Peel: Joyce Plummer confirmed as 2014 election candidate

Joyce Plummer has been confirmed as the Labour candidate for Peel ward in the 2014 local elections. Joyce has been a hardworking member of the community for many years and is actively involved with other Labour Councillors such as June Harrison and Wendy Dwyer on projects throughout the area.

Joyce is the preferred successor to Cllr Bernard Dawson who is standing down as District Councillor to concentrate on his role as County Councillor.

Hyndburn Fire Station Car Wash - 14th September 2014

Hyndburn Fire Brigade are conducting a charity car wash on 14th September in aid of The Fire Fighters Charity. The car wash will take place at the fire station on Hyndburn Road between 10.00am and 4.00pm, with the cost of the wash being down to individual voluntary donations.

Baxenden: Classic car cavalcade on 15th September 2013

Haworth Art Gallery is set for a roaring start to Autumn with a Classic Car Cavalcade on Sunday 15th September.

The cavalcade is traveling from Queen Street Mill Museum, via Towneley Hall and Rossendale Museum and is due to arrive at the Haworth at approximately 2.45pm and will stay here until 3.30pm before travelling on to Helmshore Textile Museum. It is expected that there will be between 30 to 40 vehicles parked in the Haworth grounds.

This is a free event and everyone is welcome to come along.

HBC launches Council Tax e-billing

As part of its drive to increase efficiency and cut costs, Hyndburn Council today launched
e-billing, a new free, secure and easy way for local people to access their Council Tax or Business Rates bills by email.

E-billing will not only save time, paper and money but will also give anyone who signs up before 30th November 2013, the chance to win an iPad or a Kindle Fire HD plus a host of other prizes all donated by local businesses. They’ll also be able to access their most up to date bill within minutes of any change being made.

Cllr Joan Smith, Cabinet Member for Finance, said; “We want as many people as possible to sign up for e-billing to cut costs and improve efficiency, as each year it costs the Council around £40,000 to send out over 80,000 Council Tax and Business Rates bills. With the launch of e-billing we expect to save 50p each time a person moves from traditional paper bills to e-bills, which is money we could use to invest in front line services and keep Council Tax bills down.”

Sign up for e-billing online at www.hyndburnbc.gov.uk/ebilling by phone on 01254 388 111 or by email at enquiries@hyndburnbc.gov.uk. You can also sign up at any Council Office, Hyndburn Sports Centre and Mercer Hall Leisure Centre, or at one of the Council’s road show events which will be taking place right across the Borough over the coming weeks.  Each household, or business, who signs up will be entered into the free prize draw with the chance to win prizes including an IPad 4, a Kindle Fire HD, Accrington Stanley tickets and afternoon tea for two at the Black Horse Food Emporium.

For more information about the scheme, the e-billing road show events and the free prize draw, which will take place after 30th November 2013, visit www.hyndburnbc.gov.uk

Mum's The Word takes off in Accrington thanks to Labour Group support

Mum’s the Word came to Accrington last Saturday. This successful initiative, set up by Rachel Rhodes and Caroline Fotios, has been such a huge hit in Blackburn they wanted to extend into Hyndburn. A chance meeting with Milnshaw Councillor Paul Cox at a BBC radio lancashire event led to them being invited to Hyndburn. Cllr Cox said "having meet these two ladies I couldn't help but be impressed at their passion for this scheme and how it could benefit the residents of Hyndburn I felt it was a natural step to move into our borough" He added "from this contact I spoke with our Portfolio holder for Community's & Wellbeing  Pam Barton, and who agreed that this was something we need in Hyndburn and saw a opportunity to help local residents with an option of cheaper school uniforms.

The project involves collecting old textiles, especially school uniforms and selling them at a fraction of the usual cost. The scheme helps hard pressed families and benefits the environment as it prevents old uniforms and clothes going to landfill.The project relies on members of the public donating their old school uniforms and textiles and a series of collection points will be available throughout the Borough in public buildings and schools for people to visit.

Caroline and Rachel were in Accrington Market Hall on Saturday 7th September promoting the scheme, so people could come and visit to see what it’s all about. There was a collection point available also where many people brought along their uniforms and textiles.

Caroline said: “We have been overwhelmed by the success of the project. There is a real interest from families and everyone has been extremely supportive. Mum’s The Word is a service for the local community and we’re constantly on the lookout for donations of school clothes, shoes and other equipment, to replenish the store. If you have any old blazers, shirts, ties, books, stationery or even tupperware, lying around the house, please drop them off at the Market Hall, so that they can go to a good home.”

Councillor Clare Pritchard, Deputy Leader of the Council said; “Thanks to everyone who came along to the Market Hall on Saturday and donated clothes and textiles. The collection point will remain here in the Market Hall for more donations, so please help if you can. Mum’s The Word is a fantastic initiative, which will benefit the wider community. We are working in partnership to ensure this scheme is a success here in Hyndburn.”

To donate any unwanted school uniforms and activity items, please use the collection point in the Market Hall. Call Caroline or Rachel on 07968 802824 for more information.

Resources Overview & Scrutiny Committee - 10th September 2013

The next meeting of the HBC Resources Overview and Scrutiny Committee will take place at 10.00am on Tuesday 10th September in the Queen Elizabeth Room at Scaitcliffe House in Accrington. The committee meets approximately once every six weeks to look at how the Council spends money on resources and topics on the agenda for this meeting include:

• The cost of subscriptions to outside bodies
• Business plans for Street Cleansing
• Business plans for Parks and Cemeteries
• The cost of seasonal flower planting
• Off-street parking enforcement

The agenda will also contain an update on the review of land assets in the borough plus the publication of the annual O&S report which details progress over the past twelve months.

Cllr Ken Moss will be in the Chair and a link to the papers for the meeting can be found here:

Resources O&S - 10th September 2013

Peel and Barnfield: Councillor and 2014 candidate raising money fro defibrillator

Cllr June Harrison from Barnfield and 2014 Peel Labour candidate, Joyce Plummer, were out fundraising over the weekend to raise money to buy a new defibrillator. The Mayor of Hyndburn, Cllr Judith Addison was also present with volunteers from Pumping Marvellous to take donations for the new life-saving machine.