THERE is £6m left in Kirklees Council’s budget and it should be spent, the Liberal Democrats say.

The party is calling for leftovers from the 2011/12 council revenue budget to be spent on protecting libraries, improving roads and helping people back into employment.

Altogether there is £15.1m unspent from the year’s council budget – 4.7% of the council’s annual budget of £322.4m. The Lib Dems say that council directorates have presented a case for reallocating £9m of the £15.1m, which will be discussed at Cabinet tomorrow.

There remains £6m unallocated, which the Lib Dems say needs to be spent.

But council leader Clr Mehboob Khan said it would be “wholly irresponsible” to spend their reserves when £40m savings need to be found.

The Lib Dem proposal includes allocating money to:

Help protect libraries from closure, manned by professional library staff.

Improvements to road surfaces and to set up a pothole hit squad.

Improve road safety including the introduction of 20mph zones and safety improvements outside schools.

Help people back into work by providing a financial boost to job clubs.

Clr Kath Pinnock, Lib Dem leader, said: “The £6m underspend provides the council with a significant amount of money to help respond to those concerns.

“While there may be an inclination to put it away for a rainy day, doing so would remove investment in local infrastructure and the local economy.”