Political leaders in Dudley have faced fierce demands to apologise for spending thousands of pounds of public money on a survey labelled a 'vanity project'.
Budget deal sparks feasibility study
The row erupted during a full council meeting on December 1, where members debated the outcome of a study into creating a parish council for Cradley. The investigation was included in last year's council budget after Liberal Democrat councillors requested it in exchange for supporting the ruling Conservative group's financial plans.
The Tory administration agreed to allocate up to £75,000 for the work. The final report, which cost £8,000, found that the idea was overwhelmingly rejected by local people.
Calls for apology over 'waste' of cash
Labour councillors led the criticism, insisting senior figures should say sorry for the expenditure. Councillor Keiran Casey stated that residents had given the proposal "the punishment it deserves".
"Despite everything we have heard the one thing we haven't heard is an apology," he said. "No apology from the controlling group for allowing this ridiculous idea to be put in their budget and potentially wasting £75,000."
He also criticised the Liberal Democrats for suggesting the study in the first place. Labour's finance spokesperson, Councillor Shaukat Ali, highlighted that more than 82% of respondents had said no to the idea, calling the result "near unanimous".
Reform UK's Councillor Shaun Keasey was particularly scathing, branding the study "an enormous waste of money" and a "vanity project dreamed up by the Lib Dems and propped up by their Conservative chums".
Defence of the deal and counter-accusations
In response, Dudley's Liberal Democrat leader, Councillor Ryan Priest, defended the move. He conceded a parish council was a "big ask" but argued councils were being starved of funding by Westminster and forced to cut services annually.
"The idea of a town council was a way to insulate communities against that managed decline," Cllr Priest said. "I hear the call for apologies but an investigation into a way to better manage our services and protect them is not a waste."
He received backing from the council's Conservative leader, Councillor Patrick Harley. Cllr Harley praised the Lib Dems for acting in a "grown up, mature" way during last year's budget negotiations.
"They got round the table and said 'these are our priorities – we will help you deliver a legal budget' and that is what we did," he explained, noting the authority was in a position of no overall control. He also claimed Labour should apologise for the Chancellor's latest budget, which he dismissed as a "farce".
The debate underscores the tense political dynamics in Dudley, where compromise deals can lead to later recriminations over how taxpayers' money is spent.
