Town halls at risk council warns amid budget gap

Stourbridge Town Hall (pictured) and Halesowen Town Hall could both be forced to close if a new operator is not found, the council has warned

Two town halls could be forced to close in less than a year if a new operator is not found for them, a council has warned.

Dudley Council has announced it is seeking a new operator for Stourbridge and Halesowen Town Halls, which are currently run and subsidised by the authority.

If an organisation or group cannot be found to run the sites, the council says it could be forced to close them from 1 April 2025.

It comes as the local authority reviews potential savings as it battles to plug a £37m financial gap over the next three years.

The council spends approximately £600,000 a year to operate town halls in Dudley, Halesowen, and Stourbridge.

However, Dudley Town Hall, which is part of the main council house, is not included in the proposals.

A council spokesperson said this was because it was "the larger of the three venues, in the heart of Dudley, and continues to attract some of the biggest names in the entertainment industry".

Finding new operators for the venues would save the council £540,000 between 2025 and 2027, it said.

'No stone unturned'

Paul Bradley, deputy leader of the council, said: "These are without doubt important community buildings but with the financial position we find ourselves in, we have no choice but to look at how services might be provided differently in the future.

"We have seen that community groups can make a success of running venues like this, with the Dudley Council for Voluntary Service taking over Brierley Hill Civic.

"We are looking for a similar arrangement with Halesowen and Stourbridge Town Halls as we look to try to do everything we can to secure the future of these buildings. We will leave no stone unturned in doing that.

"However, without the right offer, these buildings could have to close – something no one wants to do."

External community organisations or entertainment groups are now being invited to submit expressions of interest to run the venues, manage shows and be responsible for the buildings.

The council is seeking expressions of interest between 12 August and 16 September.

Other proposals

Another proposal being recommended to the council to help balance its books is the closure of Brookes Bar and Bistro.

The business set up to offer food and drink to visitors attending shows at Dudley Town Hall has been run by the council for two years, and cost about £200,000 in the last financial year.

Its closure would save the council £55,000 in 2024-2025, according to a report by the deputy chief executive and the director of finance and legal services.

Also in the report is a proposal to reintroduce one-hour and two-hour parking charges, as well as increasing the cost to park for longer periods of time.