Decision
Analysis
outcome: Recommendations Approved
summary: The council has made a decision on recommendations
topline: The council has decided to approve recommendations
reason_contentious: This issue may be contentious as it involves potentially conflicting interests of different stakeholders
affected_stakeholders: ["Council members", "Local residents", "Business owners"]
contentiousness_score: 6
political_party_relevance: There are no explicit mentions of political parties in the decision
URL: https://calderdale.moderngov.co.uk/ieDecisionDetails.aspx?ID=343
Decision Maker:
Outcome: Recommendations Approved
Is Key Decision?: No
Is Callable In?: No
Purpose:
Content: The Leader, Councillor Scullion, submitted a written report on the work that had been carried out since the last meeting of the Council. The Leader advised that partners across West Yorkshire were working to develop the ‘West Yorkshire Way’ to define shared priorities and strengthen regional collaboration, particularly in relation to national growth and that it would help the Council to make government bids to plan for the future. The report provided information on a number of meetings that the Leader had attended which included the Combined Authority sessions on the 24th July 2025 and 18th September 2025, a bus franchising discussion on the 8th September 2025, and chaired the Climate and Environment sessions on the 22nd July 2025 and 11th August 2025. Additional engagements included meetings with Yorkshire Leaders in August and September, covering tourism, finance, and the Devolution Bill. Work continued towards the Integrated Settlement in April 2026, with Calderdale contributing to the consultation process. The Leader confirmed that the West Yorkshire Local Transport Plan (LTP) was under consultation, running from July to October, and alongside Calderdale’s own LTP, aiming for alignment ahead of Mass Transit development. The Leader explained that the Department for Culture, Media and Sport funding had extended the “You Can Make it Here” programme for creative industries and advised that it was important to ensure the programme had a local focus. · Councillor Mrs Carter requested information on the transfer of the Calderdale-owned bus depot assets on Huddersfield Road to the West Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive. Councillor Mrs Carter asked who authorised the transfer or sale of deeds to private companies and why public assets were allowed to become private assets? In response, the Leader confirmed that she would raise the issue with WYCA and respond copying in all Members. · Councillor E Hey queried Calderdale’s position on airport expansion given the West Yorkshire Mayor’s support of growth at Leeds Bradford Airport. In response, the Leader advised that the Council did not currently have a documented position on airport expansion and understood the need for future discussion within the Council and with the Combined Authority to establish a clear stance. The Leader confirmed that planning decisions for Leeds Bradford Airport fell under Leeds City Council, which recently approved refurbishment works. · Councillor Timbers requested clarification on the difference between bus franchising and permitting systems and expressed concern that certain cross-border routes (590, 591, 592) would remain outside the franchising regime. In response, the Leader acknowledged the complexity of the franchising and permitting systems and explained that the forthcoming Bus Bill should simplify processes and assured Members that the public should see little practical difference between permitted and franchised services. The Leader confirmed most services would remain as they were in March 2024 when franchising began and offered to provide an easy guide for Members.
Date of Decision: September 24, 2025