Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council: local authority assessment

How we assess local authorities

Assessment published: 12 March 2026

About Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council

Demographics

Sandwell is a metropolitan borough which was formed in 1974 and is one of 14 local authorities that make up the West Midlands. It is made up of 6 towns, Oldbury, Rowley Regis, Smethwick, Tipton, Wednesbury and West Bromwich. Sandwell is characterised by a rich cultural diversity and vibrant communities but faces socioeconomic challenges and health inequalities. Sandwell is home to an estimated 342,000 people (2021 Census).  Sandwell is home to 49,700 people aged 65 and older, an increase of a little under 1% in the 10 years since 2011. Population projections indicate that by 2040 the older population of Sandwell will increase by 33.6%. The number of people aged 90 plus is forecast to increase by almost 50% to 3,400. Life expectancy at birth in Sandwell is 76.1 years for men and 80.7 years for women, compared with 79.4 for men and 83.1 for women in England.

Sandwell has a diverse population, with 57.23% White, 25.75% Asian, Asian British, 8.7% Black, Black British, Caribbean or African, 4.3% Mixed or Multiple, and 4% Other. Sandwell is the 12th most deprived local authority area in England. Sandwell has an Index of Multiple Deprivation (IMD) score of 10. A local authority with a decile of 1 means it is in the least deprived group (lowest 10%), while a local authority with a decile of 10 means it is in the most deprived group (highest 10%).

Sandwell is part of the Black County and West Birmingham Integrated Care System. This is made up of other local authorities, NHS trusts and health partners. Sandwell Council works in partnership with the Black Country Integrated Care Board (ICB) which covers the 4 areas of Dudley, Sandwell, Walsall and Wolverhampton.

Sandwell is divided into 24 wards represented by 72 Councillors. Following the 2024 elections, the Labour party holds a majority with 65 seats.  

Financial facts  

• The local authority’s total spend was £756,522,000 in 2023/24, in comparison to a total spend of £632,168,000 in 2022/23. In 2023/24, 28.91% of the spend was spent on adult social care.  
• The local authority’s total spend on Adult Social Care was £125,933,000 in 2023/24, compared to a total spend on Adult Social Care of £120,527,000 in 2022/23. The local authority spent £48,302,751 (adult social care spend) per 100,000 adults in 2023/24.  
• The local authority has raised the full Adult Social Care precept for 2023/24, with a value of 2%. Please note that the amount raised through the Adult Social Care precept varies from local authority to local authority.  
• Approximately 4825 people were accessing long-term Adult Social Care support, and approximately 2700 people were accessing short-term Adult Social Care support in 2023/24. ​Local authorities spend money on a range of adult social care services, including supporting individuals. No two care packages are the same and vary significantly in their intensity, duration, and cost.  

This data is reproduced at the request of the Department of Health and Social Care. It has not been factored into our assessment and is presented for information purposes only.