
A fourth report is scheduled to be issued in December 2023, in which the commissioners will make their definitive assessment as to whether the intervention can end in March next year as planned or will need to be extended.
Bailey met with the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Michael Gove, on Thursday (26 October) to discuss his campaign.
Responding to the MP's campaign, the Leader of Sandwell Council, Cllr Kerrie Carmichael, said: “Sandwell is a great place full of people who look out for each other and get things done.
“As one of the largest councils in the country we serve more than 340,000 residents, and whilst it’s not our normal way to shout about ourselves, we’re proud that in our recent survey our residents scored us 5% higher than the national benchmark for overall satisfaction levels with the way the council is run.
“From our work to support vulnerable children and adults to maintaining our highways and parks, we’re always looking to deliver the best possible services for our community."
Cllr Carmichael added: “In just the last three months we’ve welcomed more than 15,000 visitors a week since we opened the best community leisure facility in the country, the Sandwell Aquatics Centre, and we’ve agreed our Levelling Up Partnership with Government bringing in £20m investment that shows we’re trusted to deliver our ambitious plans to build new homes and create opportunities.
“We’re the green gateway from Birmingham to the Black Country and we will continue to work hard to unlock the amazing potential here in Sandwell.”
Adam Carey
