• 30% of the money is used on administration (clerk's wages, costs, election coverage etc).
• 30% of the budget funds regular projects which the council is involved in at this time of year residents will see the benefits in the hanging baskets around the town, the wonderful condition of Eastthorpe Gardens in the Town Centre, and from a contribution to churches for maintenance of the clocks in the town. Mirfield residents may also remember the impressive display of lights and activities over the Christmas period.
• The largest chunk of the budget, £13,000, is this year allocated for what Councillor Bolt referred to as community support, making grants to groups and causes in Mirfield, organising events such as the Civic Service. Money can be used for to form a partnership with other groups or Kirklees Council to boost projects in Mirfield, by partnership working it has been shown that the money the Town Council has can be increased in some cases by 4 times to help worthy causes.

"The Plans Scrutiny Committee is not a decision making body but does have a statutory right to be consulted by Kirklees Council on all Mirfield planning matters. The Committee meets monthly and tries to represent the townsfolk when making it's observations on planning applications. Foremost in it's mind is to protect the Green Belt, Open Spaces and the character of our town so that any new developments reflect all that is best in Mirfield.

We have conducted an extensive research in order to have a major input into the Kirklees Local Development Framework which is an outline plan for Mirfield's development over the next 20 years. A copy of this is available at the Council Offices for examination. The Committee welcomes the views of Mirfield residents and all are welcome at any of the meetings."

"The Town Council has recently taken back control from Kirklees of the three allotment sites in Mirfield it is presently looking at the sites, talking to the Allotments Society and trying to deal

The function of Sub-Committees such as Finance or Plans is to reduce the workload into manageable blocks so that the whole Council doesn’t have to consider in detail every aspect of day-to-day running. Following investigation and discussion by the smaller committee, recommendations are made to full council and if they consider we have done our job correctly they vote and hopefully support our suggestions.

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.

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.

Finance and Plans are also in the forefront of the task of informing residents about the duties and successes of the Town Council. Future projects include email access to Councillors, a website and a regular newsletter."

"The more you know about our work the more I am sure you will support us in continuing to keep Mirfield special."