Kirklees’ Conservative group says it is “not persuaded” by the Labour-led council’s plans to invest £250m in the Huddersfield Blueprint and Cultural Heart.
This comes as opposition groups have put forward their amendments to Labour’s budget proposals which will be debated at this Wednesday’s (March 8) Full Council meeting.
In the group’s amendment, leaders Cllr David Hall and Cllr John Taylor write: “We are not persuaded by the administration’s plans for the Cultural Heart, which come with a huge borrowing requirement of over £250 million.
“While other neighbouring boroughs invested in regeneration schemes a decade ago when borrowing rates were low, the Labour administration wasted that opportunity and now finds itself with a huge bill for its long-overdue projects.
“We would therefore remove some of that provision so that more immediate needs can be funded.”
The group has also criticised Labour’s plans to make £19m savings across council departments as not ambitious enough as well as proposing a 1% reduction to the administration’s proposed council tax hike.
Other proposals from the Tories include 30 minutes of free parking across Kirklees and that power be given to ward councillors to make decisions on certain issues like those relating to highways, road safety and park maintenance.
Lib Dems
The Lib Dem’s budget amendment includes additional investment in highways infrastructure, the introduction of free bulky waste collections, additional resources for the Planning department, and a commitment to safeguarding some of the borough’s local heritage for future generations.
The budget amendment also includes proposals to incentivise the use of electric vehicles, roll out glass recycling, improve children’s mental health provision, improve road safety and a commitment to fast-track the Council’s review of the Local Plan.
Kirklees Liberal Democrat Group Leader, Cllr John Lawson, said: “It is difficult to amend the administration’s budget this year. The Council has been starved of cash for a number of years and is now effectively forced by the Government to use a significant chunk of its reserves.
“The Council is operating against a backdrop of enormous financial turmoil and uncertainty. We know that the Council’s costs have increased significantly in recent months and years as a result of cost-of-living pressures, rising energy prices and wage inflation.
“Our overriding aim in setting the budget as a council is to protect the essential frontline council services on which local residents and businesses rely. As elected members, we also have to make hugely difficult decisions about Council services. We recognise that it’s vital to have a sensible and balanced budget.
“However, as a group we believe that the Council could deliver better outcomes for our residents and still do this in a way which is sustainable and financially sound. Our amendment sets out some of the choices we believe that the current administration could make to improve the lives of Kirklees residents. They are practical ideas to address local problems.”
Green Party
The Greens propose investment into renewable energy across the borough. By doing so, they want to cut Kirklees Active Leisure’s costs and say this would lessen the organisation’s energy bills and enable year-round use of KAL pools.
The renewable energy measures would extend to Kirklees’ schools and housing. Suggestions to make homes more efficient include a “retrofit revolution” to improve existing council homes, as well as solar panels becoming a requirement for all new builds.
The group suggests that the West Yorkshire Transport Fund is reprioritised, directing funds away from road building and road widening projects and towards active travel. Funding to support district-wide traffic calming on residential roads is also factored into the Greens’ amendment.
Another proposal from the group is the creation of a Council-owned company to deliver home improvements. This would include things like gardening and improving insulation and heating standards.
The Greens say that this would create new opportunities for employment and apprenticeships and explain that similar schemes have had success in other areas such as Oxford.
