Kirklees Council fails to elect leader after vote ended in another stalemate

The reconvening of the annual council meeting on May 28 saw the chamber erupt in chaos, with accusations of “name-calling” and one councillor spotted storming out of Huddersfield Town Hall.

Members failed to elect a leader for the second time.

Neither the Reform UK group leader Sarah Wood or Green Party head Andrew Cooper secured the majority needed.

The deadlock means the authority will remain without a political leader until at least July 15, with the chief executive taking temporary charge.

Despite the ruckus, the council of 66 was able to band together long enough to select who would chair the council’s committees and panels.

A committee is a smaller group tasked by the council to investigate specific issues, draft policies, or make focused recommendations.

While all councillors contribute to the council’s operations, chairs have a slightly larger hand in crucial decision-making.

For some, this will be their first time chairing committees and panels. Among the newly elected chairs is Coun James O’Leary for Reform UK who is appointed planning committee chair. He also new to the role of councillor.

Meanwhile, seasoned Kirklees Council veteran Tim Bamford is set to oversee the growth and regeneration scrutiny panel.

Here are the new chairs of Kirklees Council.

• Appeals panel, Coun Tanisha Bramwell (Ind);
• Corporate governance and audit committee, Coun Khuram Amjad (Ind);
• District-wide planning committee, Coun James O’Leary (Ref);
• Licensing and safety committee; Coun Michael Howard (Ref);
• Overview and scrutiny management committee, Coun Simon Holbrook (Ref);
• Personnel committee, Coun Ammar Anwar (Ind);
• Standards committee, Coun Bill Armer (Ref);
• Strategic planning committee, Coun Khuram Amjad (Ind);
• Statutory officer dismissal committee, Coun Sarah Wood (Ref);
• Children’s scrutiny panel, Coun Alex Vickers (Green);
• Environment and climate change scrutiny panel, Coun Brian Moughtin (Ref);
• Growth and regeneration scrutiny panel, Coun Tim Bamford (Con);
• Health and adult social care scrutiny panel: Coun Akhtar Kasia (Ind).

Reform became the biggest party on Kirklees Council after winning 29 seats in the local elections last month, but fell short of overall control.