Fraudsters prosecuted, 42 council homes recovered, and hundreds of fraudulent claims stopped as Council steps up fight against economic crime. Fraudsters prosecuted, 42 council homes recovered, and hundreds of fraudulent claims stopped as Council steps up fight against economic crime Sandwell Council’s Counter Fraud Unit has protected more than £4.3 million of public funds during 2025/26 through a combination of investigations, prosecutions, prevention work and proactive fraud detection. The figures, published in the Council’s annual Counter Fraud Report, reveal another successful year in tackling fraud across a range of services including housing, council tax, direct payments and blue badge misuse.…

Sandwell Council has thanked local businesses for donating bleed control kits and a defibrillator to help save lives. Equipment has been installed across Sandwell’s six towns – including in two libraries and a range of other community venues – as a legacy of this summer’s Safer 6 community safety campaign. Over the past few months, four businesses have donated seven bleed control kits and one new defibrillator. The businesses have also donated external cabinets to house equipment. Sandwell Council thanks the following businesses for their donations. GB Tyres, West Bromwich (bleed kit installed in Wednesbury) JH Lavender & Co,…

Sandwell Council has launched a new series of British Sign Language (BSL) videos to help residents access important information about council services more easily. The videos, commissioned by Sandwell Council and produced by Sandwell Deaf Community Association (SDCA) , cover a range of key topics including elections, benefits, housing, and council tax. They have been created to support Deaf communities by providing clear and accessible information in BSL, helping ensure residents can access services and information in the format that best meets their needs. The new resources form part of the council’s ongoing commitment to accessibility and inclusion. Sandwell Council’s…

Introduction of a new all-terrain mobility scooter available to hire at Sandwell Valley Visitors with limited mobility now have more opportunities to experience Sandwell Valley Country Park on their own terms thanks to the introduction of a new all-terrain mobility scooter available to hire. Sandwell Valley Country Park has partnered with Countryside Mobility to offer a Tramper hire service, helping visitors with limited mobility access more of the park and enjoy everything it has to offer with greater confidence, choice and independence. The Tramper is a specially designed electric scooter that can travel across a variety of outdoor terrains, including…

A fly tipper who dumped 3 fridges in a city centre street has been successfully prosecuted by City of Wolverhampton Council. Two large fridges and a smaller one were tipped in broad daylight in Fold Street by Algirdas Bardauskas, who claimed he was coming back to collect them. An eyewitness who reported the fly tip will receive a £100 Enjoy Wolverhampton gift card for their actions. At Dudley Magistrates Court on 19 August, Bardauskas, of Chester Street, pleaded guilty to one charge of depositing controlled waste under the Environmental Protection Act 1990. Magistrates fined him £738, ordered…

A single telephone number for most Sandwell Council services has gone live, making it easier for residents to get in touch by phone when they need to. The new number is 0121 569 7474 and replaces the following numbers: Housing & Repairs 0121 368 1166 (housing) and 0121 569 6000 Council Tax, Revenues & Benefits & Welfare Rights 0121 368 1155 (Council Tax and Revenues and Benefits 0121 569 3158 (Welfare Rights) Bins & Street Cleaning, Highways and Regulatory Services 0121 368 1177 Adult Social Care 0121 569 2266 Registrars 0121 368 1188 Complaints & Compliments 0121 569 7867…

Adult Education Wolverhampton learners are celebrating after achieving a remarkable 100% pass rate in both GCSE English and GCSE Maths. The outstanding results reflect the dedication of the 64 adult learners and the commitment of the service’s specialist teaching staff who support residents to gain the qualifications they need to progress in work, further learning and everyday life. The GCSE English and Maths courses are designed to help adults build confidence, improve their skills and achieve qualifications that can open doors to new employment opportunities, apprenticeships, higher level study and career progression. Anna Place, Deputy Head of Service…

A ‘bus gate’ goes live in Blackheath from Tuesday 1 September, aimed at helping bus passengers and other pedestrians feel safer when shopping in the town centre. Sandwell Council is encouraging people to visit Blackheath town centre and find out what local businesses and traders have to offer. The bus gate is a section of road reserved for buses (as well as pedal bikes and the emergency services) between Birmingham Road and Long Lane. The bus gate going live is the final piece of the new Blackheath Bus Interchange, which opened last year. Any unauthorised vehicle seen on CCTV driving…

Walsall Council’s Catering Team has achieved the Food for Life Served Here Bronze certification from the Soil Association in recognition of the healthy, nutritious meals it provides to pupils at 35 primary schools across the borough. Food for Life Served Here is an independently assessed certification that recognises caterers for serving high-quality food, promoting healthy eating and sourcing ingredients responsibly. The independent certification is backed by annual inspections and recognises organisations that are committed to providing good food and supporting local producers. Food for Life Served Here certified meals are freshly prepared by trained cooks using quality ingredients. Meat…

Willenhall Market is set for an exciting transformation, with work due to begin soon to create a more modern, welcoming and sustainable market for traders and visitors. The improvements will see the market’s existing temporary stalls replaced with a new courtyard-style layout featuring 12 permanent stalls, complemented by newly fabricated, fully branded pop-up stalls. The new stalls will provide a more consistent and attractive look for the market, with a unified Willenhall Market identity helping to create a stronger sense of place. The permanent stalls will also provide traders with improved facilities throughout the year, including during the winter months,…