MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD ON TUESDAY, MARCH 3RD, 2026 IN DARWEN
TOWN HALL
Present: Couns Hamer (Leader), Smith, Shaw, Taylor, McCaughran, Duncan, Dobson, Skipper
and Westall.
1.Welcome and introduction:..
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2. Apologies
Couns Brookfield, Dugan, O’Garr and Gibson. It was agreed that Coun Brookfield be given a
medical dispensation for absence of meetings, for the foreseeable future. Councillors expressed
their best wishes to Coun Brookfield for a speedy and full recovery.
3.Declaration of interests :
None.
4 Minutes of the last meeting and matters arising:
These were agreed.
4.1 Spitfire
Coun Taylor said WEC had found the plaque and had agreed to the fitting and labour costs if the
town council covered the engraving fees. This was agreed and it was agreed to look into securing a
QR code in the future to give people more information on the history.
4.2 Darwen Tower casts
Mr Tony Foster from the heritage centre said they did not want to sell the casts. It was agreed the
town council will sell for £100 via the council website.
5. Questions from residents
Mr Tony Foster from Darwen Heritage Centre said the centre is in line for £25,000 in funding,
including help resolve the disabled toilet access problems. The centre is to apply for a brown tourist
sign.
6. Mayor’s update
Coun Brookfield is still recovering from illness.
7. Leader’s report
Coun Hamer had attended the Darwen Town Board meetings and is to tidy up the council room with
Coun Skipper.
8 Heritage projects
Coun Duncan had sourced an alternative quote for repairs to the India Mill artefact and contact
details for specialist paint and decorators. The original quote had been re visited, to reflect a local
scaffolding supplier and it was agreed Coun Hamer would discuss with the heritage specialist in a
bid to cut costs.
9 Town awards
Darwen Cricket Club had sent in their AGM report and councillors were disappointed to see no
mention of the town council in the sponsors list. The clerk to ask the club and all the other town
award winners to ensure the town council is recognised as a sponsor and for a breakdown of how
the 2025 award has been spent.
10. Correspondence
Details of the temporary closure of footpaths 163, 165, 160, 161 and 103 Tockholes were received.
Blackburn and Darwen Band were once again successful at the North West Area Championships in
Blackpool at the weekend. The band were placed 3rd in a strong field of 17 bands in the first
section and qualified for the National Finals in September in York. This also means that in 2027
the band will also be promoted to the championship section. The town council to pass on their
congratulations.
12 Updates
Coun Smith gave details of the budget for 2026/27 and said flags would be needed for the Armed
Forces Day in June and the 110th anniversary of The Somme. Councillors are mindful that the
budget can be re looked at if more awards are applied for. Also, a meeting to be held with BWD re
the next town council election.
The parks committee had agreed a request for £300 for the repair to a lectern in Whitehall Park.
Coun Taylor expressed caution allocating funding for revenue and not capital projects.
It was agreed to pay a deposit for the Darwen Festival of Fun in August, where a mobile museum is
also to be featured, which the town council agreed to fund a small wellness area for. Couns Hamer,
Skipper and O Garr had met with BWD to discuss the events for the year and BWD has promised a
breakdown of costs for the Christmas lights.
13 Finance
Payments:
£940- R Hay for salary and expenses
£147.50 – Clerk’s pension contribution.
£94.07 – Council accounts software and stationery
£4,150 – Let’s Make for deposit for the festival of fun.
£979.20 – Friends of Bold Venture Park grant for drainage work.
£2,474.40 – Friends of Bold Venture Park grant for signeage work.
The current insurance policy was agreed and the directors material fact disclosure statement
signed by the leader of the council.
.
13. Any other business
Coun Smith is liaising with a contact at BWD over the Darwen flag and Coun Shaw is to liaise with
the heritage centre over re creating the crest design for hi res..
15 Date of next meeting
Tuesday, April 7th, at 7 p.m, in Darwen Town Hall.. Items for the agenda to be with the clerk by
March 30th please.