Hyndburn Sports Awards 2013

Nominations are now open for the Hyndburn Sports Awards, which celebrate the sporting achievements of local people and recognise their efforts and dedication to sport.
The awards recognise and honour the achievements of those involved in sport in Hyndburn as well as the coaches and volunteers that make such valuable contributions.
The nominations process is very simple and you can make nominations in ten categories:

• Coach of the Year Award 2013
• Community Club of the Year Award 2013
• Young Volunteer of the Year Award 2013
• Adult Volunteer of the Year Award 2013
• Rising Star Award 2013 (Under 21)
• School of the Year 2013
• Lifetime Achievement Award 2013
• Service to Disability Sport Award
• Inspire Award (age 11+)
• Team of the Year Award

You can nominate yourself or someone else who you think deserves some recognition for their efforts or achievements.  To nominate visit http://www.lancashiresport.org.uk/hyndburn-sports-awards for an application form. Closing date for receiving completed nominations is 12noon on Friday 5th July 2013.

Cllr Ciaran Wells, Cabinet Member for Leisure said; “The aim of these awards is to celebrate and showcase the amazing sporting talent that we have here in the Borough and identify the people who have put a lot of time and effort into making sport available and enjoyable to all. The  awards recognise not only the stars in the public eye but also the unsung heroes, so please get nominating and make sure that our local sporting heroes get the recognition they deserve.”

The shortlisted nominees will be invited to a prestigious awards ceremony at Accrington Town Hall on Thursday 12th September 2013.

For more information, visit www.hyndburnleisure.co.uk, email kerry.smith@hyndburnleisure.co.uk or call 01254 380 658.

Gypsy and Traveller policy unveiled

A report was submitted to Cabinet yesterday which will see a Gypsy and Traveller Accommodation Assessment undertaken in Hyndburn. Cllr Clare Pritchard, Deputy Leader of HBC and portfolio holder for Housing and Regeneration, put forward the report which was unanimously approved.

The assessment will demonstrate how much Hyndburn already does for the gyspy community in order to put safeguards in place to prevent further pressure being put on the borough in future years. Other boroughs have been accused of doing far less in the provision of traveller sites and no policy was written into the Northwest Spatial Strategy in 2008 to ensure that camp sites are distributed evenly across the region. This new report will go some way to addressing that issue and force other boroughs to provide accommodation in addition to that which Hyndburn already provides.

There are numerous legal gyspy sites across Hyndburn and this does not refer to the illegal emcampments which have caused the local Council problems in the past. Each Council is expected to provide designated areas for travellers and historically Hyndburn has always set aside more land than is is required to do. However, the lack of areas in neighbouring boroughs is placing greater pressure on Hyndburn and the Council is actively addressing this matter in various ways.

A link to the Cabinet report can be found here:

http://www.hyndburnbc.gov.uk/downloads/10b._Gypsy_and_Traveller_Accommodation_Assessment.pdf

Standards Committee need independent members

Hyndburn Council are on the hunt for local people with an interest in local issues and the wish to serve their local community, by supporting the work of the Standards Committee (with Cllr June Harrison as Vice-Chair, pictured above), the body responsible for promoting and maintaining high standards of conduct by members of the Council.

The Council are looking for a voluntary ‘independent person’, who would attend and speak at the Standards Committee and also be consulted as part of the process of investigating complaints against Councillors.

Besides a keen interest in public life and local issues, the Standards Committee ‘independent person’ would need to have the ability to be objective and impartial.

Whilst this is a voluntary role, pay travel and subsistence expenses would be covered and full rigorous training would be provided.

For more information and how to apply, visit our website www.hyndburnbc.gov.uk. The closing date for applications is 7th June 2013.

The Ark is coming....

Creativity Works are please to announce the launch of The Ark, a new art work by internationally acclaimed artist Beth Derbyshire.

Taking the form of a floating sculpture The Ark will travel down the Leeds to Liverpool canal between Blackburn to Brierfield from the 20th May until the 8th June, and will be moored on the canal in Clayton–le–Moors on Tuesday 28th May. Artist Beth Derbyshire has created The Ark in response to the beautiful and unexpected landscape of Pennine Lancashire and the stories that are contained there. Funded by a grant from Arts Council England, this work celebrates the rich industrial, cultural and natural heritage of the area, creating a spectacle that will bring Pennine Lancashire to the attention of the region.

You can see the Ark as it winds its way down the canal, or come on board and watch the films contained inside as it moors in the communities it passes. Five new films feature local people who have taken on the role of the ‘Keepers’ of the landscape. They each tell their own unique stories of how they have come to live in this area and their personal connection to the landscape that surrounds them.

Alongside The Ark, there is a packed creative activity programme in each area that invites you to get involved in a wide range of opportunities from planting workshops to artist talks.

For more information go to www.thearklancashire.co.uk

Lee Rigby Memorial - 8th June 2013

Hyndburn Borough Council are to hold a short memorial on Saturday 8th June at 11.00a.m. at the Accrington Pals Memorial on Church Street, outside St James Church for the late Drummer Lee Rigby.

All residents are invited to attend.

Armed Forces Community Covenant signed in Hyndburn

Hyndburn support for the armed services community was reinforced by the signing of an official Covenant today, when representatives from Hyndburn civilian and Armed Forces communities came together to sign the Hyndburn Community Covenant, a voluntary statement of mutual support between the civilian and Armed Forces community in Hyndburn.

Lead by Hyndburn Council, the Hyndburn Community Covenant complements the national Armed Forces Covenant, which recognises the sacrifices made by members of the Armed Forces and their families, along with the unique challenges they face, both whilst in service and when they return to civilian life.

The signing of the local Community Covenant gives the Hyndburn community the chance to show their respect and support for the Armed Forces community. It will also help raise awareness of the challenges faced by members of the Armed Forces and their families as they return to civilian life and will encourage public, private, community and voluntary organisations to help make the transition smooth.

Hyndburn Council Leader, Councillor Miles Parkinson, said: “The people of Hyndburn are proud of their strong association with the Armed Forces and value the sacrifices made by current and former members of the Armed Forces and their families, both locally and nationally. Signing the covenant enables the Council to publicly demonstrate the value the Borough feels towards the Armed Forces Community and to recognise the sacrifices they make on our behalf.”

Councillor Doug Hayes, Hyndburn Council’s Armed Forces Champion, said: “It is often difficult for those who don’t have close links to past and present members of the Armed Forces to fully understand the challenges they and their families face. These challenges not only arise due to their time in service but can also arise when they move back in to civilian life. I’m honoured and proud to have been involved in the development and signing of the Hyndburn Community Covenant as it not only recognises the valuable contribution made by the Armed Forces Community, it will also help to ensure that members of the Armed Forces Community are not disadvantaged by their service when they return to civilian life.”

Along with Councillor Miles Parkinson and Councillor Doug Hayes the Hyndburn Community Covenant was signed by Brigadier Nick Fitzgerald MBE, on behalf of the Armed Forces and a range of local partners including Hyndburn Homes, Hyndburn Leisure Trust, Hyndburn and Rabble Valley Community and Voluntary Services, Accrington and Rossendale College, Job Centre+, Royal British Legion, Salute, Veterans in Communities, East Lancs Chamber of Commerce, East Lancs Clinical Commissioning Group and Lancashire Care NHS Foundation Trust.

£1.27m Efficiency Grant for Hyndburn

Hyndburn Council has welcomed the news that it is one of seven authorities nationally that will receive an 'efficiency support grant' to help push forward ambitious plans for reducing expenditure. The grant, worth £1.27 million, is being paid by the Government to help the Council take steps to reduce its long term expenditure. This is the first wave of payments under the government's efficiency support grant programme, and more Councils will be bidding to benefit from the scheme later in the year.

Hyndburn Council Leader, Cllr Miles Parkinson, welcomed the good news saying;  "Over the past two years the Council has made massive savings, and reduced its staffing by over 20 per cent. The Government grant will enable us to continue with our efficiency programme, and establish ourselves as a leader in this field. The news that we have been successful in qualifying for this money is very welcome, and I would like to emphasise that our efficiency programme is one that has the full support of all parties on the Council so it really is a team effort."