MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD ON TUESDAY, APRIL 7TH, 2026 IN DARWEN
TOWN HALL
Present: Couns Hamer (Leader), Smith, Shaw, Taylor, McCaughran, Duncan, Skipper, Dugan,
O’Garr, Gibson and Westall.
1.Welcome and introduction:..
.
2. Apologies
Couns Brookfield, Dobson.
3.Declaration of interests :
None.
4 Minutes of the last meeting and matters arising:
These were agreed.
4.1 Darwen Tower casts
Coun Hamer will ensure details of the cast sales are placed on the council website.
4.2 Brown signs
Coun Shaw is to liaise with Darwen Heritage Centre over the signs.
4.3 Heritage projects
No more quotes have been sourced due to the specialised nature of the project. It was agreed to
employ Shane Johnstone, heritage specialist and councillors agreed to a request by Coun Duncan
for a local contractor to be contacted to see if some of the work could be sourced locally to save
money and give back to the community. Also, to see if Crown Paints or Hammerite would help with
paints.
4.4 Darwen flags
Coun Smith has liaised with a contact at BWD over the flag logistics and it was agreed to buy 3 or 4
depending on the cost. Mr Tony Foster from Darwen Heritage Centre was thanked for his help
finding the original Darwen crest.
5. Questions from residents
None.
6. Mayor’s update
Coun Brookfield is still recovering from illness.
7. Leader’s report
Coun Hamer said the old office in the town hall has been cleared and items kept to be put in the
new chamber when appropriate.
8 Children’s Literature Festival
It was agreed to sponsor the event this year, for £1,000.
9 Whitehall Travellers
A legal decision is to be made next week, with one of the conditions if the council wins, that the land
has to be restored back to its original condition.
10. Correspondence
Dealt with during the meeting.
11 Updates
It was agreed a scroll of honour to reflect the official one is to be placed on the website to allow
people to have more knowledge of the people named on it.
The town crier still down for local events.
An events meeting was held with BWD and Couns O’Garr and Skipper are invited to the events
safety advisory committee meetings. No update re the Christmas lights costings.
12 Finance
In: VAT refund – £1,872.42
Payments:
£940- R Hay for salary and expenses
£147.50 – Clerk’s pension contribution.
£55 – PAYE
£56.19 – HMRC
£300 – Whitehall Park grant for damaged lectern
£1,000 – Skateboard Movement Community, town award.
£1,000 – Darwen Valley Community Group, town award.
£2,500 – Darwen FC, annual town award.
£2,500 – Darwen Cricket Club, annual town award.
£3,000 – Darwen Heritage Centre, annual town award.
£2,500 – Darwen Library Theatre, annual town award.
£3,581.57 – James Hallam, annual insurance renewal
Reports from the groups who are given town council annual awards were received and all have
agreed to name Darwen Town Council as the sponsor.
.
13. Any other business
Coun O’Garr said this year’s Mayor of Darwen’s charity concert had raised £651 for Dementia UK.
14 Date of next meeting
Tuesday, May 19th in Darwen Town Hall.. AGM and annual meeting at 7 p.m., followed by general
meeting at 7-15 p.m. Items for the main agenda to be with the clerk by May 11th please.