No answers yet on failed leisure centre deal

The disposal of the Wellington Road site was announced in March for a fee of around £1.5 million, but the deal fell through after the council said documents it requested as part of a due diligence process were not provided in time.

Labour’s finance spokesman, Councillor Shaukat Ali, insisted a report into why the deal was announced before it was finalised should be prepared for the council’s Audit and Standards Committee.

But at the committee’s meeting on July 8, Councillor Ali’s request for an update on the progress of the report failed to deliver the answers he wanted.

He said: “I have asked for that whole process to be investigated by our internal auditors, it is not clear where that process is and what is the timescale?”

The council’s monitoring officer, Mohammed Farooq, said: “I don’t want to say too much, I do have information but I don’t think it is appropriate to comment at this stage.

“Work has been going on and has been since the request was made, a lot of work has been done and there is more to be done.”

Councillor Judy Foster pressed Mr Farooq on when the committee would get the report but also drew a blank.

Mr Farooq said: “I’m not in a position to provide a timeline, because of the nature of the work being done it would not be appropriate.

“I hope by the next meeting there should be an update.”

Councillor Tony Creed was not impressed, he told Mr Farooq: “I don’t think your hope is good enough.”

Councillor Ali told the meeting there were lessons to be learned as the council would have other deals in the pipeline.

The deal was announced by council leader, Councillor Patrick Harley, after Stourbridge businessman Amarjit Dhanda agreed in principle to buy the site for housing.

Mr Dhanda has said the council’s claim he failed to provide documents in time was false and has called for an investigation into the council’s conduct.