Leaders look ahead to first council election for two years

Dudley's biggest council group leaders are gearing up for the first local elections in two years.

The authority has 72 councillors and elections take place in three out of every four years where a third of the council's seats are up for grabs.

Unusually, in 2024, every seat was on the ballot paper; there were no elections in 2025 and in May 2026 the system will reset to a third of councillors standing for election.

The council is currently run by the Conservative Party , their leader in Dudley , Cllr Patrick Harley said: "Looking forward to next year's local elections, we will be facing the voters with a good record of turning the council's finances around, securing private sector investment for regeneration and housing need.

"I believe key issues for the elections next year will b