At a meeting on 1 September 2025, Calderdale Council's cabinet members agreed to several key initiatives, including the appropriation of land for educational purposes at Spring Hall Mansion, the progression of a public consultation for the Open Space, Sport and Recreation Supplementary Planning Document, and the endorsement of the Calderdale Council Complaints and Compliments Annual Report 2024/2025. The cabinet also accepted the recommendations from the Children and Young People's Scrutiny Board regarding the provision of Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) services within Calderdale.

SEND Services in Calderdale

The Cabinet accepted the recommendations from the Children and Young People's Scrutiny Board review of SEND services within Calderdale. Councillor Adam Wilkinson, Cabinet Member with responsibility for Children and Young People's Service, welcomed the report, particularly the contributions from young people at the workshop. He noted the workshop's format facilitated detailed questioning and strong collaboration, highlighting strengths and recognising challenges in SEND services.

Councillor Adam Wilkinson also announced that the Department for Education approved the draft proposals for a new special school in North Halifax, allowing the council to proceed to the next stage.

The recommendations accepted by the Cabinet included:

• Providing performance data on the timeframes for issuing Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) and the number granted without mediation or tribunal, every six months to the Scrutiny Board.
• Providing data detailing how many EHCP decisions are successfully challenged through tribunals or mediation every six months to the scrutiny board.
• Presenting a report to the Children and Young Persons Scrutiny Board within six months detailing how all needs are accommodated within an EHCP and the steps taken to ensure all partners involved with the young person have contributed.
• Repeating the Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Takeover Day annually, expanding the offer beyond members of the SEND Reference Group.

Land Appropriation at Spring Hall Mansion

The Cabinet approved the appropriation of land at Spring Hall Mansion, Huddersfield Road, Halifax, for educational purposes to allow for the expansion of Ravenscliffe High School. Councillor Adam Wilkinson presented the report, highlighting the increasing need for specialist school places and the risk of failing to meet statutory duties without the expansion. He emphasised the proposal's educational and financial importance, stating it was in the best interest of families who would benefit from their children remaining in education in Calderdale.

The decision involved two key actions:

1. Permanent Appropriation: Approving the permanent appropriation of the 'First Appropriation Site' for the proposed extension to the existing school, transferring the statutory holding powers of open space to land held for educational purposes, under Section 122 of the Local Government Act 1972.
2. Temporary Appropriation: Approving the temporary appropriation of the 'Second Appropriation Site' for a modular building for exclusive use by Ravenscliffe High School, also under Section 122 of the Local Government Act 1972. This site will revert to public open space upon completion of the permanent expansion.

Open Space, Sport and Recreation Supplementary Planning Document (SPD)

The Cabinet approved proceeding to public consultation on the draft Open Space, Sport and Recreation SPD, as presented by Councillor Scott Patient, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member with responsibility for Climate Action and Housing. This document supports the council's priorities of reducing inequalities, creating thriving towns, and tackling the climate emergency. The SPD aims to enhance health and wellbeing, create quality built environments, and support the Calderdale Wellbeing Strategy.

The public consultation, as required by the Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2012, will last for four weeks. Once adopted, the SPD will serve as a material consideration in determining planning applications, particularly in assessing open space requirements for new residential developments.

Calderdale Council Complaints and Compliments Annual Report 2024/2025

The Cabinet endorsed the Calderdale Council Complaints and Compliments Annual Report 2024/2025, presented by Councillor Silvia Dacre, Cabinet Member with responsibility for Resources. This report provided an overview of the council's handling of complaints and compliments between April 2024 and March 2025, highlighting key trends, service-specific insights, and outcomes. It also detailed the council's efforts to strengthen complaint handling, customer service, and early resolution, aligning with the Customer Experience Framework and Vision 2034¹.

Key points from the report included:

• The council received 214 corporate complaints, 8 Children's Social Care complaints, and 27 Adult Social Care complaints.
• 50% of corporate complaints were upheld or partially upheld.
• 57% of complaints were resolved within 10 working days, an improvement from 46% in the previous year.
• The Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman (LGO) uphold rate was 76%, below the national average of 81%.
• The council received 447 compliments, demonstrating a commitment to compassionate, person-centred services.

The Cabinet supported Option 2 from the report, which involves introducing a dedicated complaints improvement plan to target LGO response times, embed learning, and formalise delivery of the two-stage model.

Question Time

During Question Time, members of the public and councillors posed questions to Cabinet Members on various topics, including:

• Speed reduction at the junction of Bridge Lanes and Savile Road.
• Publication of a guide to staff responsibilities.
• Planning control at Calder Valley Skip Hire.
• Planning conditions at the Belmont Incinerator.
• Environmental Permit S13/006 issued to Calder Valley Skip Hire.
• Demolition of Halifax Swimming Pool and conservation of the ceramic mural.
• Salterhebble Traffic Lights.
• Taxi Licences.

Councillor Jane Scullion, Leader of the Council and Labour Group, and other Cabinet Members, responded and advised that full written responses would be provided to all questions.