Kirklees Together

Our Cabinet has set out its priorities for the coming months, with a focus on improving essential services, making communities safer, strengthening pride in our places and delivering better value for money.

Since taking up their roles in July, Cabinet members have been working across their different areas of responsibility to identify where they want to focus their efforts and make improvements for residents.

They have now set out four immediate priorities.

Fixing the essentials and putting residents first

Cabinet wants to focus on getting the basics right and improving the services residents rely on every day.

This includes repairing roads, improving waste services and keeping our streets, parks and neighbourhoods clean and tidy.

Cabinet also wants residents to have clearer, more accessible information about how our services are performing.

Making Kirklees safer and supporting people who need our help

Making communities safer is another priority.

Investment in our CCTV network will help to prevent and solve crime, while Cabinet will look at how we can make better use of our existing powers to tackle anti-social behaviour and behaviour that affects people’s quality of life.

There will also be a continued focus on making sure children get the right support when they need extra help, and on strengthening the way health and social care services work together to support adults who need assistance.

Cabinet will also review our Veterans Charter to make sure appropriate support is available for people who have served in the armed forces.

Strengthening civic pride, thriving places and a growing local economy

Cabinet wants investment in Kirklees to deliver clear benefits for local communities and help regenerate and revitalise our town centres.

Encouraging more people to live in our town centres will be part of this approach, helping to bring new life into urban areas while reducing pressure for development on the Green Belt.

There will also be a focus on supporting local businesses and the volunteers who are making a positive difference in communities across Kirklees.

Ending wasteful spending and delivering better value for money

Cabinet has also made getting the best possible value from public money a priority.

This will include reviewing spending, identifying and reducing waste, working to reduce forecast levels of debt and making better use of technology to improve efficiency.

Councillor Sarah Wood, Leader of Kirklees Council, said:

“As our administration reaches its 49^th day, Cabinet continues to work within the strategies, plans and budgets set by the previous administration for the remainder of this council year.

“As a minority administration, we recognise the constraints we are operating within. But whilst we develop our own vision and mission for the next council year, we are setting out Cabinet’s immediate priorities today within the current framework.

“Residents rightly expect their council to deliver core services well. That’s why we will focus on fixing the essentials. That means repairing roads, efficient waste services and keeping our streets and green spaces clean and tidy.”

“But this Cabinet knows there’s more to do for Kirklees. We want to make our communities safer, give the right support to people who need it and strengthen the pride that so many people have in their place and their community.

“At the same time, we understand that residents across Kirklees are already under financial pressure. We need to make sure the council is spending every penny of taxpayers’ money wisely.

“Over the past few weeks, Cabinet Members have been working hard to get to grips with the challenges we face and identify where we can make a real difference. We are now ready to move from setting priorities to delivery.

“Over the coming weeks, Cabinet Members will set out more detail on the actions we will take to turn these priorities into improvements that residents can see and feel.”