Foreword

My vision for Sandwell is of a borough that is totally focused on the needs of our residents, where everyone can fulfill their potential and be proud that this is their home.

The work needed to get there has already begun; there is more to do, but I’m confident that all of it can and will be done.

I know that my ambition for Sandwell is shared by so many people, from our residents through to the brilliant workforce that has kept things going during a really tough couple of years. It’s down to us as politicians to make sure that their energy and talent is supported, that we listen to the people we serve and that we drive forward the progress we have made recently.

It has been brilliant recently to see Sandwell’s achievements being recognised; our response to Covid, our commitment to our elderly residents, the fact that we’ve kept our community libraries and children’s centres, and seen the completion of the incredible new Sandwell Aquatic Centre. But we have been in the news too often for the wrong reasons, and I’m aware of the impact that has had. It is vital that people have confidence in us as a council.

The first place I go to to understand what we need to do is to our residents, and they consistently tell me that what they care most about is good quality services that they can rely on. They want clean streets, estates that are safe and places they are proud to call home, a landscape that is cared for and somewhere to turn to when the times are tough. I am totally committed to providing that for them.

Our pledges in this manifesto are promises. I fully expect this council to deliver them. Whilst some, such as those around the climate change agenda and school building programmes are medium-term objectives, the overwhelming number of these pledges will be delivered over the next year.

Kerrie Carmichael