Dudley Councillor Ignores Youth Club in Ward Closure Plan Accusations

A Dudley council member is under fire. David Stanley is in charge of children’s services. People say he misled a scrutiny committee involving a youth club in his own ward.

The dispute concerns Lower Gornal Youth Centre. Stanley said there had not been a youth club there for years. Actually, a youth club meets there every Friday, and supporters need more help.

The council plans to close the Temple Street Centre. The scrutiny committee talked about it on January 22. Council chairman Shaun Keasey asked Stanley about youth clubs. Stanley stated it had not been a youth club for about 12 years.

Former council leader Anne Millward disagreed. She said the centre hosts a Friday youth club, with other groups using it during the week. She believes Stanley misled the committee, saying he knew the 12-year claim was untrue.

Stanley denies misleading anyone. He says the council has not run a youth club there for that long. He knew current users held a private youth club. Council leader Patrick Harley supports Stanley’s explanation, saying Stanley meant council-run clubs.

Dudley Council confirmed it last ran a youth club in 2017. Keasey is worried about the accuracy of Stanley’s statements. As a Gornal resident, he is even more concerned, thinking Stanley is out of touch with his own ward.

Stanley is meeting with center users before a budget meeting on February 24. They will decide the center’s future.