Borough among the worst

Sandwell Council was today labelled as one of five failing councils in Eng-land, receiving a mark of one out of four in a report by the Audit Commission.

The grade means the authority is not meeting minimum requirements overall, and specifically in children and young people's services, although inspectors said it was making "adequate improvements".

Wolverhampton, Dudley and Walsall all retained their overall three-star grades for their work in 2006, meaning they are performing consistently above minimum requirements.Birmingham City Council and Staffordshire County Council were awarded two-star ratings - the same as last year - in the report which considers the performance of key departments such as housing, social services, culture and finance.

Worcestershire and Shropshire were given the top rating of four stars and inspectors said they were improving "well" and "strongly" respectively.

Across the country 79 per cent of councils were given three or four-star ratings.

No councils were given zero stars for 2006, and the national picture shows 77 per cent improving strongly or well - although none of the Black Country councils were said to be making progressing at that rate.