A motivational speaker is being paid £14,000 to talk to managers from a Black Country council about personal development and stress management, in a two-day seminar at The Public arts centre.

Jack Black, a former social worker from Glasgow, is described on his website as the “UK leader in the field of performance and personal development” and is delivering the course, which includes stress management and “whole brain” training, to 170 managers from Sandwell Council and its partners at the West Bromwich arts centre.

Ray Nock, Conservative councillor for Charlemont with Grove Vale, said: “At times like these we need to know where every penny is going, especially when they are closing facilities down.”

Councillor Pauline Hinton, Sandwell Council’s deputy leader and cabinet member for improvement and equality, said: “We have negotiated a very favourable rate of £14,000.”