MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD ON TUESDAY, JULY 7TH, 2026 IN DARWEN TOWN
HALL
Present: Couns Hamer (Mayor), Smith, Duncan, Skipper, Dugan, Taylor, O’Garr, McCaughran,
Gibson and Westall, six members of the public.
1.Welcome and introduction:..
.
2. Apologies
Couns Brookfield, Shaw, Sutherland-Coucill
3.Declaration of interests :
None.
4 Minutes of the last meeting and matters arising:
These were agreed.
4.1 Darwen Tower casts
Coun Hamer said details of the cast sales are placed on the council website. Four have been
ordered and one paid for via the town council bank account.
5. Questions from residents
A question was asked as to when the next town council elections will be held and whether it will be
an all out, all in election. The elections are run by BWD and the next one is due in 2028. The town
council is conscious of the cost of a stand alone election and is in discussion with BWD to try to tie
in with BWD elections. All previous elections have been all out, all in and there have been no co
options.
6. Mayor’s update
Coun Hamer has sorted out the putting up of the flags in the town and attended the brass band
festival, the raising of the flag for Armed Forces Day and the Battle of the Somme exhibition at
Darwen Heritage Centre, which the town council sponsored. He had also attended the Darwen
Town Board meeting, where progress is being made, including work at Sunnyhurst Woods and the
board website is being rebranded and the Pride in Place funding which replaced the town deal,
being allocated.
Coun Hamer has been invited to a number of engagements over the summer.
7. Leader’s report
None..
8. Town Centre Conservation Area
Coun Smith said there had been a number of breaches of enforcement in the conservation area
and he suggested a list of the alleged breaches is sent to planning at BWD to enforce. This was
agreed.
9 Finance
Paid in:
£90 – for Darwen Tower cast
Payments:
£500 – K MacAuley for flags.
£5,000 – D Stocks for scaffolding for the heritage project.
£9,617 – Four seasons for summer planting.
£880 – S Johnstone for boundary sign revamo.
£3,000 – S Johnstone for first stage of the India Mill heritage project.
£1,449 – Michael Duane Reproductions for scooter rally.
£55 – PAYE
£834.77 – RAF Hay salary
£147.50 – Clerk’s pension contribution..
£10,000 – Mayor’s charity concert donation to Dementia UK – official handover with former Mayor,
Coun Brookfield in September.
A big thanks was conveyed to Four Seasons for filling the two large planters by the entrance to the
M65 with soil and plants free of charge.
10. Correspondence
A thank you from Blackburn and Darwen Brass Band was received, following the successful band
competition which the town council sponsored. Pictures of the event have been placed on the town
council social media.
Concern over anti social behaviour in the town has been expressed bya long standing local
business owner and the concerns have been passed to BWD as the authority responsible for
licensing.
The clerk had dealt with enquiries from residents over a number of issues which are the
responsibility of BWD and the town council had received concerns over planning issues and a
request re the use of land at Jack Keys and these had been diverted to BWD, who are the
responsible authority,
11 Updates
Coun Dugan is dealing with the scroll of honour and a new request for inclusion to be looked at by
Couns Shaw and Hamer.
The town crier has been out of operation after surgery. He is to be invited to the next event, the
festival of fun in August. The clerk to remind BWD to put up the new Darwen town council flag for
the event.
Coun Smith said the town council sponsored scooter rally was a huge success and brought in
people from outside the town.
Coun O’Garr gave details of heritage weekend, the Mayor’s charity concert (which the Mayor would
like to hold in September), Remembrance weekend on November 6th, lights switch on, November
14th.
No parks applications, the town award committee has received a couple of enquiries.
12 Any other business
Coun Smith said Darwen FC has now added the town council to its official sponsors.
Coun Duncan asked for progress on an agreement to plant up in the square where an old kiosk had
been. Coun Hamer to sort out.
Coun Smith said the India Mill project is going well and the tram turnaround project to follow.
Coun Duncan asked if the local police could be asked to attend a meeting to bring the council up to
date with matters in the town. The clerk to write and ask.
13. Part 2 – press and public excluded
Three items discussed.
14 Date of next meeting
Tuesday, September 1st, 7 p.m. Darwen Town Hall. Items for the main agenda to be with the clerk
by August 24th please