Kirklees Together

At Wednesday’s formal Council Meeting, councillors in Kirklees elected a new Leader to take the reins of the authority. Councillor Carole Pattison, who has represented Greenhead ward in Huddersfield since 2010, takes on the leadership with immediate effect.

Following a professional career in local government, Cllr Pattison previously served as Kirklees Council’s Cabinet Member for Learning and Aspiration as well as serving on various council committees. She is Leader of the council’s Labour group, which is the largest party represented on Kirklees Council.

In taking on the role, Cllr Pattison said:

“It’s the honour of a lifetime to be elected Leader of Kirklees Council. I’m thankful for the opportunity to serve residents and communities across Kirklees.

“I pledge to uphold the values of public service and to put residents first in everything we do.

“Kirklees is a such a brilliant place to represent. We have strong and diverse communities, cutting-edge industries and a huge sense of pride in our heritage. We’ve got a bright future too. Major improvements are coming to our transport network and we’re attracting investment into the economy in every part of Kirklees. All of this is going to bring opportunities for future generations in Huddersfield, Dewsbury, Batley and beyond.  

“But Kirklees doesn’t always feel so full of opportunity for a lot of our residents. Too many people are still struggling with the cost-of-living crisis and public services are under huge strain. I want to play my part in making sure the council supports those residents who need it most..

“It won’t be easy. We’ve got big challenges to overcome. My work starts by listening to residents and hearing their concerns. We need to bring people with us as we improve services and give Kirklees residents the opportunities they deserve.

“There’s a lot of work to be done and I’m keen to get on with it.”

Kirklees Council Cabinet

The Leader has already made key appointments to her Cabinet:

Cllr Moses Crook – Deputy Leader
Cllr Viv Kendrick – Children’s Services
Cllr Graham Turner – Finance and regeneration
Cllr Beverley Addy – Health and Adult Services

Cllrs Munir Ahmed, Tyler Hawkins, and Amanda Pinnock as Cabinet members whose portfolios will be announced in due course.