Ex-Kirklees mayor pleads with councillors to pick Council leader - almost two months after election
Kirklees remains without a leader - after Reform UK won the most seats at the local election, but not enough for a majority
An Ex-Mayor for Kirklees has pleaded with the council to “put aside personal, political and ward prejudice” for “the sake” of residents, after almost two months without a leader.
Andrew Palfreeman was first elected to the Conservative group in Kirklees Council in May 1992, before being elected as Mayor in 2010 and retiring from the Council due to ill health in 2018.
In a scathing 1,000-word letter sent to councillors on June 25, the former Mayor warned that “the mess” created by the absence of a leader “impacts” the whole of Kirklees.
In a letter to Kirklees councillors, Mr Palfreeman explained his theories behind what he dubbed the “ridiculous impass”.
The letter read: “Why is the council in such a mess? The answer lies in the past and the present.
“Historically, since 2000, a succession of minority administrations, led by or involving all four of traditional major parties, have naturally sought to attract power centrally to the detriment of the majority of “backbench members”. We were all guilty – including me – as we fought to maintain a Conservative minority almost 20 years ago.
“When not in power, members failed to see the inevitability of the decline in member influence and the gradual dilution of the only influence available to non-cabinet members, overview and scrutiny.”
Mr Pulfreeman went on to warn that “usually everyone knows what to expect from the major group on the council” but that without a leader, this was not clear.
Mr Pulfreeman said: “Collaborative working and efficiency savings are wonderful slogans, but they’ve been tried many times, and the latter will take longer than any (leadership candidate) has to make their mark before the elections next May.”
Signing off, Mr Pulfreeman said: “The democratic process created the current council. For God’s sake, put the democratically elected ones in charge.”
Both Council Leader candidates – Sarah Wood for Reform UK and Andrew Cooper for the Green Party – responded to the mayor’s stern letter.
Councillor Cooper explained that in his 27-year record as a councillor, he had “always been motivated” by public service: “To be frank, if I had been motivated by personal ambition, I wouldn’t have been a member of the Green Party for over thirty years.”
Coun Cooper also reiterated that his priorities if elected as Leader of the Council were not just Green Party proposals, but ones that have been “brought to his attention” by colleagues in the Liberal Democrat Group and both groups of Independent Councillors.
Coun Cooper said: “Though (Mr Palfreeman) is a Conservative and I am a Green, we both share a belief in the need for good governance of the Council.”
Meanwhile, Councillor Wood assured that “Reform had been working tirelessly to engage with every Group Leader” and that her group were “preparing for leadership”.
Coun Wood said: “I have appointed a Cabinet made up of people with impeccable credentials and highly relevant experience for the portfolios they will oversee. We have a comprehensive communication plan and internal governance in place…
“Our focus remains on securing stable democratic leadership for Kirklees and ensuring that decisions are taken by all those elected to represent its residents.”
Kirklees Council was contacted for further comment.