Dudley MP's investigation 'proves no intent to renew Ladies Walk lease' which put 'vital NHS facility at risk'

Labour’s Sonia Kumar says documents uncovered by her investigation prove Dudley Council did not intend to renew the lease on the Ladies Walk Centre in Sedgley, which also houses a library.

The Conservative-run council’s leader, Patrick Harley, insists ‘at no point’ was his administration planning to shut the centre but Ms Kumar says a probe by external auditors is required.

Ms Kumar said: “A fish rots from the head, it’s a key decision, 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.”

The MP posted a video on Facebook where she presents a number of documents obtained using freedom of information requests.

The documents include a lease which states decisions about an extension should be made five years before the lease expires in March 2026.

The video then shows an email the MP says is from the authority in May 2020 which reads ‘from DMBC’s point of view, we will be stating that we intend to hand in our notice at this time’.

Further documents are presented including an email from late 2024 where NHS Property Services Ltd say agreement had been made to set up a meeting about ceasing service provision at Ladies Walk.

The authority also replied to a casework enquiry from Ms Kumar about the centre in February 2025 saying ‘the council do hold a lease agreement that ends 2026 and will vacate the property on that date along with the library’.

Following discussions with officials at the council Ms Kumar then received an email in March 2025 from the council’s Regeneration and Enterprise directorate confirming the right to renew the lease five years from its end but the email says ‘this right was not exercised.”

Dudley’s leadership recently revealed the council is planning to purchase the building and claimed their actions were negotiating tactics.

Council leader, Cllr Patrick Harley, said: “We’ve stuck to my promises to keep services in Sedgley and under my leadership gone one better and actually purchased the building.

“When faced with the possibility of losing this building the team swung into action immediately.

“Alternative sites were sought whilst negotiating with Aviva continued, at the appropriate time we reached out to Aviva to purchase the building.

“This is an invest to save and within a short time will pay for itself due to decanting staff from buildings we lease.”

Former councillor and MEP Bill Etheridge, who will be standing for the Conservative Party in May’s council elections, has challenged Ms Kumar to a live debate after attacking her claims that Ladies Walk was earmarked for closure.

Mr Etheridge said: “All Ms Kumar’s comments and dabbling show is yet more evidence that Labour does not understand how to negotiate.

“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.”

The council’s budget for the 2025/26 financial year was published in early 2025 and lists a £390,000 saving per year from Ladies Walk, starting in the 2026/27 period when the lease was due to expire.