Leader’s Viewpoint: Councillor Munsif Dad
I’ll start this weeks viewpoint by highlighting a wonderful event which took place at the end of October in Accrington. Over 5,000 visitors flocked to town for Enlighten. This event showcased the vibrant cultural life of Hyndburn and brought together residents and visitors in a celebration of art, light, and community spirit. The positive feedback from attendees has been great to see, and I’d like to extend a special thank you to all those involved including the organisers, artists and the primary schools who put on a fantastic show of poetry and spoken word.
In a major boost for our local economy, I am pleased to announce that last week Cabinet agreed to accept an offer of £30 million investment for the development of Huncoat Garden Village. The funding will provide the necessary infrastructure for the project which includes a new small village centre, meeting community needs, an extension to the local primary school, new residential relief road, increased car parking provision at Huncoat Train Station and 24 hectares of strategic and functional open space including new sports and play facilities. It will unlock £430 of private investment to build over 1800 homes.
We listened to many opinions about the project. Since we took control of the Council in May this year, Huncoat Garden Village has been at the very top of our agenda and we have had many meetings on the matter with local and national politicians, Council Officers, planners, representatives from Homes England and residents. We established a Cabinet Working Group in order to fully scrutinise the project, and they have concluded that the offer of funding should be accepted.
We were pleased to welcome officers from Homes England to Hyndburn this week to discuss the project and other opportunities for our borough.
At the same Cabinet meeting last week, the Deputy Leader provided an update on Wilson Sport Village. The Council and Alliance Leisure have made good progress in identifying possible contractors to complete the project after we received the news that ISG had filed noticed to enter administration in late September.
Great efforts have been undertaken to work towards a resolution that will hopefully result in the recommencement of works in early 2025. In the meantime, other facilities at Wilson Playing Fields are still in use including the athletics track, sports pitches and the popular park run.
Last week the Council took part in a Local Government Association Peer Review, an important process that helps us evaluate our performance and identify areas for improvement. It was a busy week of meetings with the peers made up of senior officers and councillors from across the country. It’s a rigorous, tried & tested process where peers from across the public sector provide constructive feedback on a range of areas.
We are committed to transparency and accountability, and as part of this commitment, a public report will be published detailing the findings and recommendations. This review is a valuable opportunity for us to learn and grow, ensuring we continue to serve our community effectively.
Finally, as we approach Remembrance Sunday and Armistice Day, the Council and Royal British Legion invite all residents to join us in honouring those who have served and sacrificed for our country. Parades and services will be held across Hyndburn, providing an opportunity for us to come together in reflection and gratitude. These events are a poignant reminder of the bravery and dedication of our armed forces, and we encourage everyone to participate in these important commemorations.
You can find full details on the parades and services taking place across Hyndburn here https://www.hyndburnbc.gov.uk/remembrance2024/