Cabinet - 4th June 2014

The next meeting of the Cabinet will take place on Wednesday 4th June at 2.00pm at Scaitcliffe House in Accrington. This is a meeting where the six senior Councillors (Chaired by Leader of the Council, Cllr Miles Parkinson) debate policies and give financial updates on activities within the borough.

It is a public meeting which members of the public are welcome to come and view from the seating area at the rear. A full set of papers can be found online here:

Cabinet - 4th June 2014

Spring Hill: Munsif Dad becomes first Kashmiri Mayor of Hyndburn

Cllr Munsif Dad of Spring Hill ward was inaugurated as Mayor of Hyndburn in a special Council meeting on Saturday 24th May 2014. Munsif is the first person of Kashmiri origin to become Mayor of the borough and has spoken of the great honour since 2/3 of those in Hyndburn of Asian heritage are from Kashmir backgrounds.

Choking back the tears, Munsif said, "Every child dreams of making their parents proud. My parents are no longer with us but I hope today that they are proud."

He also paid tribute to the outgoing Mayor and Mayoress, saying, "It will be difficult to match the sheer number of engagements that Judith and Kath have taken part in. They have both worked hard for the borough and I will endeavour to do the same in my Mayoral year."

Retiring Mayor Judith Addison (pictured left) said, "It's been a wonderful year and if the new Mayor has half as good a time as I did he will enjoy it. My aim as Mayor was to get out into the community and meet as many people from all walks of life as possible, with 6 or 7 engagements per week on avergae. Thanks to Kath Pratt for being by my side for the year and my best wishes to the new Mayor and his family."

Conservative Councillor Marlene Haworth (pictured top with Munsif Dad) becomes Deputy Mayor in preparation for full Mayorality in 2015/16.

Great Harwood: Alan Whalley gets first Hyndburn Ruby Award

Mr Alan Whalley of Great Harwood has been given the first Hyndburn Ruby Award, a special award created this year to mark the 40th anniversary of the creation of Hyndburn Borough Council. The award recognises exceptional service to the borough and a representative will be chosen from each of the townships by local Councillors.

Mr Whalley has been an active member of the Great Harwood community for many years and set up the Community Action Group in 2002 which has been going strong ever since. After glowing tributes from Cllrs Noordad Aziz and Gareth Molineux, Alan accepted the award at the full Council meeting on Saturday 24th May 2014 and gave a short speech.

He said, "I see myself as a true Harroder, having lived here for over 80 years. Harwood has lived through the death of its manufacturing industry to become a burgeoning, tolerant, multicultural town. It is a pleasure to have worked with many Councillors and community groups over the years to make Great Harwood a more prosperous place."

Analysis of the recent elections

• Everyone has been expecting a strong result for UKIP in the European elections for months, so it's no surprise to see them top the poll. Across Europe right wing nationalist parties are having good results including France's Front National and the Danish People's Party.  
• The Tories have won every European election in the last 20 years. Coming third in a national election for the first time in living memory is a disaster for David Cameron.
• We're glad to see Labour's vote up significantly on 2009 (from 16% in 2009 to over 25% now) and we're on course to see a large increase in our MEPs (13 in 2009 to 20 now). We've gained seats in the North East, North West, West Midlands, South West, Yorkshire and Humber, and London.
• Unlike the Conservatives, Labour is set to have representation in the European Parliament in every region, after gaining a seat in the South West. The Conservatives have no seats in the North East for the first time since 1999.
• Tony Blair never won a European election despite winning three general elections. Even in 1999 when Labour had double figure leads in the polls we didn't win this contest. These are traditionally tough elections for centre and centre-left parties across Europe, as we have seen again this week.
• More importantly for the General Election this is on the back of local election results that saw Labour make 338 gains and significant progress in the target seats that we need to win in 2015, including Cambridge, Carlisle, Crawley, Enfield North, Lincoln, Harlow, Hastings and Peterborough. Lord Ashcroft's poll reinforced that on Saturday.
• This is another disastrous result for the Lib Dems, losing almost all of their MEPs, which together with the local election wipe-out in the likes of Manchester and Lambeth shows that a year from the general election their comeback strategy has failed.

Ed Miliband on the European elections

We all know that people feel left out of the economy and ignored by our politics. The votes for UKIP are a reflection of that, and a reflection of the public's dissatisfaction with the EU which does need to change to work for Britain.

Labour has beaten the Tories for the first time in 20 years in a European election, and it builds on a clear story of progress in key battleground seats in the local elections – confirmed by Lord Ashcroft's poll. These results taken together show we can win the General Election if we take the right steps between now and next May.

The way we do that is with real answers to the deep problems in our economy. Ed Miliband has been leading the argument for change in our economy to make it work for working people and deal with the cost-of-living crisis. In this campaign alone we've set out plans to:

• Give renting families more security and stopping them being ripped off
• Ban exploitative zero hour contracts
• Guarantee GP access
• Raise the minimum wage

Ed Miliband has consistently attacked UKIP on policies that would harm working people –higher taxes, removing basic rights at work and damaging our NHS. And we have called them out for unacceptable comments.

But you can't tackle anti-politics sentiment with the old politics of calling each other names or by ignoring the public's concerns. You tackle it by showing you can make a difference to people's lives and by reconnecting with voters. Ed has been leading the argument for big changes in our economy, and changed our party on immigration so we address people's concerns rather than dismiss them.

And our party is reconnecting with voters conversation by conversation, doorstep by doorstep, street by street. We have knocked on 7 million doors in this campaign. And, even though UKIP and the Tories have outspent us with seven-figure sums, Labour had more activists out on polling day than all the other parties combined.

David Cameron spent this campaign showing his weakness with UKIP and his backbenchers by talking about an EU referendum that he can't even tell us which way he'll vote in. Rather than tackling the problems in our economy the Tories look set to carry on banging on about Europe – we've already seen several Tory MPs calling for an electoral pact with UKIP and others calling for the Tories to shift their position on a referendum.

Europe: Hyndburn European Election 2014 results

The results of the European election in Hyndburn was revealed on Sunday 25th May 2014 at 10.30pm and the votes cast were as follows:

UKIP - 7694
Labour - 7173
Conservative - 4054
BNP - 787
Green - 590
Liberal Democrats - 360

There were also a number of votes cast for smaller parties. In Hyndburn, 22,269 residents voted with a turnout of 37.32% and 183 spoiled ballot papers.

Leader of HBC, Cllr Miles Parkinson and Cabinet member for Finance, Cllr Joan Smith, attended the count and recorded the results.

All the votes in the North West region were tallied up and the eight MEPs were selected from the number of votes that they received proportionately. The make-up for the North West now looks like this:

1. Theresa Mary Griffin (Lab)
2. Paul Andrew Nuttall (UKIP)
3. Jacqueline Foster (Con)
4. Mohammed Afzal Khan (Lab)
5. Louise Bours (UKIP)
6. Julie Carolyn Ward (Lab)
7. Sajjad Karim (Con)
8. Steven Marcus Woolfe (UKIP)

Julie Ward MEP was the Labour representative in the Hyndburn election and recently visited the area ahead of voting day. She retains her seat and is currently campaigning to abolish the European parliament buildings in Strasbourg to focus on Brussels and save money.

Great Harwood Show - 26th May 2014

The annual Great Harwood Show takes place this Bank Holiday Monday at the show ground on Harwood Lane towards the junction with Whalley Road.

A website with full details can be found here:

www.greatharwoodshow.co.uk

European Election results to be counted on Sunday

With the outcome of the local elections revealing large Labour victories across Great Britain, the results of the European side of the voting will be shown on Sunday as ballot papers are counted.

In Hyndburn, votes will again be counted at Hyndburn Sports Centre at the later time of 10.00pm.

Victories for Labour in Hyndburn local elections

Labour scored the majority of victories in the 2014 local elections and Cllr Miles Parkinson remains as Leader of HBC, maintaining the number of seats on the Council at 23. The Conservatives (led by Peter Britcliffe) suffered a third year of crushing defeats and their number of Councillors is down to just 8. UKIP did not fare as well as they expected, gaining only one Councillor, while the local party leader, Ian Robinson, lost his Great Harwood seat. 

RISHTON

Ken Moss (Labour) - 924

Warren Melia (Conservative) - 426

Samuel Haworth (Independent) - 81

David Dowling (UKIP) - 554

CLAYTON-LE-MOORS

Tim O'Kane (Labour) - 465

Stephen Brierley (Conservative) - 364

Janet Storey (Independent) - 152

Peter Street (UKIP) - 325

PEEL

Joyce Plummer (Labour) - 568

Susan Johnson (Independent) - 57

Alex Ross (UKIP) - 266

Kerry Gormley (Green) - 39

HUNCOAT

Bernard Dawson (Labour) - 457

Nick Whittaker (Conservative) - 396

David Daly (Green) - 89

Mark Taylor (UKIP) - 377

IMMANUEL

Colette McCormack (Labour) - 480

Julie Livesey (Conservative) - 516

Christopher Matthew (UKIP) - 365

MILNSHAW

Clare Pritchard (Labour) - 589

Malcolm Pritchard (UKIP) - 701

NETHERTON

Bernadette Parkinson (Labour) - 731

Josh Allen (Conservative) - 158

Maureen Tomlinson (Independent) - 197

Carole Guilfoyle (UKIP) - 330

OVERTON

Jenny Nedwell (Labour) - 722

Peter Clarke (Conservative) - 439

Joan West (Green) - 99

Ian Robinson (UKIP) - 713

SPRING HILL

Pam Barton (Labour) -877

Mohammed Safdar (Conservative) - 601

Ken Smith (UKIP) - 278

ST ANDREWS

Stewart Eaves (Labour) - 368

Peter Britcliffe (Conservative) - 626

Dayle Taylor (UKIP) - 300

ST OSWALDS

Susan Young (Labour) - 513

Doug Heyes (Conservative) - 651

Paul Thompson (UKIP) - 801

 

Polling stations open until 10.00pm tonight

Polling stations across Hyndburn are now open and residents are able to vote until 10.00pm tonight and the voter number on your polling card will tell you which station you need to go to.

Voting day is slightly later this year because ballots are also being cast today for European elections to decide which MEPs will represent us in Brussels and Strasbourg.

If anyone requires help to get to the polling station please contact your local Labour representatives who will arrange a lift if you need one.

Vote Labour in Hyndburn on 22nd May

Polling stations across Hyndburn open tomorrow morning at 7.00am in the local and European elections. Labour have put up a candidate in every ward and residents are urged to cast their ballots and use their vote.

If anyone needs assistance in getting to a polling station please contact your local Labour representative.

New Mayor to be inaugurated on 24th May 2014

Spring Hill Councillor Munsif Dad will take over from incumbent Mayor of Hyndburn, Judith Addison, in a special Council meeting on Saturday 24th May 2014.

The position of Mayor is held for one year and alternates between the political parties, although the position is strictly neutral during the tenure. Labour have nominated Cllr Dad to be Mayor for the 2014/15 year, with Conservative Marlene Haworth taking role as Deputy Mayor.

The agenda for the Council meeting can be viewed here:

Full Council - 24th May 2014

Hyndburn Labour will not be accepting the 1% increase in allowances in 2014

Allowances for Councillors are set to go up by 1% at the start of the new administrative year after the elections. All Hyndburn Labour members have voted not to take the increase and keep their money at the 2009 level.

Such rises have been put forward year-on-year and Councillors' allowances were reduced across the board by Labour once we took control in 2011. In contrast, the Conservatives reduced their allowances for just one month before the elections before taking the increase.

By freezing their allowances, the Labour group in Hyndburn have saved over £30,000 from that portion of the budget.

St Andrews: Election Candidates 2014

The list of candidates in the forthcoming local elections in St Andrews ward on 22nd May can be seen above.

Stewart Eaves is standing for the Labour party and has been a long-time supporter of the group here in Hyndburn. He believes that there is a strong need for more Labour voices in Oswaldtwistle.

LGA report warns that Councils are facing financial tipping point

Councils across England are facing a financial “tipping point” and services like leisure facilities, children's centres and pothole repairs are likely to bear the brunt of funding cuts over the next two years, the Local Government Association (LGA) has stated. Fees and charges will rise, and reserves will shrink, its research shows.

The LGA says the impact of spending reductions will start to become increasingly visible over the next two years, as councils tackle a further £10bn cut in government funding.

In its ‘Under Pressure’ report, the LGA surveyed councils in England about their strategies for dealing with the next round of cuts. In 2015-16, three in five councils say there will be ‘no efficiencies left’ to be made, or that efficiencies alone will not be enough to tackle that year's cuts and more services will be cut back or scrapped.

Cllr Gerald Vernon-Jackson, vice-chairman of the LGA, said: “It is testament to councils' resilience that many people have noticed relatively little difference in most of their local services over the past three years.
“Faced with the biggest cuts in living memory, councils have restructured and shared services where it has been possible and have made the most efficient part of the public sector even more efficient. However, efficiency savings cannot be remade and we are now reaching the end of the road.

“We need to find a better way to ensure public money gets to the frontline where it is most needed and doesn't get lost in the maze of Whitehall. Otherwise we risk sleepwalking into a situation where an upturn in the economy coincides with a decline in public services.”

The LGA research showed that two in five councils will try to stem the impact of cuts by trying to raise more money – through investment, fees and charges. This could include councils increasing charges for discretionary services like leisure centres to a level where they are self-funding and less reliant on money raised through taxation. And half of councils (48%) will use money set aside in reserves as a short-term fix to balance budgets and delay the impact of cuts next year.

According to the LGA, government funding given to councils to run local services will have been cut by 40% by May 2015. LGA modelling, which factors in reduced funding and rising demand for adult social care, also shows that money available to provide popular services like running gyms, parks, libraries and youth centres is likely to shrink by 66% by the end of the decade.

A total of 73 English local authorities replied to the LGA’s Under Pressure report, which also highlighted that at least 95% of English councils have now engaged in some form of shared service delivery resulting in savings of £357m to combat the cuts.

St Oswalds: Election Candidates 2014

The candidates for the forthcoming local elections in St Oswalds ward on 22nd May can be seen above.

Susan Young is standing for the Labour party and is already an active member of the community. Recently, the Lancashire Telegraph ran a story on her solo efforts to improve the War Memorial in Oswaldtwistle:

Lancashire Telegraph - Oswaldtwistle_woman_does_DIY_job_on_war_memorial

Susan also works closely with the existing ward Councillors for Oswaldtwistle, Cllrs Bill Pinder (pictured right) and Colette McCormack. She is hoping to join the ranks of Labour Councillors at HBC on May 23rd when the votes are counted.

Ed Miliband visits Manchester

Labour Leader Ed Miliband visited Manchester on 12th May to give a speech and those who attended have spoken very highly of him and his vision for the future.

Eammon, a Labour party member who has only recently become active, enjoyed the speech and his verdict was that the speech was pretty impressive. He said, "I must say that if we don't win the next general election then Great Britain will lose its beloved NHS. Ed gave a really rousing speech with a positive outlook under Labour."

Europe: Election candidate Wajid Khan

Wajid Khan is standing for Labour in the European elections in the Northwest on May 22nd. He is currently a Councillor and works as a lecturer for the University of Central Lancashire.

Wajid was out showing support for Milnshaw candidate Cllr Clare Pritchard on 9th May and promoting the work of MEPs on the doorsteps. His Twitter account can be found here:

https://twitter.com/wajid4europe

Local and European elections take place on Thursday 22nd May this year.

Netherton: Election Candidates 2014

The candidates for the forthcoming local election in Netherton ward can be seen by clicking the image above.

Bernadette Parkinson is standing in the Great Harwood ward as she has strong ties to the area and would like to get involved and help improve things for residents. Her husband, Cllr Miles Parkinson, is Leader of HBC and has been supporting her and her team throughout the campaign.

Bernadette has the backing of the four existing Great Harwood Labour Councillors plus the MP for Hyndburn, Graham Jones.

Baxenden: Muzak Hall at Haworth Art Gallery on 16th May

Before the days of television, film and computer games, people were entertained by live Music Hall, with singers, comedians and outlandish comperes.

The Haworth Art Gallery will be re-visiting this tradition, with a present-day twist on Friday 16 May at 7.30pm with an ‘Open Mic Nite’ with duo, Laurie and Carol from Clitheroe, with supporting acts from Accrington and Rossendale College, local singers and musicians plus lots of audience participation!

For a brilliant, free night of entertainment come along to the Haworth Art Gallery from 7pm – refreshments will also be provided!

Overton: Election Candidates 2014

The candidates for the forthcoming local election in Overton can be seen by clicking the image above.

Jenny Nedwell is standing for the Labour party and has been a local activist for some time. She is hoping to be elected so that she can further her work with the Labour group in Hyndburn and improve Great Harwood.

Planning Committee - 14th May 2014

Cllr Harry Grayson will be chairing the next HBC Planning Committee meeting on Wednesday 14th May at 2.00pm. The meeting will take place in the Council Chamber at Accrington Town Hall and is open to viewing by the public, who may sit in the gallery upstairs to observe.

A full set of papers for the meeting can be found here:

Planning Committee - 14th May 2014

Immanuel: Election Candidates 2014

Candidates for the forthcoming local election in Immanuel can be found by clicking the image above.

Sitting Councillor Colette McCormack has been canvassing with her team for the Labour party and is hopeful to win another term on 22nd May.

Europe: MEP Julie Ward visits Hyndburn

Julie Ward, Member of the European Parliament for Northwest England, is standing for re-election on May 22nd. There are currently eight MEPs for the whole of the Northwest which stretches from Crewe to Carlisle and two are currently Labour.

Julie has produced an election leaflet to show what MEPs do and is a keen advocate of cutting wasteful spending within the European Union. She has also spoken of her support for abolishing the parliament in Strasbourg as she feels it is unnecessary in addition to the one in Brussels.

Julie was out campaigning in Milnshaw with Cllr Clare Pritchard and several members of the local Labour group on 9th May and received a positive response on the doorstep.

Julie's Twitter account can be viewed here:

https://twitter.com/julie4nw