Sandwell Council facing 'huge challenge' to catch up with UK

The report states the council must make 'significant improvements to the health of local communities' in order to hit the nationwide average.

Adult social care, public health and regulatory services have been joined together as part of a council cost-cutting scheme.

But bosses admit the new service is facing a 'huge challenge', particularly given Government-imposed cutbacks.

The plans were approved by Sandwell councillors on Wednesday.

The report sets out the main aims for the services in the next 12 months – including 'looking for better ways to protect vulnerable people from harm,' 'improve the way that we commission and procure services' and 'creating the right conditions for a sustainable provider market'.

Councillor Bob Lloyd, who sits on the authority's health and adult social care scrutiny board, said the council faced 'a massive task' in the area. He said: "The council has to try to stitch together a plan with the NHS and other organisations.

"There's a suggestion we have more money coming in for adult social care from raising council tax but at best, it's recycling of old money and at worst all smoke and mirrors not a new fund.

"It also shifts the onus back on to Sandwell people to pay more. There's a big difference in life expectancy for people living in parts of Birmingham compared to parts of Sandwell and we need to reduce that."

They also need to 'protect frontline services as much as possible, provide value for money and make tough decisions about what we commission and deliver,' and 'develop our workforce to ensure that the right skills and culture are in place to deliver the new ways of working'.

It adds: "To ensure that these are achieved, the council must make significant improvements to the health of local communities if they are to close the gap between the healthy life expectancy of its residents, and those enjoyed across the whole of England.

"This presents a huge challenge when set against the continuing backdrop of less money, the introduction of the living wage and an increasingly ageing population.

"Reshaping services to be fit for the future whilst continuing to keep vulnerable people safe will not be easy and the council cannot solve these challenges on its own.

"Successful solutions can only come from working closely - with our colleagues, with our partners and with our communities."