Here's a summary of the Sandwell Council Cabinet meeting:

The Cabinet made several key decisions, including approving a new Corporate Parenting Strategy, recommissioning Family Hubs, and allocating additional funding for highway maintenance. They also discussed budget monitoring, tree maintenance, street lighting improvements, and a compulsory purchase order for regeneration in Smethwick.

Child Friendly Sandwell

The Cabinet endorsed Sandwell Council's ongoing commitment to becoming a Child Friendly borough. They approved the recommended priority themes of 'Safe and Secure', 'Family and Belonging', and 'Equal and Included', as well as organisational priority themes of Communication, Culture, Leadership and Co-operation. The Cabinet also approved the preparation and submission of an action plan to support the next phases of the programme.

The decision followed presentation of the Child Friendly Sandwell Discovery Phase Report and Priority Theme Recommendations. The report highlighted that the priority themes were influenced by children, young people, families and communities.

Corporate Parenting Strategy 2025-2028

The Cabinet approved the Corporate Parenting Strategy 2025-2028, which sets out Sandwell's strategic priorities for Children We Care For (CWCF) and Care Experienced Young People (CEYP). The strategy aligns with the Sandwell Council Plan 2024–2027 and key partnership strategies, outlining three-year pledges and actions across key areas such as education, employment, physical and mental health, quality of care, and preparation for adulthood.

The strategy is underpinned by four delivery plans: emotional wellbeing, mental health and physical health; education achievement and employment; quality of care; and transition to adulthood.

Recommissioning of Family Hubs

The Cabinet delegated authority to the Executive Director of Children and Education Services to award new contracts for Family Hub services for a three-year period from 1 April 2026, with an option to extend for two years. They also approved variations to the contract, if needed, for additional activities funded via the Best Start Family Hubs grant and the social care prevention grant.

The decision was made because the current contract for Family Hubs is due to end on 31 March 2026. The new contracts will ensure the continued provision of these services, which include infant feeding support, perinatal mental health support, and early years services.

City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement Rebase

The Cabinet approved the acceptance of an additional £2 million of West Midlands City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement (CRSTS) funding from the Combined Authority. They delegated authority to the Executive Director for Place to allocate the additional funding towards the Highway Maintenance Block during the 2025/26 financial year, with £1 million earmarked for carriageway maintenance and £1 million for footway maintenance.

The Cabinet also delegated authority to the Cabinet Member for Environment and Highways to approve a programme of works to be funded from the additional Local Network Improvement Plan (LNIP) funding, once the final Sandwell allocation is confirmed by the West Midlands Combined Authority.

Street Lighting Improvement Programme Contract

The Cabinet delegated authority to the Executive Director of Place to prepare tender documentation, conduct a compliant procurement process, and award a contract for a Street Lighting Improvement Programme. The programme aims to upgrade the remaining non-LED lighting units and convert existing LED lanterns onto a single, integrated Central Management System (CMS).

Grove Street, Halberton Street, Abberley Street and Cranford Street, Smethwick - Compulsory Purchase Order

The Cabinet delegated authority to the Service Director – Governance to take all necessary action to secure the making, confirmation, and implementation of a Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) for land at Grove Street, Halberton Street, Abberley Street and Cranford Street, Smethwick. This is subject to the completion and approval of a capital appraisal. The CPO is in respect of approximately 3.45 hectares of land situated across several sites off Cranford Street, Grove Street, Abberley Street and Halberton Street.

The purpose of the CPO is to facilitate the regeneration of the Grove Lane Regeneration Area, using Levelling Up Funding.

Collaborative Working Agreement – Sandwell Public Health & Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust

The Cabinet delegated authority to the Director of Public Health to negotiate and enter into a Collaborative Working Agreement contract with Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust for the provision of a range of public health services. This is in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Adult Services, Health and Wellbeing, the Executive Director Finance and Transformation, and the Monitoring Officer, Service Director - Governance.

The new contract will cover some of the original services, including Health Visiting, Best Start in life Health visitors, Breastfeeding support, and Sexual Health Services. It will also increase the provision of sexual health services and extend the scope of services covered to include Child Vision Screening and a range of programmes delivered within family hubs.

Quarter 1 Budget Monitoring 2025/26

The Cabinet received the financial monitoring position as at 30 June 2025 (Quarter 1) and referred it to the Budget and Corporate Scrutiny Management Board for consideration and comment.

The report noted that the overall forecast outturn position for the General Fund is an overspend of £2.218 million. Emerging risks are materialising, relating to the High Needs Block within the Dedicated Schools Grant, and to Sandwell Children's Trust.

Tree Maintenance Contract

The Cabinet delegated authority to the Executive Director for Place to undertake a procurement exercise for the delivery of tree maintenance services, with a contract term of up to four years for the period 2025-2029. They also delegated authority to the Executive Director for Place, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Environment and Highways, to award and enter into framework contracts with all successful bidders.

The decision was made to ensure the comprehensive care and management of the council's approximately 280,000 trees, which contribute to biodiversity, aesthetics, air quality, and the overall well-being of residents.

West Midlands Combined Authority (Functions and Amendment) Order 2017, Combined Authority Roads

The Cabinet delegated authority to the Chief Executive, in consultation with the Leader and Cabinet Member for Environment and Highways, to consent to the submission of a proposal to amend the West Midlands Combined Authority (Functions and Amendment) Order 2017 to the Secretary of State for Transport. This follows the WMCA Board meeting on 12 September. They also delegated authority to consent to the laying of the draft order once it has been received from the Secretary of State for Transport.

The amendment seeks to remove Schedule 1 of the 2017 Order, which designates certain roads as Combined Authority Roads. This designation causes issues with the WMCA's power to designate Key Network Roads (KNRs) under the Local Democracy and Construction Act 2009.