'A council gripped by chaos': MPs' scathing attack on Dudley Council following government notice to improve
Dudley Council has been described as an authority 'gripped by chaos' and in the midst of a 'leadership crisis' after a government minister issued it with an order to improve.
MPs Sonia Kumar, Alex Ballinger and Cat Eccles launched a blistering attack on the Conservative-run council, accusing it of 'weak leadership, toxic culture and financial failure' after local government minister Jim McMahon served it with a notice to improve.
The notice requires the council to demonstrate the improvements it is making to address the weaknesses highlighted, and failure to do so could potentially lead to commissioners being called in as happened in Birmingham.
The MPs said 'the notice paints a devastating picture of a council gripped by chaos' and accused the council of squandering millions on 'vanity projects' while cutting services and introducing parking fees.
They highlighted £100,000 spent on officials attending a property conference in Cannes, £75,000 earmarked for research into the possibility of creating a town council for Cradley, and £1.5 million spent creating a bistro at Dudley Town Hall, which closed after just two years.
But Councillor Patrick Harley, leader of Dudley Council accused the MPs of hypocrisy and ineptitude.
"They have an absolute cheek after the mess they have made of the country in just 12 months," he said.
"They have trashed the economy, jobless figures are on the rise, and business rates trebled for some small businesses."
Miss Kumar, MP for Dudley, said the people of her constituency had been 'let down time and again' by a council that has struggled to meet the needs of the community.
