Kirklees Together

Councillors have agreed Kirklees Council’s budget for the 2026/27 financial year, following a Council Meeting held on 25 February 2026 at Huddersfield Town Hall.

The approved revenue budget of £467 million will fund all day-to-day services for residents across Kirklees. This includes key local authority services such as social care, children’s services, waste collection, highways maintenance, environmental services, libraries and planning.

The budget includes significant increases in funding for social care services for older people, children and local people with disabilities, reflecting sustained growth in demand and the rising cost of delivering care. In addition, councillors agreed extra investment in frontline services, including enhanced action to tackle fly tipping, additional funding for winter maintenance and extra funding for ward councillors to spend on local priorities.

Alongside the revenue budget, councillors approved a capital programme worth around £1 billion over the next five years. This investment will support major economic regeneration projects and transport schemes across Kirklees, helping to drive growth, improve connectivity and enhance local infrastructure.

The agreed budget means council tax will increase by 4.99% from April 2026, in line with rises expected for local authorities across West Yorkshire. For residents living in a typical Band D property, this equates to an additional £1.88 per week. The increase includes a 2% precept specifically earmarked to help fund social care services for older residents and people with disabilities.

Earlier this month, the Council’s Cabinet agreed its draft budget. At last night’s Council Meeting, a total of seven amendments were tabled and debated. Following discussion, an amalgamation of proposals to amend the Cabinet’s budget was agreed by a majority of councillors who voted. Those agreed proposals now form the Council’s budget for the 2026/27 financial year.