Councillors to set budget for Calderdale

The Labour Cabinet has put forward its budget plans for the meeting at Halifax Town hall at 6pm.

However, the Conservative group have submitted their own budget and plan on removing Labour’s proposed Council Tax increase of 1.95% on the budget.

Conservative Leader Coun Stephen Baines said they would make up for this reduction in tax by changing the way the Council works and introducing changes in technology that will play a significant role in driving further cost efficiencies.

The party will also reduce the number of councillors from 51 to 36 and having all out Council elections every four years which will see the removal of two elections will and will save £500,000

The party also plan to remove automatic pay increase after each year of service and introduce spot salaries with performance related pay increases and reduce sickness absence from work from an average of over nine days per employee by removing the first three days of sick pay.

Labour’s budget proposals

Calderdale Council’s Cabinet announced its budget proposals which include a Council Tax rise of nearly two per cent and an additional two per cent social care precept.

The budget proposals include a 1.95 per cent rise in Council Tax Rates in 2016/17 and 2017/18.

The Council has also included a two per cent additional Social Care Precept. The money raised by the increase in Council Tax will create a dedicated fund worth £3 million which will help finance the recovery and rebuilding programme following the Boxing Day Floods.