The leader of Dudley Council has publicly stated he has 'nothing to hide' as external auditors and a council watchdog await a long-delayed report into a failed multi-million pound property deal.
Audit Committee Raises Concerns Over Delay
At its December meeting, Dudley Council's audit committee expected to receive the findings of an investigation into the collapsed sale of the former Dudley Leisure Centre on Wellington Road. The sale to a company named Wellington DLC was announced in April 2024 but later fell through, prompting the involvement of external auditor Grant Thornton.
A representative from Grant Thornton informed committee members they had been waiting for answers from the council for nearly a year, raising suspicions that the authority might be attempting to avoid scrutiny. Councillor Shaun Keasey voiced strong concerns at the meeting, stating, "I believe there is serious wrongdoing in this report, whether that is from elected members or from officers."
Council Leader Blames 'Bureaucracy'
In response, the council leader, Councillor Patrick Harley, firmly denied any attempt to conceal information. He attributed the delay to procedural issues, stating, "This is a bureaucracy issue, not anything to do with elected members."
Harley explained that complaints were lodged by the prospective buyer, and the external review required time to be thorough. "External auditors got an external company in to do a thorough review – clearly that takes time. They have to interview people and do it thoroughly. If you rush these things then you get it wrong," he said. Harley confirmed he had been interviewed once during the probe.
Deal Collapse and Subsequent Sale
The initial agreement for the leisure centre site was valued at £1.65 million. Following its collapse, the council's then deputy chief executive, Balvinder Heran, clarified that no legally-binding contract had been signed. The site was later sold in February 2025 to Halesowen-based developer Revelan for a slightly higher sum of £1.7 million.
Dismissing Councillor Keasey's allegations, Cllr Harley concluded, "It will be made public, I've got nothing to hide; there is nothing to see here. I don't know what Mr Keasey is getting excited for." He assured that the audit findings would be published in due course.
