Denby Dale Council - Its Role In The Community

Denby Dale Parish Council serves the semi-rural parish of Denby Dale within the Metropolitan District of Kirklees.  It has twenty Councillors in total, serving the four Wards of Denby and Cumberworth (incorporating Denby Dale, Upper and Lower Cumberworth, Upper and Lower Denby, Birdsedge and High Flatts), Skelmanthorpe (incorporating Scissett, Skelmanthorpe and the hamlet of Kitchenroyd), Emley (incorporating Emley and Emley Moor), and Clayton West.

The Parish Council, over the years, has played a leading role in supporting environmental projects in the parish.  It is a co-funder of the Denby Dale Countryside Management Project and is a keen supporter of the Denby Dale Parish Environment Trust.  The Trust runs a small scale environmental grant scheme that is funded by the Parish Council and grants have been awarded to various schools and conservation groups within the parish area.

The Parish Council is supportive of the local community through its annual grant scheme which is usually held in the spring or early summer.

The Parish Council is a consultee in respect of planning applications.  The Council considers all planning applications for the parish area and observations are forwarded to Kirklees Metropolitan Council, which is the Planning Authority for the area.

Above all, the Parish Council acts as a ‘grass roots’ authority, channelling its electorate’s concerns through to the appropriate departments within other authorities.  Its Councillors are a visible presence within the community and are able to address the public’s concerns through the medium of Council meetings.