Reform-dominated Kirklees Council must sort itself out

The following is a statement from umbrella group Kirklees Stop the Cuts regarding Kirklees Council. Following the May elections, Reform is now the largest party on the council but doesn’t have a majority. And so far, the Reform group has suggested it doesn’t even know how councils work.

Kirklees Council – take 2

On Thursday 28 May, Kirklees Council faces a second chance to form another administration. This meeting is not about who understands the standing orders or constitution, it is about the future of
our town and our services.

We expect and look forward to the new council committing to reverse the decade of decline and austerity ushered in by Labour. Labour was rightly punished on 7 May for presiding over the cruellest of cuts and closures.

They were resisted by determined community campaigns which came together to try and protect our public services. Now we expect all the parties to stop playing politics, and carry out their promises. Our campaigns set out their priorities below:

Dewsbury Sports Centre (DSC)

DSC was ‘temporarily’ closed nearly three years ago. Labour lied about the roof of DSC being ‘riddled’ with RAAC. They commissioned an independent surveyor’s report which stated the Centre could be reopened immediately at minimal cost.

Labour chose to ignore that report and kept DSC closed to this day. The closure has had a dire impact on the health and wellbeing of Dewsbury residents and has contributed to the decline of the town centre.

We expect the incoming administration to commit to immediately reopen DSC along with Deighton Sports Centre.

Dementia Care Homes

Relatives have waged a three year campaign to save Castle Grange in Newsome and Claremont House in Heckmondwike. They successfully pushed back the appalling plan to close the homes but disgracefully, Labour then imposed privatisation of our last two dementia care homes.

The campaign group took out legal action to stop them but lost the case on a technicality. The proposed private provider, Mulberry Care, runs one other home which is rated ‘inadequate’ by the Care Quality Commission.

However, contracts have not yet been exchanged and we expect councillors to instruct officers to suspend the privatisation of these homes and keep them in-house.

Cleckheaton Against Harmful Development

This development process requires urgent scrutiny. Residents were left facing uncertainty and potential exposure risks for months before proper testing began, while asbestos was confirmed in multiple residents’ gardens.

This raises serious concerns about delays, lack of transparency, and whether community safety was truly prioritised. Existing residents have endured unnecessary stress, disruption, and concern for their wellbeing while development interests appeared to take precedence.

There must be accountability, a full independent review of how this was handled, and ideally the development should be halted until these concerns are properly investigated.

Kirklees Council – sort yourself out

Kirklees residents and voters will be watching how this council performs. We have been promised change and a new approach. Stop the Cuts is demanding:

• Reopen the Sports Centres.
• Halt the privatisation of our dementia homes.
• Suspend harmful development in Cleckheaton.
• No more cuts or council tax rises.
• Defend our services and communities.

Kirklees Stop the Cuts was formed four years ago. We stopped the closure of several sports centres, the dementia care homes and some libraries. We are demanding the new council commits to saving our services.

Featured image via Getty Images