Funding for community activities and Christmas trees should be saved, a political party says.
The Kirklees Liberal Democrats say they will oppose the proposal to remove £291,000 Area Committee activity funding.
The cut is among those in Kirklees Council’s budget proposals for 2014/15, backed by Cabinet this week and now out to public consultation.
The Lib Dems say the £291,000 cut represents the revenue money given to the borough’s seven Area Committees each year.
Group leader Clr Kath Pinnock said: “Kirklees Liberal Democrats will not be supporting the wholesale cut to funding for community grants and projects proposed by Labour this week.
“This is an attack on communities outside the major urban conurbations of Huddersfield and Dewsbury which rely on these small pots of money to help make things happen and to pay for things that the council’s central budgets pay for in the bigger urban areas.”
They say the money, divided proportionally among the seven committees, is used to provide support to local volunteers and community groups.
The Lib Dems have highlighted recent funding that could be at risk in the future if the budget is axed, including: Lindley Carnival (£3,500); Holmfirth Folk Festival (£500); Holme Valley in Bloom (£4,632); Slaithwaite Moonraking Festival (£1,500); Cleckheaton Folk Festival (£10,000); Holme Valley Brass Band Contest (£500); East Bierley/Birkenshaw/Birstall Remembrance Day Parades (£1,929).
It also funds floral displays as well as Christmas trees in Golcar, Milnsbridge, Longwood, Paddock, Cowlersley, Linthwaite, Outlane, Pole Moor, Scapegoat Hill, Almondbury, Lindley, Newsome, Crosland Moor and Netherton, Ashbrow, Dalton, Greenhead, Denby Dale, Kirkburton.
Clr Pinnock added: “Labour think it’s an easy cut because the majority of their wards are in major town centre areas and won’t really be affected, but we won’t make cutting it easy.
“In our wards – and in many Tory wards – losing this money means there will be no funding for community and voluntary groups including all the events and services they provide.
“There also won’t be any money too for Christmas trees or floral displays in town and village centres and no grant money for veterans or young people.
“We are not saying that belts do not have to be tightened, but we will be arguing that the council should maintain some funding for all communities, many of which are already doing the lion’s share of the work themselves and have historically taken very little.
“We also think that people who pay their council tax should have a Christmas tree in their town or village each year.”
