From the cradle to the grave, Sandwell’s Labour council fails its people. On the day that the latest Ofsted report on the council’s Childrens’ Service was published, Sandwell could only seek to divert public attention by trailing an increase in fees for funerals.

Even as Cllr. Eling denies a culture of bullying at Sandwell council, one of his minions resorts to it.

The stench from the Sandwell swamp reached Westminster yesterday when James Morris MP in a Parliamentary debate called for the resignation of Sandwell Labour leader Eling and government intervention in the borough to restore public confidence.

Last night’s Sandwell council meeting was chiefly concerned with next year’s budget, the projected 4.99% rise in council tax and how that particular pill might be sugared.

The Sandwell Standards hearing against Cllr Mahboob Hussain has ended. Its result, never in doubt, (considering the resources which the council lavished on its prosecution,) that the councillor had broken the code of conduct.

Yesterday, despite the failure of Cllr. Mahboob Hussain to appear before it, the Standards Committee of Sandwell council decided to proceed to deal with the charges against him.

Those with a taste for farce are recommended to view the Sandwell Council Standards Committee hearing held on 1st December.

This was the latest effort of the ruling Eling junta to vilify Cllr. Ian Jones.

The daily commute to work brings home to many the effects of our overloaded local roads. The working day is extended by traffic congestion delays Sitting in jams or a crawl from tailback to hold-up, does nothing to improve life’s quality.

In pantomime it’s usually the villain who’s “behind you”. There is strong evidence that behind Marshall, in his dealings with Julian Saunders, lurked Cllr. Steve Eling, Labour leader of Sandwell Council.

Marshall’s motive in engaging with Julian Saunders emerges clearly in their dialogue. Under cover of the Eling swamp draining agenda, Marshall, providing little or no evidence in support, makes serious allegations against a number of his fellow Labour councillors.