Councillors were warned that Kirklees will be broke by 2022 if nothing changes.
Kirklees members met yesterday to thrash out the start of their devolution bid by agreeing the districts for area working.
Members were split over whether Golcar was urban or rural, whether Batley and Spen should be linked together and how devolution should work.
The ruling Labour group put forward a plan for Golcar to form part of the Huddersfield Urban committee which proved divisive.
Opposition members felt Golcar should form part of devolution to the Kirklees Rural committee, not only with its neighbouring Colne Valley but also with rural parts of Kirklees as far away as Denby Dale.
Kirklees chief executive Adrian Lythgo told members the purpose was about taking current Area Committee powers and devolving them to new boundaries, with no constitution change.
Kirklees leader Clr David Sheard said: “I believe in grouping together areas of commonality.”
He said that cross-boundary working would be allowed and that the ultimate devolution was to a parish council, not a rival group adding: “If nothing changes in Kirklees we will run out of money by 2022.”
Clr Robert Light, Conservative leader, said more information was needed: “Whatever structure we set up will not be perfect, my concern is I don’t want to see this botched, rushed and then not work.
“We need to put our hearts and minds into this to make it a success.”
Clr Nicola Turner, Lib Dem leader, asked if Clr Sheard’s devolution plan meant a parish council in Kirkburton would be ruling on Marsden matters.
She said: “What we are doing it making the Area Committees bigger, we haven’t got the detail and I believe the devil is in the detail. What are we devolving? How much? What’s involved?”
Clr Andrew Cooper, Green Party leader, said: “I think we are getting mixed up about rural and urban split, it’s contrived.
“The real opportunity is how we devolve to the community and engage so the community has some sort of buy-in to the decisions we make.”
The amendment by Clr Andrew Marchington, Golcar Lib Dem, to include Golcar in Kirklees Rural was won 37 against 31 and the chamber then voted 39 against 29 in favour of the motion.
The districts are:
Batley and Spen - Batley West, Batley East, Birstall and Birkenshaw, Cleckheaton, Heckmondwike and Liversedge and Gomersal Wards.
Dewsbury and Mirfield - Dewsbury East, Dewsbury West, Dewsbury South and Mirfield Wards.
Huddersfield - Almondbury, Ashbrow, Crosland Moor and Netherton, Dalton, Greenhead, Lindley and Newsome Wards.
Kirklees Rural - Colne Valley, Denby Dale, Golcar, Holme Valley North, Holme Valley South and Kirkburton Wards.
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