Dudley Council welcomes lifting of Best Value Notice

Dudley Council has welcomed confirmation that the Best Value Notice issued to the authority in July 2025 has been lifted - recognising the significant progress made by the council.

The Government's letter to the council highlights the improvements it has made in financial management, governance, organisational stability and service delivery, while recognising the constructive engagement with MHCLG and its independent Improvement and Assurance Board.  

Councillor Patrick Harley, Leader of Dudley Council, said: "The lifting of the Best Value Notice is a significant milestone and recognition of the progress Dudley Council has made over the last two and a half years. 

"Through strong leadership, hard work and a willingness to listen, learn and change, we have strengthened our finances, improved governance and created a more accountable and delivery-focused organisation. 

"This achievement belongs to our staff, residents, partners and councillors who have worked together to drive improvement. I would also like to thank MHCLG and the Improvement and Assurance Board for their support, constructive challenge and confidence in the progress we have made. 

"While we are proud of how far we have come, we are ambitious for what comes next. Our improvement journey continues and we remain focused on building on these strong foundations to deliver even better outcomes for the people of Dudley borough."  

The Government's letter describes the council's progress as "significant, sustained and credible" and confirms ministers are reassured about the authority's capacity to meet its Best Value Duty, while encouraging the council to maintain momentum and continue strengthening financial resilience and organisational culture.  

Dudley Council remains committed to continuous improvement, transparency and accountability. This marks an important moment in the council's transformation, but not the end of the journey.  

The authority will continue to encourage independent challenge, work closely with residents, staff and partners to build a stronger, more resilient council that delivers high-quality services and better outcomes for local communities.