Rishton Area Council Meeting

Ken Moss · 08-07-2010, 08:24

It's just occurred to me that there may be a few Rishtoners who use the General Chat boards but don't know about the Area Council meetings that take place every three months.

If anyone is interested then please come along this evening to St Charles School at 7.00pm and find out what your councillors are doing for you.

Neil · 08-07-2010, 09:49

You could try to tempt them along by explaining what Area Councils are all about and how they could help out the people of Rishton. I suspect most people will have no idea at all what Area Councils do.

Ken Moss · 08-07-2010, 10:10

Good point, and posting a thread on the day is pitifully late but I've put posters up around the village for the past two weeks now.

Area Council meetings are held once every three months and are primarily to discuss use of the town funds allocated by Hyndburn Council for use by the ward councillors. We have just had our budgets cut across the borough and Rishton has approximately just £12k to spend for the year on improving the village.

I know how I want to spend it but I very much want the views of the residents. Following a planning meeting in May, several projects which have on the cards for years will be approved by myself and Cllr Grayson tonight.

jaysay · 08-07-2010, 10:32

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ken Moss

Good point, and posting a thread on the day is pitifully late but I've put posters up around the village for the past two weeks now.

Area Council meetings are held once every three months and are primarily to discuss use of the town funds allocated by Hyndburn Council for use by the ward councillors. We have just had our budgets cut across the borough and Rishton has approximately just £12k to spend for the year on improving the village.

I know how I want to spend it but I very much want the views of the residents. Following a planning meeting in May, several projects which have on the cards for years will be approved by myself and Cllr Grayson tonight.

Think you could find out Ken, just how few people are actually interested what goes on in their own communities, but sadly its a fact of life

Ken Moss · 08-07-2010, 15:35

Quote:

Originally Posted by jaysay

Think you could find out Ken, just how few people are actually interested what goes on in their own communities, but sadly its a fact of life

I'm half inclined to agree but from talking to people on their doorsteps they simply aren't aware that a lot of town meetings are actually going on. There is no central reference point and very few actually know how to get in touch with their councillors.

Communication between groups, councillors and residents is one of the things I am desperately trying to improve, it's such a simple thing and yet is the difference between a community and a collection of dwellings.

Benipete · 08-07-2010, 17:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ken Moss

....I know how I want to spend it but I very much want the views of the residents. Following a planning meeting in May, several projects which have on the cards for years will be approved by myself and Cllr Grayson tonight.

Not much point having a meeting then is there,Nothing changed in 40 years.

__________________

garinda · 08-07-2010, 17:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ken Moss

Communication between groups, councillors and residents is one of the things I am desperately trying to improve, it's such a simple thing and yet is the difference between a community and a collection of dwellings.

Perhaps you need an assistant, to help spread the word, and who can shout it from the roof tops.

Hyndburn roof pest back in court (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Less · 08-07-2010, 19:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by Benipete

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ken Moss

....I know how I want to spend it but I very much want the views of the residents. Following a planning meeting in May, several projects which have on the cards for years will be approved by myself and Cllr Grayson tonight.

Not much point having a meeting then is there,Nothing changed in 40 years.

__________________

Now, Now Pete, I'd spotted that as well, perhaps, only a slip of the pen? He and the other guy surely can't decide what will be approved before, a meeting, otherwise why waste money having a meeting?

Benipete · 08-07-2010, 20:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by Less

Now, Now Pete, I'd spotted that as well, perhaps, only a slip of the pen? He and the other guy surely can't decide what will be approved before, a meeting, otherwise why waste money having a meeting?

When I want your opinion I will give it to you.

Besides that we have only got four bottles of Blue Nun left.

jaysay · 09-07-2010, 09:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ken Moss

I'm half inclined to agree but from talking to people on their doorsteps they simply aren't aware that a lot of town meetings are actually going on. There is no central reference point and very few actually know how to get in touch with their councillors.

Communication between groups, councillors and residents is one of the things I am desperately trying to improve, it's such a simple thing and yet is the difference between a community and a collection of dwellings.

I know your new to council work Ken, but you'll soon find out there's no so blind than those who don't want to see, if there's anything going wrong in their own little world they'll find out how to contact you believe me, be it 7am on a Sunday morning or 11-30pm on a Friday night

cashman · 09-07-2010, 09:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by jaysay

I know your new to council work Ken, but you'll soon find out there's no so blind than those who don't want to see, if there's anything going wrong in their own little world they'll find out how to contact you believe me, be it 7am on a Sunday morning or 11-30pm on a Friday night

Ken aint been back yet...........must be a LONG meeting?

Ken Moss · 09-07-2010, 09:57

Nah, just two hours but I had a pub quiz night to present after that as well so it was 1am before bedtime and I was ready for it.

It seems that I phrased one of my posts a little ambiguously but if Benipete understood a little more about Area Council meetings then he would realise that spending the town money isn't done at the stroke of a pen and the whim of a few councillors. Certainly in Rishton, proposals for spending are made abundantly clear in public and then there is the opportunity for any objections to be made before they are passed at the next Area Council.

The projects I voted for last night have been approved in principle for years but have been constantly sidelined by what Cllr Grayson and myself consider to be wasteful political projects. Now that we have the deciding vote in Rishton we can approve things that the town actually needs, although in fairness to Cllr Horne (Conservative) he voted in favour of everything as well.

If used properly, Area Council meetings are a good way of keeping the public in the loop but getting the message out about where and when they actually take place is a weak point at the moment.

Ken Moss · 09-07-2010, 09:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by jaysay

I know your new to council work Ken, but you'll soon find out there's no so blind than those who don't want to see, if there's anything going wrong in their own little world they'll find out how to contact you believe me, be it 7am on a Sunday morning or 11-30pm on a Friday night

I've been warned about this, although as yet have not been subjected to it.....