Dudley Council leader Cllr Patrick Harley has firmly denied any attempt to conceal details surrounding the collapse of the planned sale of the former Dudley Leisure Centre, amid concerns over a nearly year-long delay in publishing an investigative report.
The contentious sale to Wellington DLC was announced in April 2024 but ultimately fell through, prompting external auditors Grant Thornton to conduct a thorough investigation. At the December meeting of the council’s audit committee, members expressed frustration at the wait and raised suspicions that the council might be hiding information.
Cllr Harley rejected these accusations, explaining, “This is a bureaucracy issue, not related to elected members. The delays stem from procedural matters and the thorough nature of the audit.”
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He elaborated that complaints had arisen from the individual who anticipated operating the centre under the new ownership, but these concerns had not been processed as expected. “The report will clarify why that happened,” he added.
An auditor representative confirmed that the complexity of the review required extensive interviews and careful analysis, cautioning against rushing the process to avoid errors.
Despite these reassurances, Cllr Shaun Keasey voiced strong suspicions at the December meeting, stating, “I believe there is serious wrongdoing in this report, whether by elected members or officers.”
Responding to these allegations, Cllr Harley stated he had been interviewed once as part of the probe and promised full transparency when the report is eventually published. “I’ve got nothing to hide; there is nothing to see here,” he said, dismissing concerns that findings would be suppressed.
He further remarked with some irony, “I don’t know what Mr Keasey is getting excited about. If he’s looking for a scandal this Christmas, he’ll be bitterly disappointed.”
Earlier, after the collapse of the £1.65 million deal became public, Balvinder Heran, then-deputy chief executive of Dudley Council, emphasized that no legally binding contract was ever signed despite the council’s agreement in principle.
In February 2025, the council successfully sold the Wellington Road site to Halesowen-based developer Revelan for £1.7 million, marking the end of a prolonged saga.