SANDWELL Labour is optimistic party members will retain their council seats in the Black Country borough as political parties continue to campaign for this year’s local elections.

A spokesperson for Labour said the group has seen a “definite shift” in opinion on the doorstep back towards Labour in wards that currently have Tory councillors, although no Tory councillors' seats are up for grabs due to the yearly cycle of elections.

They said: “While it’s impossible for us to gain any seats from the Tories as no Tory councillor has yet served a full term, we’ve seen a “definite shift” in opinion on the doorstep back towards Labour in wards that currently have Tory councillors.

“It’s really positive to see so many Liberal Democrat and Green candidates standing this year from the perspective of democratic choice, however we still expect it to be a two horse race in many seats.”

Council leader Kerrie Carmichael has set out plans to invest in neighbourhood services, building on the cost-of-living support her party presented to the council in March.

The manifesto’s five key areas are creating a child friendly Sandwell, having effective neighbourhood working, being a dementia friendly borough, exploring boroughwide licensing to control HMOs, continuing to invest to improve the quality of our green spaces, and continuing to support residents through the cost of living crisis which has significantly impacted families and public services in Sandwell.

Councillor Simon Hackett, cabinet member for education, told a meeting last month that 20,000 children had accessed free school meal vouchers during Easter in 2022. In March 2020, figures reached just over 14,000.

Sandwell Labour, if they continue to hold a majority, aim to retain a 100 per cent council tax reduction scheme for those on the lowest incomes.

The party also hopes to “continue to provide free and low cost activities” for families in Sandwell.

An unusual manifesto policy – creating a dementia-friendly borough – with Sandwell Labour hoping to replicate similar schemes in Purley, in Croydon, by improving Sandwell’s six towns and find new ways to support the elderly population.

Meanwhile, Sandwell Labour aims to invest £4.5 million in green spaces within Sandwell – including 40 new play areas, ten major green space projects, ten nature reserves, seven BMX/skate parks and nine outdoor gyms. This is despite criticism the governing party in Sandwell voted to build over the former Brandhall green space.

It comes after a second report by commissioners, who were appointed by the government in March 2022 into Sandwell over allegations of financial mismanagement and corruption, said the council was “no longer shying away from scrutiny or unprepared to listen and learn”.

The commissioners’ report praised progress being made at the council. The report states: “In summary, we are of the view that there has been significant hard work and considerable progress made at the council in the past six months.”

The appointment of Shokat Lal, Sandwell’s new permanent chief executive, one of the statutory requirements noted in the government’s improvement notice, has been seen as an “excellent and positive appointment”.

Addressing councillors during a full council meeting last month, councillor Carmichael said: “We don’t take any of this for granted. We continue to update our improvement plan and report on progress regularly. This is available for you all to look at.

“We will keep welcoming our partners as long as they continue to give us feedback and support because this administration is completely focused on delivering the best services for Sandwell and it is by working together we will make that happen.”

Sandwell Council elections take place on Thursday May 4, with one out of three councillors in each ward up for election. For the first time, voters will need to show photo ID at polling stations.

To read the Sandwell Labour manifesto online, go to https://www.sandwell-labour.org/manifesto-2023/