Sandwell is set to have new boundaries for its council wards following a review by the Local Government Boundary Commission for England (LGBCE).
The LGBCE is an independent body accountable to Parliament. It recommends fair electoral and boundary arrangements for local authorities in England. In doing so, it aims to:
- Make sure that, within an authority, each councillor represents a similar number of electors
- Reflect the electoral cycle so that each ward is represented by three councillors
- Create boundaries that are appropriate, and reflect community ties and identities
- Deliver reviews informed by local needs, views and circumstances.
The results of the review for Sandwell are published in full on the LGBCE website.
What does this mean for Sandwell?
The Commission has published final recommendations for changes in Sandwell. It says residents should be represented by 72 councillors. This is the same as the existing arrangements. There will be 24 three-councillor wards, all wards will see changes to their boundaries.
This means the boundaries of all of Sandwell's wards will change, and the names of many of the wards will also change.
What happens next?
The changes become law once Parliament has approved them. Staff at the council will ensure that the arrangements are in place for the 2026 elections.
There will also be a review of all polling places and polling districts. This will review the locations and numbers of polling stations where people living in Sandwell vote during parliamentary, local and other elections.
The consultation period runs from Friday 5 September until Monday 13 October 2025. The final decision on any changes will be determined by Full Council in December 2025.