A re-structure of council committees could see four scrutiny panels axed.

Proposals have been put forward to alter the scrutiny system to save around £32,000 a year.

Currently cross-party committees of councillors sit on five panels to assess key council decisions and question Cabinet members on their portfolios.

The favoured option is for a Overview and Scrutiny Management Committee, plus a new dedicated Health Committee. Where specific issues arise, ad hoc scrutiny panels could be formed.

A council report says a single point for scrutiny would work best, adding: “The Management Committee can co-ordinate all scrutiny work, both overview and in-depth scrutiny work, which will address concerns about inconsistency of approach.

“A dedicated health scrutiny committee will enable councillors to develop expertise in this complex area.

“It will allow the management committee to focus on other functions including statutory scrutiny of crime and disorder and scrutiny of decision makers.”

The current system costs around £90,965 per year – £38,360 in allowances and £52,605 in core costs. The current Overview and Scrutiny Management Committee is led by Clr Julie Stewart-Turner receiving an allowance of £11,047, plus for Overview and Scrutiny Panels for Children and Young People; Development and Environment; Resources and Wellbeing and Communities. Each has a chair who receives an allowance of £6,138.

Five options have been put forward and the favoured option will see allowances reduced to £24,203 and core costs reduced to £34,258. It would remain a cross-party committee with one councillor from each party represented on Kirklees Council.

Another option, to carry out only the statutory minimum of scrutiny work, would see costs reduced to £43,405 – but concerns have been raised by councillors about the workload, especially with the health scrutiny remit.

In altering the scrutiny process, Kirklees will be moving to a scrutiny structure unlike its neighbouring councils. Calderdale and Wakefield both have five scrutiny panels. Rochdale and Newcastle have a similar format to the one Kirklees favours.