Commentary from Craig Whittaker MP on Calderdale Council's proposed public service closures
You may be aware that Calderdale Council have recently proposed to close the following public services:
-
2 tips (likely to be Elland and Sowerby Bridge);
-
6 libraries (Greetland, Hipperholme, Mytholmroyd, Skircoat, Southowram, and Mixenden); and
-
3 public halls (closure of Clay House, Brighouse Civic Hall, and Shelf Village Hall (the Council will attempt to transfer these assets into community ownership)).
The proposals also recommend:
-
3 weekly bin collections; and
-
2 weekly recycling collections.
I have been contacted by many residents who have asked for an update on the proposed changes. My email inbox has been inundated with emails from concerned residents who are confused by Calderdale Cabinet’s decision. This is understandable, and the Council’s position is unclear. I have therefore put together the below.
On 5th October, Calderdale Cabinet agreed the following recommendations:
a) Cabinet agrees the proposals within this report on the re-shaping of Public Services and delegates authority to the Director of Public Services in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Public Services and Communities to implement the proposals capable of being dealt with through delegated authority but to bring back to a future Cabinet meeting those that require a further Cabinet decision specifically decisions around Library provision and Waste and Recycling.
b) the necessary consultation be undertaken with service users and staff under the existing Council policies, and negotiations with contractors on commissioned services be undertaken to ensure that the services are fit for purpose.
These recommendations are very confusing, and we need clarity. Cabinet were presented with a report that recommended to close 6 libraries. The resolution above clearly says “Cabinet agrees the proposals within this report”, yet Calderdale Cabinet have simultaneously asked for this issue about libraries to be brought back to Cabinet for a final decision. So, if they have agreed the proposals within the report which endorse 6 library closures, why then is this coming back to cabinet in the future?
In addition to the above point on libraries, it is also unclear whether the Cabinet are requiring the proposed tip closures and the changes to refuse collections to also come back to a further Cabinet meeting. I suspect this will be the case.
Further questions also remain, specifically whether the other proposals within the Cabinet Report will be required to come back to Cabinet, or if they will now be implemented following the Cabinet meeting on the 5th October.
Residents should also be consulted about these changes. These are major changes that will transform our public service provision. I’d like to ask the Council about their plans for consultation. I’m concerned that the Council’s resolution which has agreed “consultation… with service users” does not necessarily mean that the Council will consult with the general public.
As you can see, this is very unclear. I hope that we will be provided with some clarity at the Place Scrutiny Board meeting which will be held on Thursday 22nd October at 6pm. This is a meeting where backbench Councillors scrutinise policy and Cabinet decisions. The Board cannot overturn the Cabinet decision on public services; however, they can make recommendations. This meeting will be available for you to watch on Youtube. I’ll certainly be watching in the hope that my above queries are answered!