A Cabinet decision to trim the Kirklees Council grass cutting budget will be reviewed by a scrutiny panel.

Cabinet’s decision to cut Kirklees Council’s ground maintenance pot by £1.3m has been called in by opposition Tory councillors.

From next April, grass cutting in the borough will be reduced dramatically.

But the decision will now be considered by a scrutiny panel at Huddersfield Town Hall on August 20.

The panel may judge against the council’s decision – but Cabinet members are not legally bound to honour its recommendations.

Tory and some other opposition councillors believe the decision where to cut and where not has been ‘undemocratic’ and ‘politically motivated.’

Long grass on central reservation of A644, Huddersfield Road, Dewsbury.

Mirfield Conservative councillor Martyn Bolt said: “People use these spaces for health and social activities. Not everyone has a garden and people have had to get up and cut the grass themselves.

“The Cabinet made the decision behind closed doors. It’s undemocratic.

“I’ve asked for evidence why a park in Mirfield isn’t getting its grass cut. Is it biased or political?”

Areas will prioritised according to gold, silver, bronze and ‘natural’ standards.

A gold standard site, deemed to be a high-profile and popular area, will have 21 grass cuts per year, a reduction from 28.

Read more: Band of volunteers tackle long grass in Mirfield's Knowl Park after Kirklees Council stop mowing

One man went to mow...Mirfield resident Martyn Connell (left) was joined by Dave McAndrew, left, Jon Wood, Martin Ibberson and Sue Ibberson to cut the long grass in Knowle Park, Mirfield.
One man went to mow...Mirfield resident Martyn Connell (left) was joined by Dave McAndrew, left, Jon Wood, Martin Ibberson and Sue Ibberson to cut the long grass in Knowle Park, Mirfield.

They include the borough’s main parks and crematoria.

Flower beds in Batley, Dewsbury, Huddersfield and Holmfirth town centres will also be gold standard.

Silver areas will have 14 cuts a year, bronze areas will have six and ‘natural’ areas will not be trimmed.

Residents in Mirfield cut the grass in Knowl Park themselves – and farmer Michael Barber finished the job and harvested the hay.