MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD ON TUESDAY, JUNE 2ND, 2026 IN DARWEN
TOWN HALL
Present: Couns Hamer (Mayor), Shaw (Leader), Smith, Duncan, Skipper, Dugan, Dobson,
McCaughran, Gibson and Westall.
1.Welcome and introduction:..
.
2. Apologies
Couns Brookfield, Taylor and O’Garr.
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. It was agreed to
sell them as they are.
4.2 Darwen flags
The new Darwen flags are to be delivered to BWD to store and place up on the agreed event dates.
Thanks expressed to Darwen Heritage Centre for their help with the crest for the flag.
4.3 Vintage Bike Festival
Coun Duncan said the organisers of the festival had asked BWD for toilets with no luck. They will
approach the town council next year for potential funding.
5. Questions from residents
Mr Tony Foster said Darwen Heritage Centre had been subjected to anti social behaviour at
Darwen Live and had to clean up the after effects. Thanks were expressed for donation towards the
Battle of Somme celebrations from July 1st to November 18th. The Mayor to be invited to committee
meetings and will attend if needed.
6. Mayor’s update
Coun Hamer has placed information re the flags tender on the website, the closing date is imminent.
He and Coun Westall are to attend the 150th celebrations of Edwin Ainsworth funeral parlour and
Coun Hamer will attend the festival of brass. Photographs of the Mayor and Leader are to be
organised.
7. Leader’s report
Coun Shaw to contact BWD over the lack of the council chamber being opened for meetings.
8. Darwen Live
Coun Westall gave an update on the highs and lows of the festival and incidents. It was agreed
Coun Gibson to contact BWD licensing to check on the licences for venues in Bridge Street and
Couns Shaw, Westall and O’Garr to attend the BWD events safety advisory committee.
9 Finance
Payments:
£940- R Hay for salary and expenses
£147.50 – Clerk’s pension contribution..
£60.55 – Royal Mail postage, flower delivery and audit mileage
10. Correspondence
Correspondence re grass cutting at Spring Vale passed to the relevant BWD councillor.
Information on BWD capital funding programme passed on round robin.
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.
An application for funding for a holiday club climbing frame has been submitted and is to be
considered.
12 Any other business
Coun Smith said there are six members passes available for Darwen Cricket Club.
The clerk to write to Darwen FC to ask why the town council has not been officially recognised by
the club for its sponsorship.
Coun Westall suggested collection buckets at town council events, to help fund the sculpture
project, but as a licence is required, it was felt this would not be feasible.
13 Date of next meeting
Tuesday, July 7th, 7 p.m. Darwen Town Hall. Items for the main agenda to be with the clerk by
June 29th please.