By KLTV Newsdesk –

Exhausted Kirklees councillors finally signed off on Kirklees Council’s 2026–27 budget just before sunrise, following a dramatic 12-hour session at Huddersfield Town Hall

The meeting began at 5.30 pm on Wednesday and did not conclude until 5.42 am the next morning, making it one of the longest budget debates in the 50-year history of Kirklees Council.

A Night of Political Negotiation

The council’s ruling Labour administration does not hold an overall majority, meaning it needed support from other parties to pass its budget.

Early proposals were voted down after opposition groups combined to reject them. Labour returned to the chamber around 1.30 am with a revised version, but that too narrowly failed.

What followed were four more hours of intense negotiations before a compromise was finally reached. The budget ultimately passed by just two votes, with backing from the Liberal Democrats and the Green Party.

The narrow approval highlights how finely balanced local politics in Kirklees have become.

What Changed in the Final Deal?

To secure cross-party support, Labour agreed to incorporate several proposals put forward by other groups. These include:

• Increasing ward budgets (funding councillors can spend in their local areas) to £7,000 per year
• Reviewing winter grit routes
• Boosting parking enforcement
• Extending Christmas opening hours at council recycling tips
• Creating Climate Bonds, allowing residents to invest locally in environmental projects
• Exploring options for residents to use neighbouring council recycling centres following the closure of Nab Lane Household Waste Recycling Centre in Birstall

While these additions attracted attention during the debate, councillors acknowledged that most of the council’s £465 million budget is tied up in essential services.

The negotiations focused on a relatively small portion of discretionary spending.

Council Tax and Savings

The approved budget confirms a 4.99% council tax increase, the maximum allowed without triggering a referendum.

To balance the books, the council must find £10.7 million in savings. These will largely come from:

• Deleting mainly vacant posts
• Reducing administrative costs
• Improving operational efficiency

Council leaders stressed that front-line services are being protected where possible amid continued financial pressure on local authorities nationwide.

Investment in Key Services

Despite the need for savings, the budget includes significant investment in core areas:

• £15.2 million extra for adult social care
• £5 million additional funding for children’s services
• £215,000 to tackle fly-tipping
• £250,000 for gritting and winter maintenance
• £135,000 to speed up planning decisions and strengthen enforcement

With rising demand for social care and children’s support services, these allocations reflect some of the most pressing challenges facing the borough.

Looking Ahead: All-Out Elections in 2026

The political stakes are high. On 7 May 2026, all 69 seats on Kirklees Council will be up for election.

The outcome could significantly reshape the political map of the borough and potentially change who controls the council altogether.

After a marathon night of debate, negotiation and compromise, this budget may be settled, but the wider political battle in Kirklees is only just beginning.

Residents can expect local finances, council tax levels and service delivery to remain central issues in the run-up to next year’s vote.