Kirklees' political group leaders have their say on what the council's priorities should be in 2026

Kirklees Council is currently run by Labour as a minority administration. The group holds 23 of all 69 seats on the council, with the remainder belonging to the Conservatives (16), Lib Dems (10), Independents (seven), Community Alliance (six), Greens (four) and Community Independents (three).

Leader of the Council, Coun Carole Pattison, came into post last summer and said that she and her administration would deliver “stability” for Kirklees.

Since her election, a key priority has been “getting the basics right”, though some of the opposition aren’t convinced that this is being achieved at present. This remains a priority for Labour looking ahead into the new year.

Coun Pattison said: “Our Labour group vision is built on the principle of equality, social justice and the belief that a better future is possible for all.

“We have an ambitious vision for all our people, towns and villages.

“We care for our most vulnerable, with kindness, competence and experience.

“We want to create successful lives for all.

“Here are our priorities:

“Getting the basics right: Ensuring that essential services such as housing, transportation, roads, waste and healthcare are effectively provided and accessible to all.

“Protecting the vulnerable: Implementing policies to support and protect those in our community who are most in need, including the elderly, children and those with disabilities.

“Enabling everyone to thrive and have successful lives: Offering educational and employment opportunities to all, fostering an environment where everyone has the chance to succeed.

“Economic growth: Promoting sustainable economic development to create jobs, support businesses and ensure prosperity for all.

“Our long-term vision is to create a community where equality and justice are at the forefront.

“We aim to build a society that values every individual, provides for the needs of its citizens, and fosters a sense of community and belonging. We will do this with integrity, honesty and transparency.”

Coun Pattison set out some specifics the administration will be prioritising as follows: the development of new sports facilities in Dewsbury; building more housing, particularly social housing; strengthening planning services; cleaning up Kirklees’ built environment; working with partners to improve safety in towns and villages; and improving the health of residents.

But the Leader of Kirklees’ Conservatives, Coun David Hall, believes the council needs to “fundamentally and urgently” get some basics right.

He said: “First of all, we need a change in attitude towards residents. People report that it is difficult to find the right council person to talk to, and if they do get through, their complaint or concern disappears into a black hole.

“We need an improved relationship, where the council genuinely listens to concerns, complaints or queries and tries to deal with them in a timely manner while keeping the resident informed.

“Second, we need a ruthless drive on efficiency. By revising the way in which our officers operate, and investing in the necessary back-office IT support, our council workers can be freed to respond to residents and find the necessary solutions to their concerns.

“Thirdly, the council needs to offer better basic services. Many of our highways are in an atrocious condition, our roads and footpaths are dirty and unkempt and many of the additional services for which residents pay extra are not value for money.

“Furthermore, capital investment in the borough is very heavily concentrated in Huddersfield and Dewsbury, to the detriment of the rest of our communities. With determination, services can be improved and regeneration spread more fairly across the borough.

“These three priorities need to be instilled in every corner of the council and relentlessly driven by the administration, so that residents can see the benefits quickly.”

Leader of the Lib Dems, Coun John Lawson, said: “The Liberal Democrats in Kirklees are very concerned, as are the council’s auditors, about the longer-term impact of Kirklees Labour’s massive borrowing plans.

“Labour are mortgaging our children’s future, whether they’re the ones to benefit from schemes like Huddersfield’s Blueprint or not. Those same plans impede the delivery of core services by forcing the council to pay off this debt rather than getting a grip on the delivery of basic services.

“We want to prioritise our core everyday services, the ones that people have a right to expect their council to do in a timely and efficient manner. As councillors we hear every day that people right across the borough are concerned about potholes damaging cars, gullies flooding, parking issues, planning, housing, health and provision for young people.

“The Labour council have been in a reactive position, dealing with the crises when they should be on the front foot with maintenance, whether that is simple weeding or a refresh of the road repair priority list.

“We want to refocus the council’s energies on working hard to help residents. We’re working for a change in direction from Labour’s ventures in corporate commercialism, back to delivering quality basic services for everyone across Kirklees.”

Leader of Kirklees’ Green group, Coun Andrew Cooper, said: “The council has to prioritise accessing funding from external sources.

“It missed out on millions by simply not applying for funding under the government’s Warm Homes Local scheme. This is money that could have helped local people insulate their homes, install solar panels and so help keep them warm and reduce their fuel bills. Every other council in West Yorkshire benefitted and received millions but not Kirklees.

“We also did not put any schools forward to a government scheme that would have provided them with free solar panels, Again every other council in West Yorkshire benefitted but not Kirklees.

“Kirklees has a risk register to demonstrate that it is on top of all the threats to the council and its operations. The Green Party wants the council to also establish an opportunities register to show that they are aware of all the funding and partnerships opportunities that can help fund council activities.

“We are missing out on millions and the Kirklees Labour cabinet are not addressing the problem.”

Leader of the Community Alliance, Coun Cathy Scott, set out what her group would be focusing on in the coming year as a list of ten priorities. Among them are:

“Protecting and rebuilding local services – We will continue to push for full transparency on the future of Dewsbury Sports Centre, including feasibility work, costings and timelines. Residents deserve clarity, not speculation. We also remain committed to safeguarding essential services such as libraries, street cleaning, public toilets and local customer access points, and we will continue resisting cuts that diminish everyday life.

“Real transparency and accountability – Community Alliance will challenge the ongoing culture of behind-closed-doors decision making. We believe data, decisions, budget lines and timelines should be publicly available, and that scrutiny should happen before large sums of public money are committed. Residents have a right to know how decisions affecting them are made.

“Fairness across Kirklees – We will continue to highlight geographic inequalities in investment and ensure that areas like Dewsbury, Batley, Mirfield, Spen and rural communities receive a fair share of regeneration funding. Our aim is a balanced borough where every area has equal opportunity to thrive.

“Housing, planning and liveability – Community Alliance will challenge developments that lack the necessary infrastructure, insist on proper and transparent use of Section 106 money, and defend vital green spaces. We will also push for stronger enforcement on repairs and safety standards.

“Community-led decision making – Our approach is simple: nothing about a community should happen without the community. We support resident forums, ward assemblies, community-managed spaces and small-scale local funding that empowers residents and strengthens neighbourhoods.”

The group’s other priorities include: challenging “vanity” spending, calling for financial responsibility and honest budgets; supporting vulnerable residents; working constructively cross-party to benefit residents; pushing for action on littering, fly-tipping and neglected infrastructure; and working to protect community assets, champion local heritage and celebrate the identity of all towns and villages.

Leader of the Kirklees Community Independents, Coun Ali Arshad, said: “For the year ahead, Kirklees needs to focus on the basics that matter to residents:

“Protect frontline services – People shouldn’t pay more and get less. Core services like care, libraries, street cleaning, maintaining green spaces and community safety must be protected.

“Invest fairly across all communities – North Kirklees does not receive the same level of investment as the south. Funding must be proportionate and based on real need, not geography or postcode politics.

“Build trust and stronger communities – We need honest decisions, clear communication and real partnership with local people. A fairer Kirklees starts with listening.”