New twist in Dudley Mosque saga

Dudley Muslim Association (DMA) has offered Dudley Council £325,000 to drop court action blocking controversial plans to build the mosque off Hall Street.

But a scrutiny panel which assessed the offer over a two-day hearing has advised the council's cabinet to reject the deal.

Instead it recommends the creation of an 'action group' comprising councillors from all parties and representatives of the mosque's leadership to look at alternative sites.

It would also include an 'independent' member agreed by the two parties and would be tasked to report back to cabinet in December.

Amjid Raza, spokesperson for the DMA, slammed the recommendation and proposed action group.

He said: "We are naturally very disappointed as we had made a generous offer based on legal mediation which even the council's own QC had advised was lawful for the council to accept, to settle this long running dispute.

"However, it is clear that the council does not wish to settle out of court so this issue still remains politicised.

"The proposed 'action group' is yet another delay tactic by the council. The Court of Appeal hearing is scheduled to take place in October and we hope that justice will prevail."

The council's overview and scrutiny management board stated in its report the existing mosque in Castle Hill was no longer fit for purpose and a "a mutually acceptable alternative solution" was urgently needed.

But it said it believed disruptive protests in the town against the mosque proposals would "likely be exacerbated" if the development were to proceed at Hall Street.

The report added: "Throughout the scrutiny process no specific reassurance was given by representatives of the DMA in relation to the likely completion date of the proposed mosque project or whether the necessary funding was readily available.

"Any reference to appropriate business planning was, at best, vague. Given this lack of evidence, it is the board's view that any such project would take a number of years to complete."

The board also addressed concerns about the governance of the DMA and said there had at one stage been two factions both claiming to represent the community.

It concluded that if cabinet was minded not to accept its recommendations an extraordinary meeting of the council should be convened to allow for further debate before making a decision on the DMA's offer.

If the settlement offer from the DMA is accepted the group would retain ownership of the site and the council would end its bid to invoke its buy-back clause.

The cabinet is due to make the final decision on August 17.

UKIP group leader, councillor Paul Brothwood, said the ball was now in the hands of the DMA and his party would continue to scrutinise the council.