MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD IN DARWEN HERITAGE CENTRE, ON
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 1ST, 2025
Present: Couns Hamer (Leader), Brookfield (Mayor), Taylor, Skipper, Smith, Duncan, Westall,
Shaw, Dobson, O Garr and two members of the public.
1.Welcome and introduction:..
.
2. Apologies
Couns Dugan, McCaughran and Gibson.
3.Declaration of interests :
Coun. Taylor on RBL.
4 Minutes of the last meeting and matters arising:
These were agreed.
4.2 Welcome to Darwen signs
Coun Skipper had checked the damage to the sign/planter at Marsh House and this was minimal.
4.2. Grot Spots
Coun Smith said having looked around the town, the project appears to be a bigger one than at first
thought. Coun Duncan had obtained a quote for a floral project by the town hall from Four Seasons
for £296 including VAT. It was agreed this was acceptable, but first Coun Hamer is to contact BWD
to ensure a borough project has not been planned.
4.3 Flag flying
Coun Smith had spoken to BWD and permission to fly the Darwen flag had been agreed as long as
it is not flown on important dates when other major events are on. BWD has also agreed to put the
flag up and take down.
Coun Smith also obtained an image of the crest and so will order a flag with the crest on a cream
background.
4.4 Darwen Live
Coun Duncan said he had received no communication from the organisers, following his offer to
help try to secure sponsorship. He is to contact Neil Dagnall at BWD to arrange a meeting.
4.5 Beryl Neale
Arranged with Stevensons to add Beryl Neale’s name to the scroll of honour.
5. Questions from residents
A question was raised re blocks of wood which have been taken out of seating in the public area
outside the town hall where the bird sculpture is. Coun Hamer to report to BWD.
6. Mayor’s update
Coun Brookfield had attended the Rotary Club open day with town crier and the unveiling of the
World War II memorial
7. Leader’s report
Coun Hamer had been liaising with BWD re the new council room. Coun O’Garr gave details re the
new entry system into the town hall. Coun Hamer attended the Darwen Deal Board and Plans for
Neighbourhood project, who are to put in a plan to the Government in November and Coun Hamer
hopes to be able to share details.
8. Correspondence
An update on the sinkhole problem at Taylor’s Field off Pole Lane had been circulated to councillors
via email.
9. Updates
Town crier is to attend the Remembrance Day events and Christmas lights switch on.
Coun Smith said the work on Earcroft Pump is nearly completed and is looking good.
An events committee meeting is to be re scheduled.Coun O’Garr said the next events are
Remembrance Day and the Christmas lights switch on. Also to organise publicity for the Mayor’s
Charity event on December 21st at 1 p.m. in Darwen Library Theatre.
An application from St James’s Community Centre for £700 towards new cupboards had been
received by the town awards committee and was agreed by the council.
It was agreed for Coun Hamer to liaise with the flag contractor over pricing and putting up 50
poppies in the town centre. Coun Duncan asked if two poppies could be placed at the entrance to
the cemetery given the war graves are sited there and the mayor will be laying a wreath.
If the scheme is successful, the council hopes to expand to other areas of the town next year.
10 Finance
Payments:
£700 – St James’s Community Centre for town awards grant
£910- R Hay for salary and expenses for August.
£147.50 – Clerk’s pension contribution.
£16.50 – Darwen Heritage Centre room rent.
£56.19 – HMRC.
£55 – J Barritt, PAYE.
£57.94 – Printer cartridges.
£504 – PKF Littlejohn, audit.
£392.50 – RBL poppies and wreaths.
£24.49 – S Brookfield, reimbursement for wreath for Word War II memorial unveiling.
The external audit had been completed successfully and relevant paperwork publicised.
11. Any other business
Coun Taylor working on getting a new explanation plaque for the spitfire and Coun Shaw to provide
details of a contact at WEC.
Coun Westall asked if there was any update on the traffic lights sequence following the death of a
pedestrian near the post office. It was confirmed, that it was awaiting a police report..
12 Date of next meeting
Tuesday, November 4th at 7 p.m, heritage centre.. Items for the agenda to be with the clerk by
October 24th please.