Unease at optics of cash increase for councillors while council finances - and residents - struggle
Plus: tip closures on the horizon as town hall chiefs look to slash costs
Hello and welcome to this midweek edition of The Calderdale Lead!
The snow and icy weather has been causing havoc across the borough with school and road closures, disruptions to the trains and buses and just a general feeling of glum to start the first full week of the new year.
I’ve been a little under the weather myself this week so I’m typing up my welcome from the comfort of my day bed!
For today’s edition we’ve got a couple of political stories courtesy of the LDRS’ John Greenwood who has been popping into a couple of Calderdale Council’s meetings over the last couple of days.
He’s got news of a pay rise for councillors - and a plea for those who don’t need it to turn it down - and plans to close either a number of tips across the borough.
The final decision is due to be made next week and - whatever councillors decide - is sure to split opinion!
So, without further ado, on with the news…
Councillors set for pay rise as ‘richer’ colleagues urged to reject it
Calderdale councillors are in line for a pay rise for the forthcoming municipal year – but those who don’t need it should decline, an influential board has urged.
Members recommended an increase, which will be around £300 for the year, be approved by a meeting of the full Calderdale Council, which will make the final decision.
The council’s Standards Committee were not entirely in agreement over the proposal.
Coun Joe Thompson, supported by Coun Felicity Issott, proposed that the committee should recommend no increase.
Referencing the council’s ongoing struggle to balance its budget, Coun Thompson said: “My suggestion and recommendation is that we freeze allowances given the massive pressure the council is facing.”
But a wider look at allowances should take place going ahead, he believed.
Coun Issott agreed the optics of a rise were not good and noted the amount was similar to the Winter Fuel Allowance which the Government nationally had decided not to give some pensioners.
However, Coun Mike Barnes said that despite supporting Coun Thompson’s viewpoint – and along with Coun Regan Dickenson he had not accepted increases in recent years – some councillors did need the extra money.
“I think there are individuals who would be adversely affected by this,” he said.
He knew some who had reduced their working hours to undertake council work and needed the increase.
“But we should be encouraging those councillors who don’t need it not to accept it,” said Coun Barnes.
The council’s Head of Legal, Ian Hughes, briefed councillors that the increase was linked to the 3.52% adjustment the council’s staff had been awarded.
On the basic allowance – monthly £998.81 – the adjustment for councillors worked out at about £300 extra for the year, he said.
The increase would be higher for those with additional special responsibility allowances, for example committee chairs.
Lay members of the committee – which is made up of a mixture of councillors and lay members – believed the rise should be recommended to full council.
Rev Canon Hilary Barber, who chairs the committee, said it was not pay but an allowance and enabled them to do council work properly, and Calderdale’s allowances were some of the lowest in the country.
Andrew Johnson said he could see the pros and cons but agreed on balance some councillors needed the increase.
A majority agreed to support Coun Barnes’ recommendation that full council should approve the increase, while “actively” encouraging those who did not need it not to accept it.
Tips could close as council looks to reduce costs
Town hall chiefs are looking at closing one of Calderdale’s waste and recycling centres completely – or closing all its centres for two days a week – to save money.
Calderdale Council is facing a battle to balance its budget – which councillors must legally do – and for the second year running Cabinet members are asked to cut the service.
In cash terms, it is estimated the council will be able to save around £180,000 a year if councillors agree to make the changes.
Last year there was an outcry from Elland residents and councillors when a proposal, later put on ice, to close the town’s waste and recycling centre at Ainleys.
The argument made was that the town is close enough to other centres – at Brighouse, Halifax and Sowerby Bridge – which residents could use, but critics said it could result in more traffic on the roads, bigger queues at other centres and more fly-tipping.
Calderdale Liberal Democrats have suggested the council could look to close all its five centres – the other is at Todmorden – for a day a week when they were less busy to make savings, arguing this would be much less disruptive all round.
When the council’s Cabinet meets next Monday (January 13) they have been presented with two options, described as “viable” by officers, to consider.
The first option is to revisit the decision to close Elland entirely, while the second option is to close each of the five centres for two days a week, implemented from Autumn 2025, with full year effect of those savings seen in the 2026-27 financial year.
This would be done on a “staggered” basis, ensuring an alternative centre will be available each day of the week.
A permit system, aimed at ensuring only Calderdale residents can use the centres, has paid off in terms of making some savings, the councillors are told in the report.
If approved, changes will mean the council is still meeting national standards of provision – these recommend one centre per 120,000 inhabitants (or 50,000 households).
In Calderdale, there is a ratio of one site per 42,000 residents (and one for every 19,000 households), according to the report.
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That’s it for this week - enjoy the rest of the week and we’ll be back in your inbox on Saturday!
Andrew