MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD IN DARWEN HERITAGE CENTRE, ON TUESDAY,
JULY 1ST, 2025
Present: Couns Hamer (Leader), Brookfield (Mayor), Taylor, Skipper, Smith, Duncan, Westall,
Dobson, Dugan, McCaughran and O’Garr.
1.Welcome and introduction:..
.
2. Apologies
Couns Shaw and Gibson.
3.Declaration of interests :
Couns. Taylor, Brookfield and McCaughran on Whitehall Travellers Park and Coun Taylor on VJ
Day.
4 Minutes of the last meeting and matters arising:
These were agreed.
4.1 Toilet facilities in town centre
Coun Duncan had not received a response from the BWD leader, so intends to go to the Press.
5. Questions from residents
None.
6. Mayor’s update
Coun Brookfield had attended the Armed Forces flag raising ceremony and the scooter rally and
had been impressed by both. She said the mini bus service at the scooter rally had been
particularly welcomed by the public and well used. It was agreed it was money well spent and
brought people into the town.
7. Leader’s report
Coun Hamer had attended the 10th festival of brass and said the event had been very successful
and this and the scooter rally, both sponsored by the town council, were a great asset to Darwen.
8 Heritage projects, Bank Botttom and Belgrave Square
Coun Smith had met with BWD officials to discuss the car park behind the HSBC and Sunbird
Records, owned mainly by BWD, with Sunbird Records owing a small bit. He said the area opposite
is to be re surfaced and it had been agreed that the car park could be resurfaced at the same time
to be utilised. The total cost is £12,000. It was proposed and agreed that the town council would
contribute £6,000 towards the work.
9 VJ Day bid
A request for funding to hold a VJ event at the heritage centre was received. It was proposed and
agreed to contribute £440 towards the event.
10 Correspondence
None.
11. Updates
The website has been updated and typos sorted..
The town crier has attended events in the town and asked permission to also attend events in
Blackburn and this was agreed.
Coun O Garr said next events were the festival of fun and Darwen Pride. Items used in community
events and belonging to the town council had been found damaged. It was agreed that the items
had been purchased many years ago and would have had wear and tear. They had been bought
when the town council ran the events via the councillors, these events are now run by outside firms
after submitting successful tenders and so it was agreed to dispose of the items which could not be
used again.
It was agreed any further purchases will be closely monitored and kept secure to ensure no
damage.
12. Finance
Payments:
£4,175 – Laura Johnson for deposit for Festival of Fun
£1,000 – Friends of Derwent Hall for town award .
£909.99- R Hay for salary and expenses.
£147.50 – Clerk’s pension contribution.
£80 – G Ravetta, scooter rally artwork for winners badges.
£195 – Stevenson Memorials to add Harry Blackwell’s name to the scroll of honour.
£55 – J Barritt, PAYE.
£56.19 – HMRC.
£8,850 – Four Seasons Garden Centre for summer planting.
£456.50 – Darwen Heritage Centre for VJ day funding and room rent for council meeting.
£688.50 – Michael Duane Reproductions for scooter rally merchandise.
13. Any other business
Coun Duncan gave details of a public inquiry into the Whitehall travellers site at Moss Farm on
September 16th at Blackburn Town Hall, open to the public and people may speak on the subject at
the discretion of the inspector.
14 Date of next meeting
Tuesday, September 2nd at 7 p.m. Items for the agenda to be with the clerk by August 17th please.