Due to the coronavirus outbreak, Sandwell Council is restricting public access to any council meetings that will be held over the coming weeks.

The move follows the Government’s advice on social distancing, with the council is keeping all meetings under review and postponing non-urgent or non-essential ones.

It is looking at how essential decision-making processes can continue with alternative arrangements, including limiting the number of people attending essential meetings and asking others to Skype into them. A spokesperson said:"

"It is important the council remains able to respond and take key decisions appropriately and transparently. Although public access to council meetings is restricted for the time being, meetings of the Council’s Cabinet are already webcast live which the public and media can view either live or shortly after the meeting has finished.

"Councillors’ surgeries are also postponed and people should contact their councillor via phone or email to minimise direct contact. Ward councillors are committed to supporting their residents, local businesses and the voluntary sector.

"Residents are being urged to help the council during the coming weeks and months by requesting council services and reporting problems online at MySandwell whenever they can."

The council says its top priority is managing the response to the coronavirus situation, so that they can continue providing the services needed to protect and support their most vulnerable residents and do all that they can to reduce the spread of infection.

They are continuing to closely monitor the latest Government and Public Health England advice and guidance.