Sandwell Council has confirmed that the cost for garden waste collections will remain frozen at £40 for 2026, the same price as this year, giving residents good value for money for the 20 collections. Garden waste collections will take their usual winter break, and the last collection of 2025 will be Friday 12 December, returning in spring 2026. Residents can check the online bin day finder for their last garden waste collection day and present their bins for collection accordingly. Subscriptions for 2026 garden waste service will open on Monday 19 January 2026. Collection day changes for 2026: From 2026,…

A targeted operation was carried out early on 6 November to tackle the growing issue of untaxed and suspected abandoned vehicles causing disruption to traffic flow and local businesses in Smethwick. Local residents and businesses had raised concerns about ongoing problems with vehicles being left on public roads and in business areas. In response, Sandwell Council’s Environmental Protection Team and Neighbourhoods Services Team coordinated the action, ensuring support from West Midlands Police. Sandwell Council’s Environmental Protection Team led the coordinated effort alongside partners including Penham Excel and Serco. The operation focused on Heath Street, Cranford Street, Fawdry Street and Alma…

More than 200 young people have worked together on a community art project, which has been unveiled by youth workers in Sandwell. A professional artist delivered workshops aboard Sandwell’s double-decker Youth Bus during October half-term, taking canvases to parks and housing estates in each of the six towns. The final designs, which have gone on display at the Coneygre Art Centre, in Tipton, aim to celebrate young people’s sense of pride in their communities. Freelance artist Ginger Dan (real name Danni Evans) led the drop-in sessions alongside trained youth workers and said: “The project is about what their communities mean…

Sandwell’s annual roadshow for Anti-Bullying Week is now under way and is travelling to 10 schools across the borough. Pupils at Crocketts Community Primary School in Smethwick wore odd socks to celebrate their individuality and uniqueness to help launch the first roadshow as part of nationwide Odd Socks Day yesterday (Monday 10 November), the first day of Anti-Bullying Week. Adults attending the launch also wore odd socks to show their support. Sandwell Council’s SHAPE Team will deliver the roadshow in partnership with West Midlands Police, visiting seven primary schools and three secondaries. The theme of this year’s roadshow is ‘Power…

Every year, Sandwell Council is legally required to set a balanced budget and the authority is now looking at the money available to spend next year. A consultation is now open to give residents, businesses and voluntary organisations the chance to have their say on proposals and what their priorities are for 2026/27. The survey gives people the chance to tell the council where they think the council should prioritise spending, where savings should be made and what could be done differently. Sandwell Council’s Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance and Resources Councillor Paul Moore said: “It has been…

The Sandwell community came together for a charity penalty shootout aimed at raising awareness of youth mental health and encouraging local engagement through sport and wellbeing. The event took place on Sunday 26 October 2025 at York Road Sports and Social Club in Sandwell, drawing families and football fans from across Sandwell and Oldbury for a day filled with laughter, friendly competition, and community spirit. It was organised by Wellness Education, the non-profit arm of Active Clinics — a Birmingham-based wellness and aesthetics clinic founded by Sandwell resident Tammy Takkar. Active Clinics specialises in advanced, non-surgical treatments for recovery, performance,…

Sandwell Council has published its Annual Housing Report for Tenants and Leaseholders 2025 and Annual Complaints Report. These give residents a clear update on progress and improvements made over the past year. Following the Regulator of Social Housing’s C3 judgement in October 2024, the council has taken decisive action to raise standards. The Housing Report highlights: Stock condition surveys being carried out on all Sandwell homes A new contract in place to deal with the outstanding backlog of home repairs A new housing management system to track repairs more effectively £46.7million invested in modernising homes 8,891 home checks completed to…

A new Sandwell Story display has been installed at the Midland Metropolitan University Hospital (MMUH) Winter Gardens as part of the hospital’s first anniversary celebrations. Sharing portraits of local families from across Sandwell’s six towns, the display helps tell Sandwell’s story of the communities that the UK’s newest hospital is part of. “We are delighted to see these portraits displayed at Midland Metropolitan University Hospital, after it opened its doors for communities across the borough a year ago,” said Councillor Kerrie Carmichael, Leader of Sandwell Council. She added: “They are a striking reminder of the families who are living, working…

Sandwell Council is reminding parents and carers that applications for reception and junior school places for the academic year starting in September 2026 are now open. If your child was born between 1 September 2021 and 31 August 2022, or is currently in Year 2 at an infant school and due to move to a junior school, you can now apply for their school place online. The deadline for applications is 15 January 2026. Sandwell Council’s Cabinet Member for Education, Councillor Harnoor Bhullar, said: “We’re proud that a high percentage of schools in Sandwell are currently rated Good or Outstanding…

Work has started on-site in preparation for a brand-new £24million Haden Hill Leisure Centre. The new leisure centre will feature a wide range of facilities including a main swimming pool, a learner pool, two multi-purpose studios, a 100-station gym, a 27-station indoor cycling studio, a four-court sports hall and a dedicated community room. Contractor Speller Metcalfe has now moved onto the site to strip out and then demolish the old centre, with building work on the new one set to start in January 2026. The redevelopment of the centre, which is expected to open to the public in spring 2027,…