Opposition councillors have challenged claims that Kirklees Council’s budget discussions are the “most open and transparent” ever.

The Community Alliance group, led by former leader of the council Cathy Scott, says the Labour Cabinet is playing politics over £35 million ‘plans’ for a new Dewsbury Sports Centre.

Clr Scott, a former Labour councillor, is calling for more “honesty and clarity” after the impression was given that £35 million had been secured for a new Dewsbury Sports Centre to replace the one shut down in 2024.

Clr Scott said budget documents reveal that the £35m is not available now and the sum is merely provisionally earmarked across financial years 2028 to 2033, with only £100,000 allocated in 2025-26 for feasibility work.

Clr Scott said: “This means that even under the best possible conditions, if all funding were real, secured and ready, construction could not begin until 2028 at the earliest, and the facility would likely not open until 2031 to 2033.

“Realistically, Dewsbury residents are being asked to wait another seven to eight years, at minimum, for the return of a local sports centre.”

Clr Scott added: “If this was genuinely the most transparent budget process in Kirklees history, residents would have been clearly told that the £35m is not funded now, and is not arriving for years.

“Transparency is not selective. It means being upfront about what is real and what is hypothetical. We owe that to the public.”

Dewsbury Sports Centre closed when potentially dangerous concrete was found in the building.

It was said to be too expensive to repair but Kirklees Council’s failure to come up with an alternative led to a big public campaign, which independent councillors in Dewsbury and Batley are set to turn into a major election issue.

With all 69 councillors up for re-election in May 2026, the Kirklees political map could be re-drawn with Labour’s control of the council in the balance.

Clr Habiban Zaman, deputy leader of Community Alliance, said: “The people of Dewsbury have been without a sports centre since 2024.

“To suggest that £35 million is already secured today gives false reassurance. Residents deserve straight facts, not future figures packaged as present funding.”

Announcing a five-week public consultation on the budget proposals from December 3, Clr Graham Turner, Cabinet member for finance and regeneration, said: “This is the most open and transparent budget process we’ve ever seen in Kirklees.

“We’re publishing more information about our spending than ever before so that Kirklees people can have their say before we finalise the budget.”

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