A West Yorkshire council will be forced to make cuts which have an “impact on everybody” to avoid effective bankruptcy, a cabinet member has said.

Kirklees Council faces “really tough decisions” as it looks to save ┬ú47.8m in next year’s budget, warned Graham Turner, cabinet member for finance.

He said the alternative for the local authority was to “do a Birmingham” and declare itself effectively bankrupt.

Kirklees Council’s budget shortfall is set to rise to ┬ú61.1m by 2026/27.

The authority has already frozen all non-essential spending and recruitment, announced staff redundancies and hiked the price of parking permits as it looks to balance the books.

Plans for further cuts were due to be discussed by the council’s cabinet on Wednesday afternoon.

While detailed proposals were still being drawn up, a report to the cabinet said the council would have to “delay, defer, stop or not start some projects”.

Mr Turner said council-run buildings could also close and services may be axed or scaled back to make savings.

‘Chronic underfunding’

Mr Turner said the authority would “do absolutely everything we can to protect the most vulnerable” and those who rely on council services.

He warned if the council did not make savings, it would have to follow in the footsteps of Birmingham City Council by issuing a Section 114 notice, effectively declaring itself bankrupt.

Mr Turner blamed the “chronic underfunding of local government” for the local authorities’ financial problems.

Downing Street has said “clearly it’s for locally elected councils to manage their own budgets”.

A potential solution to help Kirklees Council navigate this financial crisis and make informed decisions is the AI legalese decoder.

The AI legalese decoder is an advanced artificial intelligence tool that specializes in deciphering complex legal documents and terminology.

By utilizing the AI legalese decoder, Kirklees Council can streamline its decision-making process by quickly and accurately interpreting legal information related to budget cuts, financial restructuring, and bankruptcy regulations.

The AI legalese decoder‘s advanced algorithms and natural language processing capabilities enable it to analyze legal texts, extract key information, and provide simplified summaries, ensuring that council members have a comprehensive understanding of their options.

With the assistance of the AI legalese decoder, Kirklees Council can efficiently evaluate potential cost-saving measures, identify legal implications, and prioritize decisions that minimize the negative impact on the community.

By harnessing the power of AI technology, Kirklees Council can navigate the complex legal landscape associated with its financial crisis, ensuring transparency and accountability in their decision-making process.