Kirklees councillors will meet for a third time this week to try to elect a new leader – and a coalition group has offered a “concession” aimed at breaking the deadlock.
Reform UK, as the largest party with 27 seats, wants to form a minority administration to lead the council but a coalition of the Greens, the Kirklees Independents, the Liberal Democrats and the Valley Independent Group say they should be in charge.
Neither Reform UK leader Clr Sarah Wood nor Green group leader Clr Andrew Cooper have been able to secure a majority in leadership votes at two meetings so far.
The Conservatives have voted against both candidates leaving the council in limbo.
The council will meet again on Wednesday July 15 at 5.30pm at Huddersfield Town Hall with pressure increasing on councillors to find a way forward.
Reform UK has submitted a motion, to be debated at the meeting, calling for the council to follow recent precedent and allow the largest party to take control. The previous Labour administration ran the council with 23 of the 69 seats.
The motion says: “Where no political group commands an overall majority and no formal stable coalition capable of commanding a majority has been formed, as set by precedence, the largest political group should ordinarily be afforded the opportunity to form a minority administration.”
Clr Cooper has submitted an amendment to that motion with a clause aimed at breaking the deadlock.
Clr Cooper has proposed that the leader of the council – currently elected for a four-year term – should be elected for just 12 months.
This was first suggested by Tory councillor Martyn Bolt and Clr Cooper hopes his “concession” will be enough to persuade the Conservative group to stop blocking a new leader from being elected.
Clr Wood has already urged the Tories to “get off the fence.”
Clr Cooper said: “The suggestion of an annual election for leader came from Clr Bolt. If that is what makes the difference between electing a leader or not then we and the Kirklees Independents, Liberal Democrats and Valley Independents are happy to support this proposal.
“We need some movement if we are going to move forward. The Reform UK motion offers nothing new and fails to recognise that over 50 councils operate with a leader representing a coalition of parties.
“Reform UK have so far failed to find any allies on the council and their lack of experience and the actions of neighbouring Reform-led administrations is a serious cause for concern.
“We will propose bringing the Reform motion, and our amendment to it, forward in the council agenda so it is heard before the vote on the council’s leadership.”
Clr Cooper’s motion also suggests regular meetings between the Cabinet and the various political groups – Cabinet Contact Groups – giving opposition councillors the chance to influence council policy.
The motion will be seconded by Clr Habiban Zaman, leader of Kirklees Independents, who said: “Cabinet Contact Groups would meet regularly with party spokespersons from across political divides to ensure they have input on key council decisions.
“Due to changes by the Labour Government we are not allowed to have a more democratic committee system where all councillors have a say in decision making.
“Establishing these Cabinet Contact Groups is the next big thing helping all political groups to influence council policy.”
Wednesday’s meeting will go ahead as planned despite some councillors suggesting the meeting be moved to avoid a clash with England’s World Cup semi-final against Argentina, which kicks off at 8pm. Full council meetings which start at 5.30pm generally finish at 9pm.
