The clock is ticking for you to have your say on Kirklees Council’s upcoming budget, as more “difficult decisions” are on the horizon at the local authority.
Kirklees’ draft budget was published in November and is set against a backdrop of continued financial challenge, with the council working to bridge a £29.3m gap in its £389m 2025/26 budget. In order to do so, some of the measures being proposed include a 4.99 per cent Council Tax increase, building disposals and redundancies of up to 100 Full Time Equivalent roles.
For the first time ever, the council has opened the consultation to the public so residents can have their say on its spending plans for the financial year ahead.. Some feedback has already been taken on board, with controversial plans to replace every single grey wheelie bin in the district with a smaller alternative set to be axed.
Leader of Kirklees Council, Cllr Carole Pattison, said previously: “Our draft budget proposals would give the council the kind of financial stability we need to deliver for residents in every part of Kirklees.
Clr Carole Pattison
“The last few years have been tough for councils across the country. We’ve had to make difficult decisions to balance the books and this year’s budget will be no different. But there’s real hope in these proposals too. By delivering a fair and balanced budget, we can make sure we get the basics right for all residents as well as giving the necessary resources to services that support the people who need us the most.
“These proposals give local services a stable platform for the next financial year but it’s also a budget that looks to the future. There is a huge amount of investment going into Kirklees over the coming years. As a council, we want to use our capital programme to play our part in bringing even more opportunities and jobs for future generations.”
A link to the consultation which ends on Wednesday, January 15, can be found here.
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