Authorities at Sandwell Council accept external intervention plan
An independent auditor recommended forty-five improvements
Councillors in Sandwell have accepted a plan to intervene in the local authority, following recommendations from an independent auditor.
In the first meeting of the Council for 2022, local politicians heard the findings of an independent review into the running of the council from Grant Thornton.
Despite the "green shoots of recovery" seen in the Council, the auditors acknowledged that Sandwell would need to "get a corporate grip" on the authorities' everyday affairs.
A total of 45 recommendations were made by Grant Thornton, three of which are mandatory to be implemented.
Labour-led Sandwell Council has been marred in controversy and scandals in recent years, which had left the local authority struggling to serve its constituents.
As a result, external intervention was mandated in order to bring the Council into line with other local councils in the West Midlands.
Speaking about the findings of the review, three Conservative MPs based in and around Sandwell Council welcomed the new plan for the local government.
In a joint statement, the MPs for West Bromwich East, West Bromwich West and Halesowen said: "It is well known that Sandwell council has publicly faced many problems over the years, and as local members of parliament we are reminded of their failure to govern effectively on a daily basis.
"The poor decisions and mismanagement at this local authority that have accumulated over decades has undoubtedly affected the lives of the most vulnerable in Sandwell."
The politicians also added that many of the issues faced by the Council could have been avoided if residents' livelihoods were prioritised over "personal and political interests".
“We hope that this next step finally leads to trust in our local authority, as well as much better services and value for money for local taxpayers.”
However, an anonymous sitting Labour councillor for Sandwell, hit back, saying that the breakdown in relationships was to blame.
“We as councillors want to go well for our communities. We care for people, that’s why we got involved in local government in the first place," they said.
“Unfortunately, we have officers in Sandwell who are making our lives very difficult, and who are letting residents concern slip through the cracks. Our arms are twisted.”