Sandwell Council is inviting business organisations, groups representing local firms and the voluntary sector to a meeting of its cabinet to discuss how money is spent on local authority services.

The meeting takes place at 3.30pm on Wednesday 17 February and will be streamed live via Microsoft Teams. It offers local people the opportunity to talk to council chiefs and give feedback on proposals for expenditure for the next financial year.

It also offers the chance for businesses and voluntary groups to give their ideas on how services could be improved.

Councillor Wasim Ali, Sandwell Council’s cabinet member for resources and core services, said: “It is important that members of the business and voluntary sectors are given a chance to have their say on how they think money should be spent in the borough.

“We want to hear your views on how money is spent on local authority services, where you think it should be spent, and how services for businesses could be improved.

Councillor Maria Crompton, Sandwell’s deputy leader, added: “This is an annual event and under normal circumstances we would be inviting people to attend the Cabinet meeting at Sandwell Council House.

“Due to the current coronavirus restrictions in place, we will be streaming the meeting live in accordance with Coronavirus Regulations 2020.

“We will listen to any suggestions or ideas those attending put forward and they will be discussed by the council at a later date.”

If you’d like to take part in the consultation or attend the online meeting please email democratic_services@sandwell.gov.uk by 5pm on Monday 15 February.