Fancy standing for election? Calderdale Council is ready to help!
Authority is holding information sessions for candidates looking to take first step to power
Hello and welcome to The Calderdale Lead.
I hope you’re having a good week so far and that the miserable weather isn’t causing you too much bother.
I’ve often thought it might be fun standing for election but I’ve never actually gone through with it. Why? Probably because I didn’t have the first clue about what I’d have to do.
Have you ever been in the same position? Well, if you’re thinking of standing in this year’s all-out elections in Calderdale then help is on hand. My LDR colleague John Greenwood has more details below on how the council is helping first-time and less experienced candidates get up to speed ahead of the vote.
Don’t forget at the minute we’re running a special paid subscription offer with 50% off an annual sub. Just click here for more details. This offer is only available until the end of January.
Plus, we’ve got a couple of little nuggets as usual in the Calderdale Digest…
Calderdale Digest
⚫ Halifax Goth Festival is returning next month for a weekend packed full of events.
Taking place from February 13 to 15, organisers The Grayston Unity will host a series of gigs, talks and film showings.
Other events include a Dark Beer Weekend at the Meandering Bear, goth bingo at Dukes, a Goth Market with more than 20 traders at the Borough Market and a Gothic Burlesque show.
For a full list of events and to get tickets, click here.
🚌 A scheme to replace West Yorkshire’s fleet of Access buses is expected to cost around £6.5 million.
At a meeting of West Yorkshire Combined Authority last week, members from across the region voted to approve funding for 33 ultra-low emission buses to replace the existing ageing models.
The Authority’s dial-a-ride bus service provides door-to-door transport to support the needs of older, disabled and vulnerable passengers and those who have difficulty accessing the general bus network.
It makes around 6,000 trips each week and serves around 6,700 registered users, but the current fleet has been described as being past its “anticipated operational life” – with vehicles being between 11 and 18 years old.
AccessBus vehicles have low floor access and an internal layout that provides more space for wheelchairs and other mobility equipment than a standard bus.
Help on hand for those who fancy a shot at power
By John Greenwood
Have you ever fancied standing for election, but don’t know how? Well you might just be in luck ahead of the Calderdale Council vote in May.
The local government elections on May 7 is an “all out” election in Calderdale, quite a rarity for the council, which normally elects councillors in “thirds” – one candidate per ward in each of three years, with a fourth “fallow” year when there are no elections.
But every two decades or so the Boundary Commission runs the rule over councils and this time is has concluded Calderdale needs an extra council ward due to population changes.
This means 2026 is an “all out” election where every seat, three in each of 18 wards, is up for grabs.
Standing for election can be a daunting prospect, but Calderdale Council hopes to ease the path for prospective candidates and agents with information sessions next month.
The pre-nomination session – nominations do not close until 4pm on Thursday, April 9, 2026 – will run on the evening of a choice of four dates at Halifax Town Hall, the home of the council.
The council says: “This is an in-person information session delivered by Electoral Services for anyone considering standing as a candidate or acting as an election agent at the upcoming Local Government Elections in Calderdale.
“This session will provide information about the nomination process and how to complete nomination papers, what to expect from the electoral process, and gives you an opportunity to ask questions.”
There will be four sessions, each held from 6pm to 7.30pm on February 4, February 11, February 18 and February 25.
They will be hosted by Calderdale’s Returning Officer – the council’s Chief Executive, Robin Tuddenham, councillors were told recently.
Governance and Business Committee councillors heard the sessions are open to less experienced potential candidates as well as those who have been through the process before.
The places are free but need to be booked on Eventbrite by clicking here.
There is more information about this and about other aspects of the election on Calderdale Council’s website here.
That’s it for this edition, thanks for reading…
Don’t forget at the minute we’re running a special paid subscription offer with 50% off an annual sub. Just click here for more details.
You’ve just got a couple of days left to take advantage of that deal, so be quick! :-)
Until Sunday, have a great week…
Andrew