Financial (Sub-1)
80
Exceptional
Services (Sub-2)
35
Fragile
Sandwell Metropolitan Borough scores 69 (Moderate) on the Local Council Monitor composite for the May 2026 baseline. Financial governance (Sub-1) scores 80 (Exceptional), indicating a strong fiscal position with no Section 114 notice, reserves above benchmark, and a clean audit opinion. Service delivery (Sub-2) scores 35 (Fragile), indicating significant service delivery challenges requiring urgent attention. The LGO ombudsman signal (Sub-6) scores 92 (Exceptional), reflecting very low upheld complaint rates and full remedy compliance. The council changed administration in May 2026, moving from Labour to Reform UK control. Scores reflect the governance record of the outgoing administration.
Sources: DLUHC Revenue Outturn 2024-25 · PSAA Audit Opinions March 2026 · DLUHC Waste Statistics 2024-25 · Planning Inspectorate Q3 2025 · DLUHC Housing Delivery Test 2023 · LGO Annual Review 2024-25 · Framework: Local Council Monitor V1.0 · Baseline: May 2026
Detailed council report available — peer group comparison, indicator breakdown, political context, and recommendations.
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