Finance

The Full Council is responsible for the financial well being of the council by setting the rate precept and exercising budgetary control. It also responds to grant requests, oversees the allotments and christmas lights, deals with Kirklees council and government directives and ensures that residents have access to all council matters. It has introduced a policy that permits any member of the public to address any meeting that the council holds to ensure this happens.

Previous Head of Finance, Cllr Mark Hamilton, said: "Giving grants to local organisations is one of the better parts of the role. The task involves enhancing existing worthwhile schemes that may struggle for support from more traditional grant giving bodies and to energise schemes that might not otherwise take place. Grants are not given to merely boost the profits of what would be a successful event with or without the Council. Of course Mirfield residents can have confidence in the knowledge that the money they give in their precept is granted only to causes that directly benefit Mirfield residents. The Town Council has recently taken back control from Kirklees of the three allotment sites in Mirfield it is presently looking at the sites and talking to the Allotments Society. This year the committee has been given additional powers by the Town Council to decide on certain matters without referral to Town Council. These matters include pre-budgeted amounts such as the grants to Church clock maintenance and grants to local bodies for less than £1000. This is an attempt to reduce the amount of double discussion that quite often occurs when matters go from committee to Council. Rest assured, safeguards exist to stop any mistakes and the Town Clerk is ever wary with her advice."

Finance is discussed at every Meeting of the Full Council which usually takes place on the second and fourth Tuesdays of every month at 7.30pm at the Town Council Offices, Huddersfield Road, Mirfield. To make representation, contact us at least seven days in advance with your details and the subject you wish to represent.

The picture on this page is of Huddersfield Road looking towards the original Mirfield Town Hall from 1910. The Black Bull pub and Mirfield Market place can be seen on the left hand side.