Boosting tourism will be at the heart of a new rural committee in Kirklees.
And the role of parish councils will become more prominent as the council looks to devolve power, including many Streetscene services like street cleaning, parks and maintenance.
Clr Edgar Holroyd-Doveton, a Holme Valley North Independent, was elected chair of the new Kirklees Rural committee, which includes Denby Dale, Holmfirth, Meltham, the Colne Valley and Golcar.
Clr Simon Alvy is chair of the Batley and Spen committee, Clr Darren O’Donovan chair of the Dewsbury and Mirfield committee and Clr Naheed Mather chair of the Huddersfield Urban committee, not Clr Hilary Richards as reported earlier, who remains chair of the Corporate Governance and Audit Committee.
Clr Edgar Holroyd-Doveton, explained how it could work: “I see the committee as an overseeing body working with parish and town councils and community groups as well.”
However, not all of the Kirklees Rural committee area has a parish or town council and the new chair explained his vision: “Golcar and the Colne Valley are the exception and without a parish council, so as an alternative to that I propose something on the model of the Newsome Community Forum, a recognised body equivalent to parish or town councils but working with people at a local level.”
He said the one commonality in the Kirklees Rural geographical area was the openness and the potential for tourism, promoting the area, opening it up for more groups like the Walkers are Welcome and seeking funding from DEFRA, something Kirklees Council is unable to do.
“What was once done by the council may not be done in the future.
“The funding isn’t there and we have to change local governance in a way that we allow people to govern their own lives rather than it being dictated by the town hall.”
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