A deal was struck that will see £21m cut from Kirklees Council’s budget.

But councillors’ compromises couldn’t save up to 200 council jobs that will be lost to meet the government’s grant axe.

In more welcome news, up to 9,000 hard-pressed households have been saved from a £30 annual fee for a parking permit as councillors amended the plan.

Instead, they’re looking at a permit for life for a one-off fee – but the amount to be paid has yet to be confirmed.

And a council tax freeze from April was voted through at the Full Council meeting.

Clr Mehboob Khan, who steps down as leader on Friday, said: “Local government faces its biggest challenge ever. Despite the funding cuts we are still providing 99% of the services we did before.”

Clr David Sheard, the in-coming council leader, said of the parking permits: “The purpose is for it to be cost neutral and the £30 was an indicative cost. It may be that some schemes don’t want to continue.

“I think the option should be to continue as we are and people just pay whatever it costs for their scheme and people use their permit for life.”

Tory leader Clr Robert Light described the Labour budget as a ‘stop-gap’ and said the cuts to highways would further “devastate” the road network.

He promised a two year council tax freeze.

The Tory budget plan was rejected 39 votes against 17, with 11 abstentions.

Clr Nicola Turner, Lib Dem deputy leader, said their ideas would support businesses which “create jobs, businesses pay rates and they fund vital council services”.

The Lib Dems sought £8m investment in roads to help businesses in the Colne Valley and a new school in the Lindley ward.

The Lib Dem plan was rejected 55 votes to 11 with one abstention.

The Green Party sought £100,000 support to assist the asset transfer of the Carlile Institute quickly strengthen ties with the Post Office. They also called for a solar panel programme for council housing.

Labour Party members agreed to some of the Green Party and Valley Independent ideas.

Clr Edgar Holroyd-Doveton, Valley Independent, said: “The emphasis is on the local communities. We should be a facilitating council to help local groups and businesses.”

He said revenue saving ideas include ceasing council support for attendance at party political conferences and urging all members to pay for parking permits.

“It’s us playing our small part in the situation,” he said.

Kirklees staff numbers will reduce by 201 from 7,086 Full-Time Equivalents (FTEs) to 6,885 FTEs – this excludes school staff.

Overall the cuts add up to £21m less - but that’s on top of £62m of savings identified in earlier years. By 2017 the council’s spending from April will be £129m less than it was in 2010

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