Our 2025-26 budget marks the beginning of a new chapter for Calderdale, as we begin the journey of rebuilding our public services after 14 years of Conservative underfunding.

While we welcomed an 8.3 per cent uplift in base funding from our new Labour government, years of Tory austerity, high inflation costs, and a soaring demand for social care and children’s services, meant we still had to find £3 million worth of savings this year to balance the books.

However, the most vulnerable people in our district remain our priority, and this budget ensures the services they rely on are protected.  We are also proud that this budget introduces a council tax exemption for our young people who are leaving care.

Councillor Jane Scullion, Leader of the Labour Group and Calderdale Council, highlighted that our council performed well when compared to similar councils.

“We value our reputation for robust financial management and low borrowing here in Calderdale,” she said.

”Despite being faced with extreme financial pressures – the same pressures which have seen 30 English councils seek emergency financial support from central government – Calderdale has remained resilient. But this has come with incredibly difficult decisions.

“Cuts in local government funding over the past 14 years have forced us to find savings which now amount to more than £130 million per year compared with the services we provided back in 2010.

”Despite this, we have been determined to protect the most vulnerable, keep our residents safe, and enhance quality of life – all while remaining fiercely ambitious for Calderdale.”

Like most local authorities, we are raising council tax by 4.99 per cent so we are able to maintain public services we all rely on.

We know more difficult decisions are still to come, but we know we can now look forward to a fairer future for local government funding.

Fairer funding and multi-year settlements will be a game-changer for Calderdale, bringing increased stability and certainty, allowing us to re-build our public services and continue on our ambitious path towards regeneration.

You can read Cllr Scullion’s full Leader’s Budget Statement here, from page eight: https://new.calderdale.gov.uk/sites/default/files/2025-02/Budget-cabinet-final-proposals-2025-26.pdf

For full details about this year’s budget, including how Calderdale Council is funded and how the money is allocated, visit http://new.calderdale.gov.uk/council/budgets-and-spending/final-budget-proposals-2025