Conservatives plan merger for council services

They also want to re-draw Calderdale electoral boundaries and create two separate councils for North and South Kirklees.

The aim is to cut costs and improve services while at the same time allowing each district to retain some form of autonomy. Calderdale Council’s Tory group leader Stephen Baines will spell out the details next week at a joint meeting with Kirklees leader Robert Light.

In a statement, they said: “It will offer the opportunity for the biggest change in local government in West Yorkshire since the creation of the five metropolitan councils in 1973.

“Creating joint pan-council shared services for the two new Kirklees-based councils with Calderdale, offers better value for money and services.”