ThePress
Friday January 27, 2017
Kirklees reveal tax bombshell A special teenager TRIBUTES have been paid to a popular teenager who died just two days after her 14th birthday. Ellie Bramham (pictured above) passed away on January 11 due to complications linked to type 1 diabetes. A number of flowers were laid at BBG Academy in Birkenshaw, where the year nine pupil studied. Last week her fellow pupils released balloons in her memory. BBG Academy head teacher Saira Luffman said: “Ellie was a very funloving, bubbly character with a great generosity of spirit. She played a big role in academy life. “She will be remembered by many for her love of making everyone laugh and for her infectious smile. Ellie will be sorely missed at BBG. Our thoughts are with her family and friends at this very difficult time.” A JustGiving page has been set up to help pay for Ellie’s funeral. A message on the site said: “On January 11 our beautiful niece Ellie Bramham sadly passed away only two days after her 14th birthday. “She suddenly became ill due to type 1 diabetes, which was brought under control at hospital but the strain on her was too much and she died of multiple organ failure. She was such a beautiful and happy girl with her whole life ahead of her and had such a bubbly personality. She always had everyone laughing. “It is truly devastating for the whole family and everyone who knew her, but especially for her parents who have lost their child. “So I am setting up this fund page to help them and to give those who wish to the opportunity to contribute towards a special send off for Ellie and to support her parents through this tragic time.” Donations on the site have now passed £6,000. Ellie’s funeral will take place on February 3 at St Peter's Church in Birstall. BBG head Mrs Luffman said pupils will wear purple ribbons for Ellie at the service. A fundraising evening has been arranged to raise money for a memorial bench. The psychic and pamper evening will be held at Birstall Wellbeing Centre on February 10. The psychic evening is for over 16s only and includes supper and a demonstration. Tickets cost £10 with all proceeds to go towards the bench which will be situated in the faith garden at Oakwell Hall.
By James Morris RESIDENTS in Kirklees are set to face a hike in council tax – with some set to pay up to 10 per cent more. The rise is set to come in over the next two years as the cash-strapped council tries to boost its budget after government funding was slashed. A report – to be considered next week by councillors – will ask for a two per cent increase in its general spend, with an additional three per cent rise for social care proposed by the government. This will then be replicated the following year – meaning five per cent increases each time. However the council has admitted that the hike will still not balance the books and more of its cash reserves will be needed. In past years reserves have been used to boost council finances, but usable reserves have now fallen from £93 million to £42 million, with a further £26 million already earmarked for use. Kirklees have admitted they still face further budget savings of £50million by 2020/21. This comes on top of huge cuts that have already been implemented by the council – meaning £104 million worth of savings will have been made by 2020/21. Some of these have been made through cuts to areas such as museums, grass cutting, street cleaning and household waste sites. There are also plans to make
Coun David Sheard
changes to children’s centres around the district and a consultation has been launched that could see some of Kirklees’ care homes privatised. Leader of Kirklees Coun David Sheard (Lab, Heckmondwike) blamed the proposed increases on a lack of funding from government, resulting in savings having to be made. He said: “We have reduced services across all sectors – some more visible than others, for example changing the way we collect waste to save money. “But we continue to face our most serious ever financial challenge so many more services will be reduced, removed or taken on by other people or organisations. “Past decisions taken in good faith are also now costing us. “We were told that if we froze our council tax, a zero per cent rise for our residents, we would receive the cash we would have gained from a two per cent increase. “That money has not been added into the base budget, it was to come
through a grant and now that grant has been cut. It is costing us £14 million every year. “Withdrawing revenue support grant will cost us £33 million over the next four years. “We have made significant savings – over £120m – through efficiencies and transformation, with further savings budgeted – but even after these are applied the scale of the financial challenge is massive. Kirklees is still the eighth worst funded council nationally, and the second worst funded metropolitan council in the country per head of population.” It is expected that around 1,000 more council jobs will be cut over the next four years as services are stripped back to the bare essentials. Coun Sheard admitted the cuts would see a reduction in services. “We will continue to invest in our priorities of making sure those most vulnerable are supported and we have obvious pressures in some areas like children's services where the right thing to do is to continue to invest,” he said. “But we must focus on our top priorities and do fewer things ourselves, with partners, volunteers or community groups taking on other services they want to keep.” The council’s cabinet will make a recommendation on Tuesday (January 31) before the full council meets on Wednesday February 15 to discuss the budget and make a final decision.
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News In Brief Drunken taxi rage HECKMONDWIKE: A man who damaged a taxi while he was drunk has been warned over his future conduct. Adam Tomlinson, 38, became angry when Mohammed Naeem picked him and a friend up and asked for the £13.80 fare up front. They asked to be taken to a cash machine before Tomlinson became aggressive and punched the dividing screen, smashing it in the process. District Judge Michael Fanning told Tomlinson, of Princes Street, Heckmondwike, said: “It’s a mystery as to why you behaved in this particular way. “Taxi drivers put up with these type of situations and it must not have been pleasant for the person working in that situation.” Tomlinson pleaded guilty to criminal damage when he appeared at Kirklees Magistrates’ Court. He was fined £220 and ordered to pay £300 compensation to Mr Naeem.
Crown court date CLECKHEATON: A woman has appeared in court charged with attacking a man. Leanne Thornton, 22, is accused of unlawfully and maliciously wounding Jamie Coleman with intent to do him grievous bodily harm. The alleged incident happened on Richmond Street, Cleckheaton, on November 1. Thornton, of Clarence Street, Cleckheaton, is further accused of assaulting Mr Coleman on December 22. Her case was sent to Leeds Crown Court where she will first appear on February 21.
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Celebrating excellence STUDENTS from Batley Girls’ High School attended an awards ceremony to celebrate their achievements. A-Level and GCSE pupils were at the celebration evening which saw a number of them recognised with special awards. Keynote speeches were made by Humeera Shameem, who is a systems integration engineer at Cummins Turbo Technologies, and Erin McNeill, who is an Ogden science officer at the University of Leeds. Both speakers told of their own educational and career journeys. Co-Heads Ann McCall and Julie Haigh said: “This was a wonderful event and testament to the hard work of all our students and staff. “We would like to congratulate each and every member of our school community for another set of outstanding A-Level and GCSE results.”
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PASSING ON THE KNOWLEDGE: Guest speaker Humeera Shameem addresses Batley Girls’ High School pupils
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