Kirklees councillors agree to cut allowances to save money

Kirklees Council needs to save £47.8m in the next year to avoid bankruptcy

Nearly three-quarters of councillors at a West Yorkshire authority have agreed a cut in allowances to help save money.

Kirklees Council needs to save £47.8m in the next year to avoid having to declare itself effectively bankrupt.

Fifty-one of its 69 councillors have agreed a 5% cut in their £16,211 basic yearly allowances to £15,400.

Council leader Cathy Scott said the sacrifice reflected councillors' "commitment to prioritising the needs of the people we serve above all else".

She said it was a "step towards fiscal responsibility and solidarity within our community during these challenging times", according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

Council leader Cathy Scott said the cuts were a step towards "fiscal responsibility"

"Their willingness to make personal sacrifices reflects our commitment to prioritising the needs of the people we serve above all else," Ms Scott said.

Ms Scott, who took a 10% cut to her allowance upon taking office, said she respected the decision of the 18 councillors who rejected the cut, which could save the council up to £41,338.

Thirteen of them represented the Conservative Party, while one was from Ms Scott's own party, Labour, which controls Kirklees. Two others represented the Liberal Democrats and a further two were independent.

'Unforgivably crass'

Initially, councillors had been asked to declare publicly whether they intended to reduce their allowances at a full council meeting in September.

Conservative group leader David Hall said that would have been "unforgivably crass" as it would single out those who could not afford to take the financial hit.

Councillors were eventually asked to instead declare whether they accepted the decrease by email, with the results to be made public later.

Ms Scott said: "We understand that each councillor may have their own considerations and circumstances to take into account.

"However, we did encourage everyone to reflect on the spirit of unity and shared sacrifice."

Every Kirklees councillor is entitled to a basic allowance, with additional payments, or Special Responsibility Allowances, for those with extra responsibilities.

As leader, Ms Scott is given a £28,004 allowance.

The nine members of her cabinet also agreed to reduce their £14,503 Special Responsibility Allowances by 5% to £13,777.85 - saving a total of up to £6,526 - after Ms Scott instigated a review after being elected as leader in September 2023.