Dudley's Member of Parliament is calling for an independent investigation into allegations that the local council secretly planned to close a vital health and library facility, despite public assurances to the contrary.
MP Presents 'Smoking Gun' Documents
Labour MP Sonia Kumar claims to have uncovered evidence proving that Dudley Council intended not to renew the lease for the Ladies Walk Centre in Sedgley. The centre houses both NHS health services and a local library. Ms Kumar has presented a series of documents obtained through Freedom of Information requests which she says contradict the council's public statements.
Key evidence cited includes a 2020 email from the council stating 'from DMBC’s point of view, we will be stating that we intend to hand in our notice at this time'. Further documents show correspondence from NHS Property Services Ltd in late 2024 about arranging a meeting to discuss 'ceasing service provision' at the site.
In a video posted on social media, the MP stated: "A fish rots from the head. This was a key decision, yet there was no discussion in the scrutiny committee. The council’s lack of transparency and failure to provide basic information put a vital NHS health facility at risk of closure."
Council Denials and a Surprise Purchase
Council leader Patrick Harley, who leads the Conservative-run authority, has firmly denied the allegations. He insists "at no point" was his administration planning to shut the Ladies Walk Centre. Instead, Cllr Harley frames the council's actions as tough negotiation tactics, which culminated in a recent decision to purchase the building outright from its owner, Aviva.
"We’ve stuck to my promises to keep services in Sedgley and under my leadership gone one better and actually purchased the building," Harley said. He described the purchase as an 'invest to save' measure that will eventually pay for itself by relocating staff from other leased properties.
However, Ms Kumar points to a council budget document for 2025/26, published in early 2025, which lists a saving of £390,000 per year from Ladies Walk, starting in the 2026/27 financial year—precisely when the lease was due to expire.
Political Sparring and Calls for Debate
The row has ignited a fierce political debate ahead of the local council elections in May. Former councillor and MEP Bill Etheridge, who is standing for the Conservatives, has challenged Ms Kumar to a live debate, accusing her of misunderstanding basic negotiation principles.
"All Ms Kumar’s comments and dabbling show is yet more evidence that Labour does not understand how to negotiate," Etheridge said. "In a negotiation you need to be able to play 'hard ball', you don’t successfully negotiate by showing the other side you aren’t prepared to walk away."
Despite the council's subsequent U-turn to buy the building, MP Sonia Kumar maintains that the initial intent to vacate was clear from the internal documents. She is demanding a probe by external auditors to examine the council's decision-making process and ensure transparency for Sedgley residents.
