Kirklees councillors oppose area committee cuts

A motion to oppose the Cabinet’s plans to cut the £291,000 of funding divided between the Kirklees Council’s seven area committees each year was backed by all councillors at last Wednesday’s full council meeting.

It also opposed other funding cuts which would see area committees abolished by next Christmas, with staff made redundant or redeployed.

Liberal Democrat councillors proposed that the committees and their funding should be part of a wider council discussion about future plans for Kirklees communities.

The motion called for a committment from the council to continue the area committees and their funding for in the future.

Coun John Lawson (Lib Dem, Cleckheaton) said many community groups, projects and events would struggle without area committee funding and urged the public to take part in the consultation.

He said: “We would be looking at losing thousands of volunteer hours, loss of support for vulnerable people of ages and a reduction in economic activity in towns and village centres, many of which benefit from community run events that bring in trade and visitors.”