MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD IN DARWEN TOWN HALL, ON TUESDAY,
FEBRUARY 4TH, 2025
Present: Couns Hamer (Leader), Brookfield, Smith, O’Garr, Taylor, Duncan, Skipper, Westall,
Shaw, Dobson.
1.Welcome and introduction:..
.
2. Apologies
Couns McCaughran, Dugan and Gibson.
3.Declaration of interests :
Couns P O Garr and B Taylor on Royal British Legion.
4 Minutes of the last meeting:
These were agreed, with an amendment to item 8 to say there was no seconder to Coun Duncan’s
proposal..
5. Questions from residents
None.
6. Mayor’s update
None.
7. Leader’s report
Coun Hamer had attended the town deal meetings and would report back with information when
appropriate.
8 Mayoral chain
Coun Duncan expressed concern over security, but the Mayor confirmed this was covered and the
chain fully insured.
9. Correspondence
Circulated were the adoption of BWD’s environmental SPD, the public diversion and definitive map
and statement modifications for footpath 100. A query re dog control public protection spaces is
being investigated by Couns Hamer and Shaw as it is a borough issue.
10 Updates
Couns Skipper and Dugan to speak with the website administrator over a relaunch.
Coun Taylor had signed off the Friends of Bold Venture Park bench artwork and said the town crest
looked good.
Coun Smith gave a finance update and is to circulate the updated budget. Coun Duncan said he
would like to see a breakdown of spending from BWD for their contribution to the lights switch on
and Darwen Live. Coun O’Garr said the town council put in the most funding for Darwen Live and
BWD for the lights switch on.
The clerk is to write to the five organisations which currently benefit from the annual awards and
ask them to re-bid, with an update on how the money will help youth/elderly development in the
town.
A bid for £4.500 from Friends of Whitehall Park for five days of pruning at the entrance to the park
was agreed, with Coun Taylor opposing.
Couns O’Garr and Hamer are to meet with BWD to discuss the light switch on contribution and
future events. On March 29th, there will be heritage buses in the town.
A town awards bid for £1,000 from the Darwen School of Kung Fu for equipment was agreed.
The forms for the various awards given by the town council are to be upgraded and an explanation
on the website to help give a clearer idea of what each is for to enable organisations to choose the
correct application.
There had been no tenders in for the flags.
11. Finance
Payments:
January:
£489.60 – Scooter rally clothing grant.
£880 – R Hay for salary and expenses.
£147.50 – Clerk’s pension contribution.
£50 – J Barritt – PAYE.
£85 – Royal Mail, postage.
February:
£880 – R Hay for salary and expenses.
£147.50 – Clerk’s pension contribution
£43 – Printer cartridge.
£2,427.60 – Whitehill Direct Ltd for Friends of Whitehall Park lecturn grant.
12. Any other business
Coun Duncan said he had received two cyber crime emails.
13 Part 2 – press and public excluded
None..
14 Date of next meeting
Tuesday, March 4th, venue to be confirmed, 7 p.m Agenda items to be with The Leader and clerk by
February 24th please.