A DRAMATIC council election in Dudley left no party in overall control but whoever takes charge will face many challenges.

Behind closed doors discussions are happening to hammer out who will lead the council, here are five things which are sure to be on the agenda.

Dudley is facing huge financial problems, spending is greater than income and reserves are critically low.

The Conservatives, who were in charge before the election, say they saved the council from going bust before the last budget with strict spending controls, big savings and a restructure of how the authority operates.

The council’s external auditors, Grant Thornton, said: “We understand there has been an overall positive movement to the financial position however the outlook is still a serious concern.”

They added more tough decisions will be needed to avoid a financial crash and to rebuild reserves which will run out this year if more cash is not found.

How the council does business also came under the spotlight before the election with questions about a deal to sell the former Dudley Leisure Centre on Wellington Road.

Labour’s Cllr Shaukat Ali called for an investigation into whether the deal had been announced before the correct checks had been carried out.

The council’s leader at the time, Cllr Patrick Harley, insisted all due diligence was taking place around the sale.

It is not the first time governance at the council has been criticised.

The Conservative administration came under fire for spending hundreds of thousands of pounds sending delegations to a trade conference in luxurious Cannes in France, which they say generated investment opportunities for Dudley.

Auditors also raised concerns about the relationship between councillors and officers, suggesting a charter should be created to set out standards of behaviour.

A change of West Midlands mayor could have implications for the council’s ambitious regeneration plans in Dudley, including development of an ice rink and housing.

Richard Parker, the new Labour mayor, said the planned regeneration would be positive if it happened, but made it clear before the election his focus would be job creation.

Mr Parker said: “I want the West Midlands Growth Company to support our smaller businesses and young entrepreneurs so we can rebuild our economy from the bottom up.

“I also want to work with local councils to fast track planning so we can give businesses the sites they need to grow and develop.”

One of the main reasons for the current financial problems at the council was an unexpected bill of around £12m in autumn 2023 for adult social care and children’s services.

The new administration will have to cut millions from its spending and the closure of the Amblecote’s Unicorn Centre for children with complex needs is among the most controversial plans.

The pre-election administration defended closure by claiming borough services could provide the same service but protesters insist, like its namesake, the Unicorn is unique and cannot be replaced.

Crime, anti-social behaviour and young people riding off-road motorbikes were big issues during the election.

The authority faced calls to evict persistent offenders who breached their tenancy agreements.

The council’s housing officers say eviction is simply moving the problem to another location and instead they have introduced neighbourhood hubs where staff work to solve problems before they escalate.