Calderdale Council has agreed to form a cross-party tackling child sexual exploitation working party that will review how the borough responds to both present-day grooming concerns and historic abuse allegations linked to a Halifax children’s home.
Scope and purpose
Cabinet members gave formal approval for the panel after councillors said the body must do more than examine modern grooming networks. The working party will be expected to consider wider patterns of exploitation and the long-term impact on victims, including incidents that pre-date the current generation of council officers and councillors.
“It’s time that people are heard.”
The council leader, Coun Daniel Sutherland (Reform UK), described the group as a necessary first step that demonstrates the authority's commitment to addressing these matters. He confirmed he had contacted Baroness Anne Longfield to request Calderdale be considered by the Government’s Independent Inquiry into Grooming Gangs, after the borough was not included in the first round of areas under review.
Leadership and survivor engagement
The deputy leader, Coun Paul Hawkaluk (Reform UK), will lead the new committee. Both he and the leader said they have already engaged with survivors connected to Skircoat Lodge and intend for those voices to form a central part of the working party's work. Councillors stressed the need for victims to be listened to and for any recommendations to focus on meaningful change.
- Working party remit: current grooming activity and historic abuse allegations, including Skircoat Lodge
- Leadership: chaired by the deputy leader of the council, Coun Paul Hawkaluk
- Key aim: ensure survivors’ voices inform council action and public services reform
What this means for Calderdale residents
For families and communities across Calderdale, the formation of the working party signals the council’s intention to scrutinise both past failures and present risks. While the panel itself is not an investigatory body with statutory powers, councillors and campaigners will expect it to produce findings that influence local safeguarding practice, commissioning of services, and engagement with national inquiries.
By asking for inclusion in the Government’s Independent Inquiry into Grooming Gangs, Calderdale’s leadership is seeking external scrutiny as well as internal review. That dual approach could lead to recommendations for improved inter-agency working, changes to how complaints are handled, and better support for survivors.
Next steps and accountability
Details on the working party’s membership, terms of reference and timetable are to be set by the council. Residents and survivors will be watching for the group’s first reports and for clear commitments on how any recommendations will be implemented and monitored.
| Item | Known detail |
|---|---|
| Chair | Deputy council leader, Coun Paul Hawkaluk |
| Request to national inquiry | Coun Daniel Sutherland wrote to Baroness Anne Longfield asking for Calderdale to be considered |
| Main focus | Grooming gangs and historic abuse, including Skircoat Lodge |
The council has described the working party as a starting point rather than a complete solution. The effectiveness of the initiative will depend on the transparency of its work, the involvement of survivors, and the willingness of the council and partner agencies to act on its findings.
