Leader’s Viewpoint – Councillor Munsif Dad
Leader’s Viewpoint – Councillor Munsif Dad
As we approach the end of February, I am pleased to share some important updates and highlights from our recent council activities. Tonight (Thursday 27th February), we will set the Council’s budget for the 2025/26 financial year, a process that has been debated and scrutinised by the Council’s Overview and Scrutiny Committee last week. I was pleased to respond to several questions from the public as well as those posed by Councillors on the committee.
The budget includes a 2.99% increase in council tax for Hyndburn Council’s proportion. This equates to an £8.03 per year increase for a Band D property and between £5.35 and £7.13 for properties in Bands A to C. We understand that any increase can be challenging, but this rise is essential to maintain and improve the services we provide.
One of the key highlights of the budget is the allocation of £1.4 million in Disabled Facility Grants for 2025/26. This funding will support residents with medical conditions that threaten their ability to live independently in their own homes. The grants will provide essential adaptations such as stair lifts, toilet and bathroom modifications, access ramps, and other necessary equipment. In cases where major structural alterations are needed, the grants will also cover those costs.
In addition to supporting our residents’ independence, we are investing over £300,000 in park and play area improvements. We are also dedicating £117,000 to community projects and a similar amount to events that will attract people to our towns. Major projects such as Wilson Sports Village, Market Hall, and Burton’s Chambers will be completed this year. We will continue to work on a solution for Oswaldtwistle Civic Theatre. We have included £267,000 in our capital programme and will continue to explore further funding opportunities to help bring this cherished asset back to life.
We are also planning for new food waste collections which will begin in April 2026 and a war memorial restoration programme for this year. All of this is on top of the usual day-to-day services the Council delivers.
I am also delighted to announce that earlier this month we awarded £45,000 in grants to businesses in Great Harwood for shop front improvements as part of the Great Harwood High Street Accelerator Programme. This investment will enhance the appearance of our high street and support local businesses.
The recent Hollywood in Harwood event at Mercer Hall was a great success, demonstrating a clear demand for events in Great Harwood. We have ensured that Great Harwood is included in this year’s events programme, and we look forward to more successful events in the future.
The Cabinet Action Fund introduced in 2024 continues to attract interest from local organisations across the borough. Two more small grants have been agreed this month, with Friends of Baxenden School awarded funding to improve the school library and the Hyndburn Over 50s Forum awarded a grant towards costs of their regular meetings. Several more applications are currently being processed.
Finally, I am pleased to share news of an exciting enhancement project in my own ward. Bullough Park in Accrington will soon benefit from new upgrades, making it a safer and more appealing space for all to enjoy. Thanks to funding from the Lancashire Partnership Against Crime (LANPAC), new gateways and boundary fencing will be installed at key points in the park, including near Woodview Drive and behind the “Top Shop” on Willows Lane. These upgrades, along with increased patrols by the Neighbourhood Policing Team, will help prevent unauthorised motorbikes from entering the park, reducing public nuisance and enhancing the park’s peacefulness. Further works at Bullough Park are also in the pipeline.
Thank you for your continued support and engagement with our community initiatives. Together, we are making Hyndburn a better place to live, work, and enjoy.