MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF BILLINGTON AND LANGHO PARISH COUNCIL HELD ON
Monday, 23rd February 2026 at 7.15pm
AT THE COMMUNITY HALL
PRESENT
Parish Councillors. Brian Haworth, Martin Hincks, Eva McPrice, Katie Swingewood, Michael Collins, John Aspden, Cllr Tony Austin.
In attendance –PCSO Pemberton and R Greenwood clerk
ITEM 1 APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
1.1 There were no apologies for absence
ITEM 2 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
- Register of Interests – Councillors were reminded of the need to update their register of interests.
- No members disclosed a personal interest in any matter to be discussed at the meeting.
ITEM 3 ACCEPTANCE OF THE MINUTES OF THE MEETING
3.1 Minutes of the meeting held January 2026 were accepted and signed as a true record.
ITEM 4 PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
4.1 There has been a report of dog poo bags being hung in the trees at Billington Playground. Discussion was around CCTV and warning signs. The spend was proposed by MH and seconded by JA. All in favour.
4.2 PCSO Pemberton attended the meeting and gave her verbal report. Councillors reported incidences of drink driving, littering and drug driving. Vehicle registration numbers are to be emailed to PCSO Pemberton.
ITEM 5 PLAYGROUNDS
5.1 No report was received from the Lengthsman.
5.2 Quotes were considered for the repair of the crazy paving at Billington Playground. The quote for the removal of the crazy paving to be replaced with safety surface was accepted. Proposed MC, seconded EM all in favour. It was resolved to replace the crazy paving.
5.3 A man and his child have been seen using the area under the two swings to practice golf. The golf tee’s were pressed into the play safety surface under the swings which has caused damage to the surface. Golf is prohibited from being played and the male is being asked to desist.. This play surface is being repaired and continuing to push a golf tee into the surface will cause it to be damaged.
ITEM 6 ACCOUNTS
6.1 The following cheques were presented for payment.
| Cheque 202714 | Lengthsman invoice | £276.92 |
| Cheque 202715 | Employers NICO | £20.97 |
| Cheque 202716 | Employee’s PAYE | £10.40 |
| Cheque 202717 | Clerk Salary | £546.43 |
| Cheque 202718 | Travel | £25.46 |
| Cheque 202719 | ESP Play surface at Langho Playground | £1788.00 |
| Cheque 202720 | ESP Play surface at Billington Playground | £948.20 |
| Cheque 202721 | Lengthsman invoice | £276.92 |
6.2 The bank reconciliation, bank statement and cash flow were presented and signed.
6.3 LALC are offering the CILCA course to all clerks, the cost of the course is £450 and the cost of accessing the portal is £495. The cost to the parish council would be £472.50 Proposed KS, seconded JA, all in favour. It was resolved to pay for the CILCA course.
ITEM 7 PLANNING
7.1 The following applications were received and considered.
3/2026/0074 Land at Elker Meadows – objections are to be submitted for this application.
3/2026/0048 The Barn, Old Langho Road, objections are submitted.
3/2026/0043 Springfield Road – no objections were raised.
3/2025/0733 St Marys Drive – no objections were raised.
Borough Councillor Tony Austin advised the parish council that it will be more difficult to raise objections to planning now that RVBC have published their 5 year land supply details. This can be found at www.ribblevalley.gov.uk/housing-land-availability-surveys/housing-land-availability-surveys-reports
ITEM 8 HIGHWAY
8.1 Following the last meeting the clerk wrote to C, Cllr Stephen Atkinson, C. Cllr Warren Goldsworth and Matt Townsend about the state of the A59 on the approach to the roundabout. The answering response was immediate but the work has not been done, the clerk is to write again to them. Further damage to the road surface has been reported with the length of road now needing urgent repair is approx. quarter of a mile. The parish council have expressed their disappointment in the lack of action from LCC Highways.
8.2 Snodworth Road, the tarmac surface of the road is breaking up, this is causing vehicles to lose traction as they set off from the junction, particularly in icy or wet conditions.
8.3 The litterbin on Whalley Old Road has not been replaced, this is the bin adjacent to the station and the Jubilee bench, the clerk to report.
ITEM 9 OFFICERS REPORT
9.1 Cllr Austin reported that the flooding at the end of Bank Cottages has been investigated and found to be a leak belonging to United Utilities, this is scheduled for repair.
9.2 The telephone kiosk at York Village is in need of maintenance, the clerk writing to the volunteer offering support and asking if the Lengthsman is needed for some of the heavy work.
9.3 Repeated littering was reported at the pull in on Whalley Old Road
9.4 Following the last meeting the clerk has written to the Black Bull Pub regarding damage to the verges outside Old Langho Church, the pub has changed the existing car park into a beer garden and pizza area with additional parking in the field at the back of the pub. The Black Bull have corresponded that the additional car park is not suitable for cars and the pub is not in a position to make it so at the moment.
ITEM 10 FLOOD CONCERNS AND UPDATE
10.1 No reports have been received.
ITEM 11 DEVOLUTION
11.1. Discussion around the woodlands and common lands within the parish boundary took place. The clerk to request a map from both RVBC and LCC of lands they own within the parish.
.ITEM 12 DATES OF NEXT MEETING. All at 7.15pm.
, 30th March 2026, 27th April 2026 AGM is 25th May 2026, 29th June 2026, 27th July 2026, 28th September 2026, 26th October 2026 and 30th November 2026
