News that Calderdale Council is projected to overspend its agreed budget by £5.3million means even more cuts in spending may be needed next year says Liberal Democrat Group Leader, Cllr James Baker

Calderdale Council moved out of the offices it was leasing at Dean Clough two years ago, but is still paying £163,500 per year for the space. That means that the Council has paid out nearly one-third of a million pounds for something that is of no benefit for the people of Calderdale. As the lease […]

Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group, Cllr Janet Battye (Calder) says: “The Council finds itself in a difficult position as the Conservative government has failed to provide enough funding for flood recovery and has also reduced the government grant the Council is getting. Although we appreciate the challenges the administration has in drawing up a […]

Calderdale Council’s Economy and Environment Scrutiny Panel will meet at Halifax Town Hall on Thursday 3 March, 2016 at 6.00pm to look at the subject of On-Street parking and would particularly welcome the views of residents, businesses and those who work in Calderdale on this matter. The chair of the Economy and Environment Scrutiny Panel, […]

There are many benefits to eating more vegetarian meals, they are often healthy and can have less of an impact on the environment. Additionally you do not have the suffering that can sometimes come with industrialised farming methods. I think most people would accept this, and be open minded towards having a few vegetarian dishes a […]

At the last full Council meeting I asked another question about the traffic problems affecting Brow Foot Gate Lane (and neighbouring roads like Trimmingham Lane, Churn Lane). Essentially I was concerned that this had been considered as a minor traffic and parking issue rather than a road safety issue. As it appeared that a lot […]

You often hear in the press and in leaflets when politicians disagree and argue with each other. It’s often because these disagreements are deemed newsworthy and reported. Yet over the past few months a cross-party group of Councillors have been working constructively together on a scrutiny review group I have chaired  looking at the relationships […]

Thanks to  all the residents who signed my petition requesting that we get more gritting services in Warley Ward. I submitted this petition to full Council last week on behalf of residents. I now await a response from the Council on this topic!

A Liberal Democrat amendment to the Council’s budget meeting that occurred on Monday 23rd February has secure a £1.4m investment into affordable warmth. The cost of this insulation scheme will be repaid through additional savings made through the smarter use of technology by the Council in its working practices. In Calderdale in 2013 there were 93 excess […]

COUNCIL MEETING ON: 18th FEBRUARY 2015 QUESTION FROM: COUNCILLOR BAKER TO: COUNCILLOR CAFFREY, CABINET MEMBER FOR ECONOMY Why is the state of repair on so many of Calderdale’s roads so bad when there appears to be money spare in the Highways department and a predicted underspend. Answer I do not accept that Calderdale’s roads are […]