Cabinet to consider council’s financial strategy

Kirklees Council’s Cabinet will consider the council’s financial strategy at its meeting on 6 October, setting out the financial pressures and opportunities that will shape the council’s budget for the year ahead.

The financial strategy (known as the ‘Medium Term Financial Strategy’ – MTFS) is an important part of the council’s longer-term financial planning. It looks at the pressures on service budgets, the council’s income and funding, reserves and debt, as well as the investment needed to maintain and improve services.

The report highlights several significant pressures facing the council, including rising costs in social care for older people and adults with disabilities, and care services supporting children and young people.

It also sets out the scale of the financial challenge facing the council as it begins preparing its budget for 2027/28. Around £24 million of savings and cost reductions will need to be identified to balance next year’s budget.

The report is the first financial milestone for Kirklees Council’s new Cabinet, which was appointed in July, and marks the beginning of the council’s budget-setting process.

Cllr Simon Brophy, Cabinet Member for Strategic Finance and Local Government Efficiency, said:

“This report sets out clearly the financial legacy this administration is now picking up and the scale of the action needed to take control of the council’s finances for the future.

“I have already asked officers to review the council’s capital programme, with a view to reducing the forecast level of council debt.  Service areas across the council have also been asked to identify efficiencies to reduce costs and ease the burden on taxpayers.

“This is the starting point for the budget-setting process that will conclude in March next year. Over the next few months we will put forward proposals for a new council budget and listen to feedback before any decisions are taken.

“In the meantime, we will be looking to eliminate wasteful spending and modernise the council so that our processes are as lean and efficient as possible.”

Cabinet will consider the financial strategy on 6 October 2026, with detailed budget proposals developed over the coming months ahead of a final budget decision in March 2027.