Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council

Council bosses in Sandwell have admitted that they have "lost" a £10,000 tractor.

BBC

The ride-on unit went missing earlier this year and despite a search and a police investigation its location remains a mystery.

The tale of the disappearing tractor came to light at a meeting of the Audit and Risk Assurance Committee, where councillors and independent board members discussed the authority’s annual internal audit.

It stated a review of the grounds maintenance service was carried out after concerns the small ride-on tractor had gone missing.

It added the vehicle was purchased in February 2016 and visits and checks had been made to parks, buildings and satellite depots to try to locate it and the matter had been reported to the police.

But the report added: “However, due to the poor audit trail within the council, we understand that the police have since closed the case."

Sandwell Council's chief executive has confirmed he's left the post.

Jan Britton's statement to the Local Democracy Reporting Service comes just a week after the authority said he'd taken "extended leave".

Sandwell Council

The move follows a tough period for the council, including in 2018 children’s services being transferred to the care of a trust after Ofsted called provision inadequate.

In January, leader Steve Eling had his membership suspended by the Labour party, preventing him standing for re-election in May.

His replacement Steve Trow resigned within hours of the party taking all of the council’s 72 seats in the recent election.

The council hasn't said when there will be a permanent replacement for Mr Britton, but the deputy chief executive "will continue to take on responsibilities".

Sandwell Council has confirmed its chief executive, Jan Britton, is on "extended leave".

Councillors and town hall staff were notified in an email on Wednesday which said: “In the interim David Stevens will take on the role of acting chief executive.”

BBC

The reason for the absence has not been revealed, but it follows a tough time at the local authority.

In 2018, the council’s looked after children’s service department was transferred to arms-length company Sandwell Children’s Trust – after the education watchdog Ofsted described the department as inadequate.

In recent years the authority has also been beset by a string of allegations of misconduct, bullying and infighting by councillors.

The authority’s council leader, Steve Eling, had his membership suspended by the Labour party in January, preventing him standing for re-election in May.

His replacement Steve Trow resigned with hours of the party taking all of the council’s 72 seats in the recent election.

He was replaced by Yvonne Davies who was elected leader after a controversial ballot marred by several councillors being excluded from the Labour Group only hours before the crucial vote.

Ms Davies said she would "concentrate on working to provide the best possible services to the public".

Children in Sandwell Council’s care are left waiting years for new homes because of delays in vital decision-making, inspectors have warned.

The failings have been highlighted in Ofsted’s latest monitoring report into Sandwell Children’s Trust, anagency set up 14 months agoafter the council’s service was labelled inadequate.

BBC

Delays are adding to the record number for youngsters being cared for in the borough.

In the last two years, the number of looked-after youngsters has risen by about 300 to an unprecedented 901 as of April this year.

Inspectors said delays in the past had led to some children not being brought into care, while others who could be discharged earlier remain in the system.

Frances Craven, Chief Executive, Sandwell Children’s Trust, said: “Our new dedicated court team are working to see if there are alternatives to care such as special guardianship.

"They are also speeding up the process of children exiting care who are either returning to their families if circumstances have changed or to a more permanent home."

Jacqui Smith, Chair of Sandwell’s Children’s Trust, said the inspection had also revealed "some real positives".

An appeal's being made to try to find a D-Day veteran's family so his ashes can be scattered eight years after his death.

Sandwell Borough Council said George Mills (pictured, right) died in 2011 but had no known relatives surviving him so his ashes were kept at the care home where he'd been living.

Sandwell Borough Council

Born in Wales in 1923, Mr Mills was one of the first men ashore on Sword Beach during the D-Day landings and lost an eye after being wounded in Normandy.

The council said he then settled in Tipton after marrying his wife and worked as a postman before his death in 2011.

The local authority and the Royal British Legion hope any surviving relatives come forward so they can hold a ceremony in his honour and scatter his ashes at a future date.

A statue marking the careers of three of West Bromwich Albion's pioneering black players will be unveiled later today.

Sandwell Council

Brendon Batson, Laurie Cunningham and Cyrille Regis were stars of the thrilling Albion teams of the late 70s and early 80s.

Their manager at the time, Ron Atkinson, dubbed them The Three Degrees after the famous US singing group.

Former team-mates and family will attend the ceremony to reveal the 10ft (3m) tall statue of the trio in New Square shopping centre, West Bromwich.

Councillors have chosen a new leader of Sandwell Council in a tightly-fought contest where the margin of victory was just two votes.

Sandwell Council

Councillor Yvonne Davies beat Ann Shackleton by 35 to 33 at the Annual General Meeting of the Labour group on Monday.

She said her first step would be to take stock, talk to people and take advice, adding: “I hope that everyone recognises that we have spent past years on the wrong side of doing the right thing and actually we need to move forward with integrity, honesty, transparency and openness, and political infighting benefits no-one.”

A second meeting of the Labour group will take place before Ms Davies is formally selected as the political leader of the authority at the next full council meeting on 21 May.

Here are some of the election stories making the headlines on the Birmingham Live website today:

• Bruising night for Labour in the West Midlands
• Conservatives gain ground despite Brexit backlash
• Sandwell Council leader to resign after party sweeps board in local elections