Councillors in Dudley are urging the local authority to publish a report detailing the failed sale of a former leisure centre, calling for the findings to be debated openly rather than behind closed doors.
The dispute centers around the Wellington Road site, which Dudley Council had intended to sell for housing development. The deal, announced in April 2024, eventually collapsed. In response, the council commissioned auditors Grant Thornton to investigate the circumstances surrounding the aborted transaction.
The audit firm’s report, uncovering significant weaknesses in the council’s governance arrangements regarding the sale, is scheduled for presentation at a private session of the council’s Audit Committee in July. However, there is growing clamor from councillors who argue the report should be released publicly to ensure transparency.
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During a committee meeting on June 24, debate arose over whether the report should stand as the sole agenda item. Audit Committee chairperson Cllr Jackie Cowell acknowledged the contentious nature of the issue, saying, “It may make sense for the report to be a single item so we can focus on what needs to be done. We must also consider whether the discussion should happen in public, as many believe it belongs in the public domain.”
Grant Thornton’s audit on Dudley Council’s 2023/24 accounts remains unsigned due to the delay in completing the Wellington Road investigation. The report notes: “Our audit work on the aborted sale of the former leisure centre at Wellington Road identified significant weaknesses in the council’s governance arrangements.”
Andrew Smith, representing Grant Thornton, described the investigation as “prolonged and quite complex.” He confirmed a draft version of the findings was shared with council managers in May and assured the final report would be presented at the July committee meeting.
Council leader Cllr Patrick Harley, who initially announced the failed sale, attributed report delays to bureaucratic hurdles. Speaking in December 2025, Harley denied any attempt to conceal the auditor’s findings, stating, “It will be made public. I’ve got nothing to hide; there is nothing to see here.”
As momentum builds, Dudley councillors and residents alike await the public release of the report to understand what went wrong and to ensure accountable governance moving forward.