MP launches petition to abolish Sandwell Council

An MP has called on the government to dismantle a council which he says "needs to be put in the bin."

Shaun Bailey, the Conservative MP for West Bromwich West told the House of Commons Sandwell's Labour-run council was an "embarrassment".

It comes a year after commissioners were appointed to tackle the council's "deep-seated culture of poor governance and leadership".

The authority said a recent survey showed satisfaction with its work.

Mr Bailey made the comments during a session to debate an amendment to the Levelling-up and Regeneration Bill which would allow authorities to meet virtually.

He has also launched a petition calling for Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council to be abolished and said the authority "doesn't do its job properly".

The area the council serves should be absorbed into neighbouring authorities, he said.

The council serves towns and villages in the Black Country and includes Oldbury, Rowley Regis, Smethwick, Tipton, Wednesbury and West Bromwich.

It is bordered by Birmingham City Council, City of Wolverhampton Council, Dudley Borough and Walsall Borough.

"It is time for Sandwell to go, it has been an embarrassment for the last 50 years, and we need to put it in the bin," he added.

The council made national headlines this summer after a number of refuse worker strikes following a dispute between GMB union workers and operator Serco over pay.

In March, the BBC reported on an audit which had uncovered evidence of poor behaviour and a lack of trust across the organisation.

Within the last seven years, it has had six different leaders and seen a number of misconduct allegations made against councillors.

Government commissioners were appointed by Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove to oversee what was described by external auditors as a "deeply troubling picture of mismanagement and of ineffective scrutiny and accountability arrangements".

Since then, the council has made "considerable progress", the commissioners said, with the authority now able to "demonstrate self-awareness and a maturity that was previously absent".

Council leader Kerrie Carmichael said a recent survey of residents showed residents had scored it 5% higher than the national benchmark for overall satisfaction level with its work.

"Sandwell is a great place full of people who look out for each other and get things done," she said.

"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."

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