Judge rejects judicial review challenge over day centre closures as out of time

Mr Justice Eyre ruled the application had been brought out of time and would waste court resources were it heard.

He said: “This is an academic issue that it would not be appropriate for the court to consider.

“In my judgement, any decision on this matter is not likely to affect a large number of cases.

“If this matter were to progress, it would take up... several days of court time instead of cases that affect a great deal of people.”

The campaigners had objected that Max Caller - one of the commissioners sent in by the Government to oversee Birmingham after its declaration of bankruptcy in 2023 - had improperly prevented councillors from calling-in the decision for scrutiny.

Four day centres are due to close as the council seeks to fill a £1.95m budget gap of £3.35m in 2025–26.

A Birmingham spokesperson said: “We note the decision, and we will continue to engage and support the citizens that have been affected by the closures in their new placements within alternative council-run day centres or other day opportunities of their choice.”    

Mr Caller last week stepped down as Birmingham’s lead commissioner to be replaced by former Lincolnshire County Council chief executive Tony McArdle.

Mark Smulian