New faces enter fray after election results
EIGHT new faces have joined Kirklees Council following the local elections on May 5, and one wellknown veteran will re-enter the chamber.
The Labour group gained three seats to achieve a majority and take the council out of no overall control.
The Conservatives lost two councillors but gained one, the Lib Dems lost one seat and the Holme Valley Independent trio was pared back to two. Newcomers will formally enter Huddersfield Town Hall for the first time as councillors on May 25 for the annual meeting and the mayormaking ceremony. The new nine – eight Labour members and one Conservative – are: AMMAR ANWAR held Dewsbury West for Labour after former Mayor of Kirklees Mumtaz Hussain stepped down.
He has pledged to build community safety by tackling anti-social behaviour and crime; to repair dangerous pavements and roads; to improve the environment by tackling fly-tipping and litter; to pursue activities for children and young people, including investing in local parks; to offer more support for older people’s independence, and to support the work in Kirklees to tackle the climate emergency.
MOSES CROOK won Holme Valley South for Labour to increase the party’s influence in the ward. One of his top priorities is to get Holmfirth Market ‘back out into the open and back on its feet’ and that by working with community group Holmfirth Forward ‘we’re in a great position to make it happen.’
He believes that more people out and about in Holmfirth’s centre will boost footfall in all local businesses.
TYLER HAWKINS held Dalton for Labour, where Peter McBride stepped down. He chose not to contribute to this overview.
JO LAWSON held Crosland Moor and Netherton for Labour. The ward was previously represented by Erin Hill, who stepped down this year.
She pledged to be a visible councillor, holding weekly street surgeries and updates through newsletters/social media, and to work to ensure that the ward is a clean, safe and peaceful area to live and work in, and to secure further investment for the ward and community groups.
HARRY MCCARTHY won Colne Valley ward for Labour from the Conservatives. He wants the Colne Valley to be ‘the best place it possibly can be’ and pledged to work with the many volunteers and groups dedicated to improving the area, to strive to protect and enhance the natural environment, and to oppose cuts to local transport services.
TONY MCGRATH won Holme Valley North for the Conservatives from the Independents. He pledged to focus on ensuring that traffic hotspots ‘get the action they deserve.’
FRAN PERRY held Ashbrow ward for Labour after Harpreet Uppal stepped down. She pledged to focus on green spaces by organising regular litter picks and to focus on environmental projects; to concentrate on crime prevention by listening to the community and putting together practical projects to make a difference; and invest in Ashbrow by using ward funds for local people, community groups and children.
GRAHAM TURNER won Golcar ward for Labour. A former councillor in Denby Dale and an ex-member of the Labour Cabinet, he lost his seat last year. He pledged to be a full-time councillor who will be available and accessible to residents at all times.
“I will do all I can to support the many and varied excellent community organisations and volunteers within the ward who do so much to enhance our community, and make Golcar what it is,” he said.
ADAM ZAMAN held Batley East for Labour after Mahmood Akhtar stepped down.
He pledged to work hard to secure extra funding for local highways, to get extra Levelling Up funding from government, to build a range of diverse housing to provide highquality affordable homes, to refurbish and upgrade local play areas, and to see more resources allocated in young people’s activities across the ward.