Concern over vicar's axing as independent chair of Calderdale Council's standards committee
New Reform UK council has disposed of Rev Canon Hilary Barber's services after 16 years
Hello and welcome to the Calderdale Lead!
I hope you’re all having a good Bank Holiday Weekend and enjoying this gorgeous weather!
It feels like we’ve been promised it for so long and now it’s finally here!
In today’s edition we have a report from the happenings at the first full council meeting under Calderdale’s new Reform UK administration and, it’s fair to say, the party are already making decisions that are causing plenty of concern!
Plus, we’ve got a couple of nuggets in the Calderdale Digest.
So, on with the news…
Calderdale Digest
📿Retiring Mayor and Mayoress of Calderdale, Steven and Linda Leigh, have raised around £6,600 for their civic charities in their year in office.
The civic team attended more than 200 engagements in 2025-26, Mr Leigh told Calderdale councillors at the authority’s annual meeting, before handing over civic duties to the new Mayor, Coun Andrew Tagg.
Cheques for equal amounts were handed over to the Mayor’s civic charities at Halifax Town Hall with Overgate Hospice and the Yorkshire Air Ambulance were the beneficiaries.
Mr Leigh said they had a wonderful civic year in which the importance of volunteers in helping Calderdale groups and organisations run was highlighted.
It was also tinged with sadness, when his Deputy Mayor, Coun Geraldine Carter, much-missed by all in the chamber, passed away.
Another councillor colleague, Brenda Monteith, helped Mr Leigh complete the civic year.
Of the volunteers, he said: “I realised that behind the scenes there are so many people in Calderdale acting as volunteers, helpers – seeking no reward for what they do and just being wonderful people.
“That’s been a humbling experience,” he said.
Conservative Mr Leigh lost the seat he was contesting in this month’s elections.
🛢️An oil blending and lubricants company established for almost 140 years in Brighouse – whose products are used in motorsports – is looking to expand.
Millers Oils has applied to Calderdale Council planners seeking permission to remove three oil storage tanks at the Hillside Oil Works, Rastrick Common, site and install five oil storage tanks.
A supporting statement with the application from agents JMH Design says: “The proposed new installation has been designed to fit the expanding requirements of Millers Oils and by replacing outdated oil storage tanks its scale has been designed relative to the requirement.”
The new tanks will improve the company’s facilities and have no detrimental impact on any surrounding properties, said the agent.
I’m just going to pause before our main story to tell you some very exciting news!
We’ve secured a place on the shortlist at the Publisher Newsletter Awards as best politics newsletter for our national edition and also best local/community newsletter for our Lead Local network of titles, of which the Calderdale edition is part of!
Opposition councillors lead concern over axing of vicar from key committee
By Andrew Greaves and John Greenwood
Opposition politicians on Calderdale Council have expressed concern at the “removal” of the Vicar of Halifax Minster, Rev Canon Hilary Barber, as independent Chair of the authority’s Standards Committee.
Labour have voiced concerns on social media, and the Greens, Liberal Democrats and an Independent councillor have all also signed a letter thanking Rev Canon Barber for his contributions.
Reform UK are the new ruling group on the council having taken clear control of the authority in May’s elections.
The council order paper for election of Chair and Deputy Chair roles on the council’s committees, boards and panels – decisions approved by the majority group councillors – said in the case of Standards Committee: “delegated authority be given to the council’s Head of Legal and Democratic Services to recruit someone to take up the position.”
Rev Canon Barber told the Byline Times he had been informed on the day of Annual Council – held at Halifax Town Hall on Wednesday – he was not to be re-appointed as the independent Chair of Standards Committee, a role he has undertaken for 16 years.
Canon Barber told the Byline Times: “I have received no thanks for service given or explanation.”
The Standards Committee is responsible for promoting and maintaining high standards of conduct among Calderdale councillors and co‑opted members, including overseeing the Members’ Code of Conduct, handling alleged breaches and advising on support and training for members.
In the Byline Times article, Canon Barber criticised the new ruling Reform UK group’s decisions over scrutiny.
Reform UK councillors voted to scrap three of four scrutiny boards and committees – the group has told critics of the decision that scrutiny in its former form was not working at Calderdale, citing decision-making over some controversial issues including proposed sale of The Shay sports stadium in Halifax.
Reform have said their election win – a comfortable majority of 14 over all other parties – saw voters give them a mandate to make these changes and new Leader of the Council, Coun Dan Sutherland said at Annual Council his Cabinet were “a new broom that is going to sweep through the council.”
The Reform group has elected Coun Andrew Tagg - elected this month to the council - as Mayor for 2026/27, a move which Labour group leader Coun Adam Wilkinson says tears up decades of civic tradition.
He said: “Reform have torn up decades of civic convention and tradition in a blatant attempt to consolidate power within Calderdale Council.
“These conventions exist as a safeguard, to ensure every resident and every community is represented, no matter how they voted.
“As part of sweeping changes, they have unashamedly politicised the role of Mayor - a position that has historically been independent, ceremonial, and above party politics.
“Under the long-established rota and formula system, this should have been Labour’s year to nominate the Mayor. It is therefore especially disappointing that Reform rejected Labour’s nominations for Mayor and Deputy Mayor - councillors who reflect the breadth and diversity of modern Calderdale.
“At a time when public institutions should be working to ensure everyone feels represented in civic life, this decision raises serious questions about Reform’s approach to inclusion and representation.”
The letter of thanks to Rev Canon Barber has been signed by Coun. Wilkinson, Green group leader Coun Martin Hey, Liberal Democrat group leader Coun Ashley Evans and Independent councillor Leah Webster.
It says: “Your commitment, integrity and formal leadership have been greatly valued throughout your time in the role.
“The work of the Standards Committee is essential in promoting and maintaining high standards of conduct and ethical governance across the council and your independent guidance has made an essential contribution to that purpose.”
That’s it for this edition, thanks for reading.
I’m away for the next week or so and will be sailing the seven seas (well the Med at least!) so access to wifi might be a little sketchy.
I’m hoping to be back in your inboxes on Wednesday, signal permitting!
Until I see you again, have a cracking rest of the Bank Holiday weekend!
Andrew