MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF BILLINGTON AND LANGHO PARISH COUNCIL HELD ON
Monday, 27th April 2026 at 7.15pm
AT THE COMMUNITY HALL
PRESENT
Parish Councillors. Brian Haworth, Martin Hincks, Eva McPrice, Michael Collins, John Aspden, Dennis Johnson, Katie Swingewood, Cllr Tony Austin, Cllr Steve Farmer
In attendance –PC and PCSO, 2 x members of the Remembrance Committee and 1 member of the public with 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 March 2026 were accepted and signed as a true record.
ITEM 4 PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
4.1 A member of public attended the meeting to discuss concerns about the leaflet they had received from Luna Developments. The parish council advised that until the actual planning application arrives then we can not submit comments to RVBC Planning. Discussion took place as to what could and could not constitute an objection.
4.2 The local PC and PCSO attended there were concerns raised about speeding and the ongoing school parking issues in the area and the enforcement of this. PCSO Pemberton is aware of the areas most affected.
4.3 Members of the Remembrance Parade attended to ask the Parish Council for a letter of support to RVBC and to discuss the 2026 Remembrance Parade. Borough Councillor Tony Austin had attended an Event Safety Event at RVBC and there might be grant funding available. The members were thanked for their work and the parish council resolved to write the support letter.
4.4 An email question was received regarding the debris and water/slurry that is coming from the building works on the Nab. The clerk has been in touch with RVBC.
4.5 An email was received regarding long and unsuitable vehicles over 26ft trying to access the Painter Wood bend, the damage and dangers caused by vehicles hitting the railings twice since the new ones were installed and vehicles reversing into our driveways or all the way up to York village. The clerk has written to County Councillor Stephen Atkinson but received no reply.
4.6 There was an enquiry for parish allotments, unfortunately the parish council does not own any land for allotments but would be interested to purchase some if it became available.
ITEM 5 PLAYGROUNDS
5.1 No report was received from the Lengthsman.
5.2 The works continue at Billington Playground with the groundworks done for the safety surface installation. The Parish Council is disappointed with how long it is taking for the play safety surface works to be completed.
5.3 There has further complaints of dog fouling in Langho Playground. The clerk is to order and install “no dogs allowed” signs and again contact the dog warden.
ITEM 6 ACCOUNTS
6.1 The following cheques were presented for payment.
| Cheque 202732 | Ribble Valley Restorers – Billington Playground | £680.00 |
| Cheque 202733 | HMRC Clerk Nico | £10.40 |
| Cheque 202734 | Ribble Valley Restorers – Langho Playground | £676.00 |
| Cheque 202735 | Scanner for Archivist – capital spend | £ 171.00 |
| Cheque 202736 | Nick Haworth Old Langho Grounds Maintenance | £250.00 |
| Cheque 202737 | Travel and Office | £25.46 |
| Cheque 202738 | Clerk Salary | £546.73 |
| Cheque 202739 | Ribble Valley Rail Flower Planter | £100.00 |
| Cheque 202740 | Langho in Bloom Hanging Baskets | £250.00 |
6.2 The bank statement was presented and signed.
6.3 The Precept was accepted
6.4 The parish council has received a grant from RVBC for the repair of the Cenotaph, the grant is for the nett figure of the repair as the parish council can claim back Vat under the 126 rulings. The grant was accepted with the repairs to be completed by November 2026
6.5 PNFS had awarded the parish council a grant for the installation of an accessible stile on the footpath to the A59, LCC’s Public Rights of Way have installed the stile so the grant was no longer needed. The clerk will reapply to PNFS for other stiles in the area that need replacing / repairing.
ITEM 7 PLANNING
7.1 The following applications were received and considered.
3/2026/2020 Petre Garage Site – no objections.
3/2026/0186 21 Whalley Old Road – no objections.
3/2026/0233 Rovers Training Ground – objections regarding light pollution submitted.
3/2026/0249 Land off Spinners Vale – objections regarding road being constructed through to the A59
3/2026/0058 8 Bank Cottage – no objections.
3/2026/0279 Inshriach, Neddy Lane -no objections.
3/2026/0221 149 Pasturelands Drive – no objections.
ITEM 8 HIGHWAY
8.1 There has been a complaint about vehicles being parked on pavements in Billington so that they can be connected to electric charging points. The clerk to forward these complaints to the Police and to LCC Highways.
8.2 There was a site meeting with the Police to discuss the ongoing issues with the school parking around St Augustine School. Some parents are parking on double yellow lines and on the roundabout. Discussion took place around how to discourage this. PCSO Pemberton aware and liaising with Gary Makin to find a solution.
Further complaints were received that parents were parking up on Elker Meadows from around 1pm for the pick up at school closure time. The clerk to write to PCSO Pemberton and Gary Makin.
8.3 The School Crossing person job for St Leonards School has gone live but as yet no applicants have come forward.
ITEM 9 OFFICERS REPORT
9.1 Borough Councillor Tony Austin presented a report about recent changes in the planning regulations which he feels take away the rights of residents to object to applications. The changes are:- 1. If objections are received for an application the Chief Planner can choose not to take this forward to panel. 2. If an application for 150+ houses is refused this then goes to the Secretary of State who can then approve the application. 3. Application call-ins by Ward Councillors no longer allowed, if Chief Planner does not approve. Tony Austin was thanked for his report.
ITEM 10 FLOOD CONCERNS AND UPDATE
10.1 No reports have been received.
ITEM 11 ADMINISTATION OF SOCIAL MEDIA
11.1. Cllr Dennis Johnson will be admin for the road closure notices on the parish councils Facebook site.
ITEM 12 DEVOLUTION
12.1 There are no updates.
ITEM 13 EVENTS SAFTERY FUNDING
13.1 This was discussed under 4.3
ITEM 14 CORRESPONDENCE.
14.1 A request for financial support was received from the Remembrance Committee. This is towards costs of organising the event each November. There has been the potential offer of funding from the LCC County Councillors. The parish council will ringfence money towards the cost but regulations as to the bank account will need to be adhered too. Proposed MH Seconded MC All in favour. It was resolved to ringfence £1000 towards the cost of the Remembrance Parade.
14.2 A request for a planter at the Railway station was received. (Cllr Haworth left the room) The cost of the planter is £100. Proposed TA, Seconded EM All in favour. It was resolved to raise a cheque for £100 for the planter.
14.3 A request for £250 was received from Langho in Bloom, this for village hanging baskets. (Cllrs Haworth and Swingewood left the room) Proposed TA, seconded DH, All in favour. It was resolved to raise a cheque for £250 for the hanging baskets.
.ITEM 12 DATES OF NEXT MEETING. All at 7.15pm.
AGM is 25th May 2026, 29th June 2026, 27th July 2026, 28th September 2026, 26th October 2026 and 30th November 2026