SANDWELL Council is urging people to have their say on what issues matter to them in their area and how they can be improved.

It has launched a borough-wide consultation called In Your Neighbourhood to develop "ward pledges" for each area.

Residents are being asked to prioritise what most concerns them by completing a questionnaire which includes 15 different issues identified through earlier feedback.

These include anti-social behaviour, flytipping, litter and parking issues to empty properties, reducing the number of young people not in education, employment or training and working more closely with older people.

Once agreed and prioritised, "ward pledges" will be developed to address the concerns.

Councillor Mahboob Hussain, deputy leader, said: "We have used information from surveys to identify the issues which residents say most concern them.

"There is some flexibility if other concerns are highlighted at the consultation meetings.

" We are having to make huge cuts in the funding we have available but we want to make sure that we are listening to residents and taking action about the issues that matter to them and that we are accountable to them."

Consultation meetings for the Oldbury ward will be on Thursday October 9 at Oldbury Council House, for the Old Warley ward on Thursday October 23 at Oak Tree Centre, Kings Church, Tame Road and for the Bristnall ward on Tuesday October 28 at the Kings Community Centre, Tame Road.

The meeting for the Rowley ward will be on Tuesday September 23 at Springfield Primary School, Dudley Road, and for the Blackheath ward on Wednesday October 1 at Blackheath Central Methodist Church, High Street, All the meetings are at 6.30pm and feedback will be evaluated and "ward pledges" developed by early 2015.