Frank talks over job cuts urged

Councillor Mehboob Khan, of Kirklees Council, is urging people to attend public meetings in June about the future relationship between communities and the council.

He said the meetings were a first step in discussing how things traditionally offered by the council might be provided differently, including by community groups.

He said: “We have seen, and continue to see, a significant reduction in staff numbers at the council. Over 1,000 people have already left. We are ultimately losing 40 per cent of our income and, if that happened to you and your family, you would sit down and talk frankly about the way forward – that is what we all need to do together.

“This is not about doing things on the cheap. We need to use the expertise of community groups who already make a difference and the ideas of other residents who could do the same – local people helping to improve their own area.

“Equally, we are not asking people to do our job for us. This is the start of an important, mature conversation about how we will cope with substantial further cuts and about what services are needed to ensure Kirklees remains a great place to live and work.”

Visit www.kirkleestalk.org