CALDERDALE councillors have approved the borough’s budget for 2020-21, including an extra £1 million to tackle climate change.

The extra cash will need to be found from savings in the £159.2 million the authority will spend in the year.

It will mean a Council Tax rise of 3.99 per cent – a 1.99 per cent regular rise plus a two per cent rise Government is also allowing councils to levy ring-fenced for social care costs.

The ruling Labour group’s proposals were approved, including extra funding which would be used to help tackle the climate emergency.

The Conservatives faced strong criticism from Labour, Liberal Democrat and Independent councillors over proposals to fund more pothole filling and drain and gulley cleaning by increasing a Council Tax benefit level and raising entrance prices at Shibden Hall – packed out last summer following the success of BBC TV’s Gentleman Jack – for non-Calderdale residents.

Council Tax to rise by 3.99 per cent as Bradford Council's 2020/21 budget is approved

Liberal Democrat leader Coun James Baker (Warley) criticised the budget as underwhelming, considering Labour had said in the run up to last May’s elections that if they had a majority the result would be an ambitious council.

This wasn’t, he said, with the only changes coming from external forces not from a radical administration within.

“There’s really nothing in your budget at all,” said Coun Baker.

But Labour leader Coun Tim Swift (Town) rejected this and said given the backdrop of 10 years of austerity, ongoing challenges like flooding, a lack of certainty from Government about how councils will be funded after next year and concern northern council might be affected adversely by a review, the budget protected front line services, continued improvements in important areas, for example investment in CCTV and community wardens, increasing use of powers to tackle anti-social behaviour and fly-tipping and investing in flood defences and climate change.

It made sure the council was in as strong and robust a position as possible to respond to the pressures it faced while protecting its reserves effectively.

“This is not a year for a budget of gimmicks and headlines but prudent management,” said Coun Swift.

A Liberal Democrat amendment which would have allowed people to voluntarily pay extra Council Tax for more tree planting to help meet flooding, air quality and climate crisis challenges was rejected.

Coun Baker argued the proposal carried no financial risk to the council as it would be voluntary and showed imaginative thinking to find alternative solutions to problems in cash-strapped times, involving residents themselves having a stake in the policy.

Seconding the proposal, Coun Ashley Evans (Lib Dem, Warley) added: “It’s particularly appropriate young children can get involved in the planting process and understand what’s involved.”

But Coun Jane Scullion (Lab, Luddenden Foot) said she feared asking for contributions would compete for cash with other groups seeking donations including the Community Foundation for Calderdale, which is running a flooding appeal, and Coun Sarah Courtney (Lab, Calder) said there were already active groups like Treesponsibility which people could support.

A Conservative amendment to make changes to some Council Tax relief to tackle potholes and more drain and gulley cleaning was also rejected, with severe criticism from Labour, Liberal Democrat and Independent councillors that it would be extra Council Tax imposed on those least able to pay.

The Tories argued these were things the public continually said they wanted and making the change would raise around £650,000 but Labour’s Coun Roisin Cavanagh (Luddenden Foot) said it would take an extra £10 a month off those least able to pay, rebutting Conservative leader Coun Steven Leigh’s (Ryburn) belief that there was still a safety net.

Coun Leigh said Calderdale set the Council Tax Reduction Scheme rate at 19 per cent – the amount those who qualified for it paid – but some neighbouring councils including Wakefield and Bradford set it higher at 30 per cent.

The rise would only mean an increase of about £2.50 per week and households who could not afford it would not have to pay.

But Labour, Liberal Democrat and Independent councillors said there was no safety net and the cost would be borne by those who could least afford it.

An angry Coun Susan Press (Lab, Todmorden) slammed the proposals as “extraordinary” and said: “It’s absolutely shameful to be honest that you are proposing this.”

Independent Coun Rob Holden (Ryburn) said he agreed with the Conservatives’ sentiments that issues like fly-tipping and filling potholes needed tackling but did not think this was the way forward.

“The increase in the Council Tax Reduction Scheme would affect a good percentage of residents. These people are struggling as it is,” he said.

Another Independent, Coun Colin Raistrick (Hipperholme and Lightcliffe) said the amendment would be “Robin Hood in reverse.”