Yorkshire council warns of budget crisis as deficit reaches £47m

Kirkless local authority, hit by underfunding, price rises and extra demand on services, reports precarious finances

A West Yorkshire council said it was close to going bust unless a 47m funding gap could be closed, as a growing number of local authorities warned that they were almost running out of funds.

Kirklees council, which counts Huddersfield as its main town, said it could face a section 114 notice - signalling that it cannot balance its budget - in the 2024/25 financial year if the authority did not deliver required savings and minimise its expenditure this financial year.