The Bottom Line

Here’s a bit of a plug for something at the council.

For the past year or so we’ve had the Sandwell Scorecard on the council’s website.

We think it’s pretty exciting in the world of local government and something no other councils do.

Essentially, it’s a way of boiling down everything Sandwell is doing – from protecting kids and collecting rubbish to investing in big regeneration projects and looking after old folk.

It’s all set out on the website for everyone to have a look at.

It outlines how we’ve drawn up our top priorities after listening and talking to residents, explains what we aim to do to improve things and gives updates on the progress we’re making.

As I say, the Scorecard’s been there for a year or so, but now there’s something new  on it – a short video which introduces what the Scorecard’s all about and how it works.

To watch the video go to www.sandwell.gov.uk/scorecard

The video includes a bit from me on the council’s overall thinking – and another bit from Chief Executive, Jan Britton on how people can click through the Scorecard to get the level of detail they want on what the council’s doing.

It also explains how people can fill in mini-surveys online to give us their views so we can continue to take them into account.

I guess I’m biased but I think the Scorecard’s well worth a look at – especially now the video’s there to introduce it.

I’d also encourage everyone to take advantage of the mini-surveys to let us know what you think.

PS: Just to confirm, too, that the video hasn’t cost a fortune. We didn’t pay some hotsy-totsy film company to make it. It’s been put together by people who work for the council.

Almost a week has now gone by since last week’s local elections in Sandwell – plenty of time for the dust to settle and everyone to gather their thoughts.

Of course, I have to be upfront about how pleased I am with the results – my own re-election in Soho & Victoria and, more widely, the clean sweep for my party which saw Labour win every one of the 24 seats up for grabs.

The scale of this victory — unprecedented in Sandwell’s history going back almost four decades – means Labour now has 68 of the 72 seats on the council.

This is no time, though, for gloating.

I have to be aware of a couple of factors which will give even the most partisan of political supporters pause for thought.

First, turn-out in the elections was low. Secondly, I and my fellow Labour councillors must continue to bear in mind that we represent not just the people who voted for us but everyone in our wards. That’s the nature of our democracy.

It’s because of this that I’m planning to strengthen the way the council’s scrutiny set-up works. This is the bit of the council which allows backbench councillors to examine what the council is doing, criticise it if they feel that’s what’s needed and make recommendations to improve things.

As far as I’m concerned, this is essential if the council is to realise its ambition to become excellent.

I believe that in recent years we have set out our vision to achieve that — and are well on our way to getting there, despite the multi-million pounds cuts in cash support the council has been faced with.

Not everything is perfect, of course, but the council’s priority remains: to protect basic council services that the people of Sandwell rely upon.

This will become increasingly hard in the face of further cuts we face in coming years, but I’m determined the basics will stay in place.

For me, that means things like cleaner streets, sorting out potholes and continuing the council’s efforts to give Sandwell’s young people a better deal (better safeguarding, better exam results, better prospects for the future) and to look after our older people who need care.

We’re well on the way to keeping our promises on new swimming pools for West Bromwich and Tipton, and we’re also now looking at a new swimming centre for Smethwick.

It’s these bread and butter things that I think the people of Sandwell want – and that the council has to concentrate on.

I like to think I’m a realistic leader of the council. We need to keep our feet on the ground – and that’s what we’ll be doing.

Sandwell Council today announced plans to offer affordable mortgages to help first time buyers get a foot on the housing ladder.

The scheme is also aimed at getting the housing market going and increasing house building in the borough.

The council’s finance boss Councillor Steve Eling said the scheme would offer sensible, affordable mortgages through a self-funding scheme.

He said: “Young first time buyers in Sandwell are struggling to get a foot on the housing ladder and we want to help them.

“We think it’s very important for people to have the chance to buy their own home – and it’s good for the economy and housing market too.”

Councillor Eling, the council’s deputy leader and cabinet member for strategic resources, said the council would require home buyers to put down a deposit of around 10 per cent of the house value.

Banks, building societies and other providers have put in place many more restrictions on mortgages since the banking crisis, and deposits can be up to 40 per cent.

At first, Sandwell would offer mortgages to first time buyers of new private sector homes in the borough, although the council may look to expand the scheme once it is up and running.

Councillor Eling added: “The mortgages we plan to offer will be sensible and affordable, not the type of reckless mortgages that some of banks and building societies used to offer.

“This scheme will also help people who are looking to buy new homes that we know are being built in Sandwell and encourage new house building too by giving developers increased confidence.”

Councillor Eling is set to approve plans to create a council mortgage scheme on Tuesday (20 March).

How proud I was to be in Sandwell over the weekend and  two things in particular really cheered me up.

The first was the outstanding performance of the council’s gritting crews who did everything possible to keep Sandwell’s traffic moving after Saturday afternoon’s snowfall.

Am I biased or was it yet again noticeable that our roads were more usable than those of some of our neighbours?  I have nothing but praise for the crews. 

They treat 260+ miles of the borough’s highways network when they go out — whatever time of day or night it might be.  

We can’t possibly, of course, cover every side street and pavement – but on Saturday morning our crews spent five hours gritting estates and side streets not covered on our normal main gritting routes. 

We had lots of comments from people pleased to see our crews treating their streets. 

This year, the council also has extra equipment to clear its car parks of snow. This means we can help shoppers carry on as normal, which in turn  helps our hard-pressed traders and businesses at a time when economic conditions are difficult.

I was really pleased to see the gritters’ efforts recognised by lots of members of the public who took to Twitter and our Sandwell Facebook page to say how grateful they were. 

They were full, too, of enthusiasm for the way Sandwell’s new Snow Champions scheme swung into action at the first time of asking. 

This is the other thing that made me proud.   

Volunteers in all our towns – equipped with shovels and salt from the council – were out and about clearing paths and pavements.

I was one of them, sweeping snow from the paths outside the old folk’s houses inLondonderry Lane,Smethwick, next to where I live, and outside my own place, too.

I think it’s really great to see how ordinary people – given a helping hand by their local council – can show just what they can do for their local communities.

Community spirit might be an old-fashioned phrase – but it’s great to see it in action.

“Thank you, it’s the first time I have ever seen the gritters clearing the snow on Tower Road.”

Snow Champions Keith and Matt in Rowley Regis

“The roads were perfect after the grit had took effect on the Sunday morning well done all”

“Just seen the 11th gritter go past my house! Well done Sandwell”

“Looks like @sandwellcouncil  SnowChampions are out there doing good. Putting paid to the myth that helping out means you get sued”

“Did our street and local community centre… but didn’t just get the stuff for my own benefit, it’s all about making a difference and a better place to live”

I had the pleasure and privilege of helping officially open Number 1 Providence Place in West Bromwich yesterday.

Many of you may know it simply as the new BT building by the A41. I think we can all agree it looks fantastic – and it’s even more impressive on the inside.

As well as giving the town another great looking building, it represents the strong working partnership we have with BT as well as our plans to turn West Bromwich into one of the best towns in the Midlands.

I was really proud to look out across the town from the 4th floor of  Providence Place and see the work taking place on the Tesco site and the underpass on the A41.  Along with the new police station and amazing college, you can really see how it’s all starting to take shape – and that’s before the new shops, restaurants and swimming pool are built.

And it’s more than just new buildings. Our plans mean lots of new jobs for Sandwell and a real boost to our economy – so, genuinely exciting times for West Bromwich and Sandwell.

Back to yesterday’s big opening.  Guest of honour for the day was sporting legend Daley Thomson who officially unveiled a plaque for the building. It gave the day an Olympic feel and I know he was impressed with what he saw of the building.

He also took time meet and play games with some local school children and helped launch a special competition to win Paralympics tickets. More on that in the coming weeks.

But overall it was a gold medal day for what’s becoming a gold medal town.

BT Board member and chief executive of BT's retail division Gavin Patterson (centre) and Olympic legend and BT London 2012 Ambassador Daley Thompson (right) at the event

Well, I know what I want for Christmas………
 
And I bet there are lots of people in Sandwell who’ll have the same thing at the top of their wish lists.
 
What I’m hoping for is that somehow or other the powers-that-be will finally see sense and overturn the barmy process that led to Blind Dave Heeley NOT being picked to carry the Olympic torch through Sandwell.
 
I won’t go through all the arguments on this issue again. Just see one of the blogs below to understand just why I feel so strongly about it.
 
Meantime, talking of Christmas wishes, I’d like to send seasonal greetings to all Sandwell residents.
 
I know many of us are going through tough times, but a new year beckons and that’s always a time for optimism. I wish everyone a happy Christmas and a prosperous 2012.
 
In particular, I’d like to say, too, how much I admire council staff in Sandwell who – despite a time of upheaval for local government in the borough and across the country – have got on with their job of serving the public with expertise and professionalism.
 
I regret the fact that unprecedented cuts in the finance available to the council have meant we’ve had to lose many people over the last year.
 
The majority who remain are, in my view, a credit to local government.
 
To be frank, I’m getting sick of what seems to me be a rather nasty tendency in this country to attack public sector workers – you know the kind of thing I’m talking about, talk of so-called “gold-plated” pensions and what-have-you.
 
To my mind this ignores the very real contribution to a civilised society made by all kinds of public sector workers – from psychiatric nurses (i.e., what I do, just so my personal interest is up front) to lollipop ladies, teachers, meals-on-wheels workers, social services staff and many, many others.
 
What I know for sure is that the world we all live in would be a much poorer place without them.