The Christmas spirit is on the way to Huddersfield.
Kirklees Council look set to approve funding for Christmas trees and lights, despite tough budget cuts.
Members of the Huddersfield District Committee are being urged to fund 17 trees all over the town when they meet in Huddersfield Town Hall on Monday evening.
The plans, which will cost £11,450, come at a time when the council has had to curtail spending in many areas.
They have cancelled big events such as the Festival of Light which has drawn huge crowds into the town centre in winter.
In a report to the committee, a council spokesman said: “The funding of Christmas trees will help fulfil a number of council priorities by promoting the senses of local community value and worth.
“In a number of cases the council works in partnership with local business contributing financially towards the cost of the trees in the area.
“The focal point of the Christmas trees enables a number of community events to take place including school and community-organised carol concerts which promote community cohesion and a sense of local ownership”.
Each tree and lights coasts the council £650 to provide, erect and maintain.
There are plans for trees in Almondbury, Lepton, Brackenhall, Deighton, Fartown, Fixby, Bradley, Crosland Moor, Netherton, Moldgreen, Marsh, Birkby, Paddock, Lindley, Berry Brow and Springwood.
There are also proposals for Christmas lights in Newsome and Oakes.
Councillors are also being urged to back a grants scheme which will allocate funding to a number of community projects around the area.
They include events and activities to try and recruit more volunteers to help run libraries across the area.
Senior councillors have previously agreed that 16 of the area’s libraries will survive if they are run by volunteers helping a staff member.
