Dudley Council's Hyper-Local Plan Wins Approval to Transform Governance
Dudley councillors have welcomed a proposal to spread the authority's resources around five townships within the council area. The borough, formed in 1974 from areas including Dudley, Halesowen, Stourbridge, Brierley Hill, and Sedgley, is set for a significant shift in how services are delivered.
Committee Backs Plan to Reduce Central Control
At the March meeting of the council's Communities and Growth Scrutiny Committee, members debated a new hyper-local plan. This strategy aims to locate teams of Dudley Council officers in individual areas to reduce central control and promote local identity for each township.
Cllr Hilary Bills supported the idea, recalling the local government shake-up of the mid-70s. She said: "Sandwell was made up of six towns and they chose the name of a valley that went through the middle – Sandwell. They don't say they come from Sandwell, they say they come from one of the six towns whereas in Dudley they chose to have the name Dudley. The idea you are loyal to your town has always been confused because we say we are Dudley Council."
Fair Distribution of Resources and Local Strengths
Cllr Bills added that she believes the hyper-local plan will mean resources, such as housing, will be distributed more fairly rather than concentrated in particular areas. Cllr Parmjit Sahota, who represents Halesowen North, agreed, stating: "It feels long overdue, we tend to feel like the forgotten part of Dudley in Halesowen. We border the second city, we have got a motorway junction and a lot of heritage in Halesowen. It's about recognising the different strengths of each town and building on those, we need to make sure each town gets its fair share."
Encouraging Community Involvement and Transparency
The strategy presented to councillors also encourages members of the community to get involved in the planning and delivery of services. This approach aims to create greater transparency in decision-making processes.
Committee chairman, Cllr Ryan Priest, from Cradley North and Wollescote, said: "This is exactly how I feel local government should be structured. Dudley is not a place I feel connected to as a town, it is a place I was born into as a borough – people do feel entirely separate. This is a good way to get people to buy into the work of the council."
The hyper-local plan represents a significant step towards restoring a sense of heritage and identity for the townships within Dudley, potentially transforming local government operations for years to come.
