Agenda item
Announcements
a) Mayor
b) Leader of the Council
c) Chief Executive
Minutes:
The Mayor made the following announcements:
1) Mayor’s Ball 2025
The Mayor, and on behalf of the Mayoress, thanked all who had helped to make the Mayor’s Ball a great success. A good night of entertainment had been enjoyed by all. Councillor Melissa Fisher added her comments in support of the event and noted that a considerable sum had been raised for charity.
The Leader of the Council then made the following announcements:
2) Local Government Reorganisation
Progress towards local government reorganisation was continuing at a pace. Since the last Council meeting the Government had confirmed reorganisation in Lancashire would be in place by 1st April 2028. Local authorities had been invited to submit initial proposals by 21st March 2025 and councils were currently working on developing a single response. The response was likely to provide the Government with a range of options for consideration by the final deadline of 28th November 2025. The Minister of State for Local Government and English Devolution, Rt Hon Jim McMahon MP, would then consider the views expressed in 2026 and determine the new structures to be implemented. Elections for Hyndburn Borough Council would continue to take place in 2026 and in the following year there would be elections for the shadow unitary authorities. The new authorities would be established from 2028. The controlling administration would keep all employees informed throughout this journey.
3) Israel/Hamas Conflict
A further e-mail had been sent to Foreign Secretary, Rt Hon David Lammy MP, signed by local councillors in connection with US President Donald Trump’s proposals for the future of Gaza. The proposals would see the US to take long-term ownership of the Gaza Strip and the resettlement of Palestinians. This had left many people appalled and the Foreign Secretary was urged to take action. What was proposed was reprehensible and potentially amounted to ethnic cleansing. Both the UN and EU had condemned the announcement. The proposals threatened to undermine Phase 2 of the ceasefire deal and could spark renewed conflict, jeopardising stability across the region. The sensible course of action was to develop a two state solution, but President Trump’s proposals could deal a fatal blow to this ambition. It was hoped that an independent state comprising the West Bank, Jerusalem and Gaza could be established.
The letter called upon the Government to oppose the US plans and to prevent the carrying out of a possible war crime. Over 180 councillors had added their signatures to the letter.
With the permission of the Mayor, the Leader of the Council invited Councillor Clare Pritchard to provide an update on the situation regarding Accrington Victoria Hospital.
4) Accrington Victoria Hospital
Councillor Clare Pritchard reported that she had attended a steering group meeting with East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust to discuss Accrington Victoria Hospital, which had been quite positive. It was noted that the Police and Fire Services had attended the premises around 20 times since its closure due to break-ins. It was not the responsibility of the Police to secure the premises. The Council had expressed disappointment at the apparent inertia of the Trust. However, the Trust’s Chief Executive had promised to do what he could to address he matter and had provided an assurance that he took the matter seriously. He was keen to progress plans to get the site back into use.
The Chief Executive of the Council, Mr David Welsby, made the following announcement:
5) Welcome to Newly Elected Councillor David Heap
David Welsby noted the outcome of the recent by-election in the Baxenden Ward and welcomed Councillor David Heap onto the Council and to his first formal meeting.