Agenda item
Reports of Cabinet Members
To receive verbal reports from each of the Portfolio Holders, as appropriate.
Minutes:
Portfolio Holder for Resources and Council Operations
Councillor Vanessa Alexander reported on the following:
Town Hall Annexe
It was proposed that staff in the Town Hall Annexe on Broadway would transfer to Scaitcliffe House. Discussions were on-going.
Household Support Fund
The Council was working in partnership with Maundy Relief to work on sustainable ways to address food poverty, using a grant from the Household Support Fund.
Thanks
Councillor Alexander placed on record her thanks to the Executive Director (Resources) and his Team for their hard work in supporting members to develop the Budget for 2026/27. This work would enable the Council to set a balanced Budget for the forthcoming year.
Portfolio Holder for Environmental Services
Councillor Stewart Eaves reported on the following:
Green Flag Award 2025
Hyndburn’s Parks Staff had recently won Team of the Year in the Green Flag Best of the Best awards. This was fantastic news and built upon the Council’s existing success in achieving Green Flag status for 11 of its parks and green spaces. Councillors Dad, Khan and Whitehead added their thanks to the staff for their hard work and expressed delight that the team had been recognised as the best in the country.
Food Waste Pilot
Councillors were being invited to take part in a pilot in March to assist Waste Services to prepare for the launch of food waste collection in April 2026. Councillors Whitehead and Khan indicated their support for this exercise.
Portfolio Holder for Business, Growth and Sustainability
Councillor Scott Brerton reported on the following:
The Economic Development Team was continuing its programme of outreach work with businesses, shops and traders. The Team had been visiting businesses in Rishton earlier today. The outreach programme was a good opportunity to showcase the Council’s services and to speak to traders and potentially to offer assistance.
Department for Work and Pensions (DWP)
The Portfolio Holder had recently met with representatives of DWP to discuss some changes being introduced by the new Government to services for job seekers.
Economic Development Forum
A meeting of the Economic Development Forum would be held early in the New Year and would focus on Local Government Reorganisation in Lancashire.
Hyndburn Jobs Fair
A Jobs Fair event was being planned in February 2026. Lots of organisations had already signed up to participate.
Small Business Saturday
This weekend, nationally, would see the celebration of Small Businesses Saturday. Some communications were planned in Hyndburn to promote the occasion and councillors were invited to spread the word.
Councillor Zak Khan commented that it might be useful to receive an update on the measurable outcomes of the work of the Economic Development Team at a future meeting.
Leader of the Council
Councillor Munsif Dad BEM JP reported on the following:
Local Government Reorganisation (LGR)
The LGR submission for Lancashire had now been made to the Government. Hyndburn had supported the 3 unitary authority (3UA) model. A total of 5 different models had been submitted by the responding councils. The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) would determine what proposed structure to consult upon in the New Year.
Accrington Neighbourhoods Board Plan
At its meeting on 19th November 2025, the Cabinet had approved the Plan developed by the Accrington Neighbourhoods Board. The first tranche of funding should be released in April 2026.
Skip Day – Spring Hill
A successful skip day had been held in Spring Hill on Saturday 29th November 2025. The event had been widely publicised by councillors and former MP, Graham Jones, which had helped to raise the profile of the event and levels of participation. Councillor Dad thanked the Portfolio Holder, Councillor Steward Eaves, for making the necessary arrangements.
Fair Funding Review
It was noted that Sarah Smith MP had been proactive in supporting the Council by engaging MHCLG in discussions about the possible adverse impacts in Hyndburn of the Fair Funding Review. The final decision about funding was still awaited, but indications were that the Council would be better off than had originally been envisaged. Further details would be publicised when the information was available. David Welsby, Chief Executive, added that the local government financial settlement was likely to be announced in the week commencing 15th December 2025. Councillor Khan was pleased to note that the outcome of the Fair Funding Review might be better than originally expected.
Organisational Review
The Leader thanked Councillor Whitehead for her work on the Council’s organisational review. Councillors had looked at changes to the current structure and had taken into account the forthcoming LGR. The revised structure was right for the future and gave staff the best opportunity to meet the challenges ahead. The Chief Executive confirmed that the structure chart and reporting lines would be circulated to councillors and staff by the end of the week. Councillor Khan asked how staff had been engaged in the process and if this would prepare the way for LGR. The Leader responded that this had been a bottom-up process, with service managers requested to consult their staff and to feed back any suggestions. Councillor Whitehead added that the trades unions had also been consulted. She indicated that the structural changes formed Phase 1 of the review, with resources being considered next, under Phase 2.