A political row has broken out in Dudley over the perceived waste of public money, after a costly consultation on creating a new parish council was overwhelmingly rejected by residents.
The Deal and The Dispute
The controversy stems from a political agreement made earlier this year. With no single party in overall control of Dudley Council, the ruling Conservative group needed support to pass its annual budget. The Liberal Democrat group negotiated a key demand into this deal: a feasibility study and public consultation on establishing a parish council for Cradley.
This agreement set aside a substantial sum, initially earmarked as high as £75,000, to cover the costs. Opponents from the Labour and Reform UK groups immediately criticised the move, labelling it as political manoeuvring and a potential waste of council funds.
Consultation Costs and Clear Result
Although a large budget was allocated, the final bill for the study and consultation came to £8,000. The exercise was formally launched in September 2025 and sought the views of Cradley residents on adding an extra tier of local government.
The process attracted significant attention, garnering 1,269 responses. The result was a decisive and overwhelming rejection of the parish council proposal. A massive 82.6 percent of respondents voted against the idea, validating opponents' earlier claims that there was no local appetite for the change.
Apologies Demanded and Matter Closed
In the wake of the result, political opponents have demanded accountability. Labour and Reform UK councillors have called for the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats to apologise for the expenditure. Labour's opposition leader, Councillor Adam Aston, had previously branded the entire survey as "self-indulgent twaddle".
Liberal Democrat leader, Councillor Ryan Priest, defended the proposal, arguing a parish council could help "insulate communities against managed decline" from central government cuts. However, he acknowledged the clear democratic outcome, stating residents had shown a preference for the existing system.
Council Leader, Councillor Patrick Harley, defended the original political deal but confirmed that, following the democratic process, the matter is now officially closed.
