Agenda item
Reports of Cabinet Members
To receive verbal reports from each of the Portfolio Holders, as appropriate.
Minutes:
Portfolio Holder for Environmental Services
Councillor Stewart Eaves reported on the following:
King George V Playing Fields
The tenders for the Sports Pitch Drainage Installation at King George V Playing Fields had been opened last week and it was anticipated that the successful tenderer would be determined this week, with a view to works commencing in September 2025.
Deputy Leader of the Council and Portfolio Holder for Culture, Heritage and Sport
Councillor Kimberley Whitehead reported on the following:
The Council’s Culture, Arts and Heritage Fund was being launch today. The initiative would establish a Culture, Arts and Heritage Grant Programme for 2025/26, to support a wide range of projects that celebrated local identity, built pride in place and would bring people together through culture. The scheme would offer grants ranging from £150 to £10,000.
Applications would be welcomed from community groups, charities, not-for-profit organisations, schools, artists and businesses. The programme aligned with the Council’s Culture and Heritage Strategy 2025-30, which had recently been approved. The closing date for applications was 1st September 2025, to enable projects to be delivered by March 2026. The Culture and Heritage investment Panel (CHIP) would be involved in the selection of projects. Some £90k was available in total.
Councillor Dad noted that the funding was good news and sat alongside funding available from the Cabinet Action Fund for other types of community projects.
Portfolio Holder for Business, Growth and Sustainability
Councillor Scott Brerton reported on the following:
Economic Development Officer
At the last Cabinet meeting, it had been reported that a new Economic Development Officer was being recruited. An appointment had now been made and the successful candidate was due to start imminently. The extra staffing would give economic development a significant boost.
Get Hyndburn Working
Councillor Brerton had recently attended the Get Hyndburn Working event along with the local MP to discuss on-going issues about getting people into work and removing any barriers, in line with the Government’s Connect to Work initiative. The event had been well attended and would be repeated regularly.
Business Engagement
Business workshops and drop-in events were being planned for the year ahead and would be launched shortly.
Draft Climate Change Action Plan
A draft Climate Strategy and Action Plan document had been considered on 14th July 2025 by the Communities and Wellbeing Overview and Scrutiny Committee and had been well received. Overall, the Council was considered to be ‘punching above its weight’. Councillor Brerton thanked all those involved.
Net Zero Working Group
The Net Zero Working Group continued to meet and was well supported by officers, including Tim Brodest, Home Energy Reduction Officer, and Anne Hourican, Senior Environmental Initiatives Officer. The Council was leading the way in this area of work.
Portfolio Holder for Transformation and Town Centres
Councillor Clare Pritchard reported on the following:
Acccrington Town Centre Group
A group had been established to consider town centre issues in Accrington, comprising representatives of the Council, Police, voluntary organisations and service providers. To date the group had looked at issues including homelessness and CCTV provision and had undertaken a walkabout.
Sgt Andy Thorpe was due to send out a questionnaire to local groups and businesses asking what they wanted to participate in and what their expectations were of the relevant public authorities. The questionnaire had been hand delivered in Accrington town centre and would be collected similarly.