FULL COUNCIL - 30th JUNE 2011

After an extended absence through work and holidays, normal service has been resumed for Rishton First.

June 30th sees the first proper full meeting of Hyndburn Borough Council since the Labour administration took over at the AGM on 24th May and several changes are being made.  The most noticeable difference is that all future full council meetings will be held on Thursdays instead of Tuesdays to allow updates from both the Hyndburn MP, Graham Jones, and also the county councillors.  Objections were raised by the Conservative Leader, Peter Britcliffe, that such a move was damaging to The Accrington Observer which would now have to report on council business the week after although the reply indicated that the councillors are there for the good of the borough, not get their faces in the newspaper.

A revised Question Time will now consist of a 30 minute slot in which anyone can ask a written question to any member of the Cabinet or committee chair and political slanging matches will not be tolerated.  Members of the public are openly invited to submit questions to council meetings and these may also be directed to the MP.  Any questions which cannot be answered within the half hour slot will receive a written reply.

Rishton councillors will be asking two questions on Thursday night:

Residents on Spring Street and Bridge Street in Rishton are delighted with the news that the derelicts are finally to be demolished but can the portfolio holder for Regeneration and Housing Market Renewal give an intended completion date? (Cllr Harry Grayson)

Rishton residents have been complaining about the condition of the wall around the surgery car park for many years. Previous correspondence has highlighted confusion as to land ownership and responsibility. Could the council please issue a written clarification to the Rishton councillors so that we can move to resolve the situation and issue a statement to the residents?  (Cllr Ken Moss)

Residents are encouraged to submit further questions about Hyndburn to the three Rishton councillors for the next full council meeting on 20th September. Members of the public are welcome to come and sit in the public gallery at Accrington Town Hall to view the council meeting which starts at 7.00pm.