Lepton: Men's social group in Yorkshire village misses out on council funding promised to them after late U-turn

Yesterday (February 14), Almondbury ward councillors had verbally agreed to give the group in the village near Huddersfield hundreds of pounds worth of funding, but their plans were dashed later that day when an email was sent to all councillors explaining that they cannot spend any more of their ward budgets in the current year.

Each of Kirklees’ 23 wards is allocated an annual budget of £20,000 to be spent by local councillors on issues and priorities in their areas. The recently published draft budget proposes that the amount be slashed in half to make a £230,000 saving in the next financial year.

To the dismay of the councillors and despite the prior agreement, it has been confirmed that Lepton Men’s Group will not get its much-needed funding as an application had not been submitted in time. The group gives men a place to socialise for two hour