Local Government Reorganisation in Lancashire – Stakeholder Engagement

As you may be aware, the Government has announced its intention to simplify governance in Lancashire by creating new unitary councils that deliver all local services through a single authority.

Currently, Lancashire County Council provides services such as social care, education, highways, and libraries, while district and borough councils, such as Ribble Valley Borough Councils, deliver services including waste collection, planning, housing and leisure. Blackpool and Blackburn with Darwen already operate as unitary authorities.

All 15 councils in Lancashire are working collaboratively to develop proposals for new unitary arrangements with options ranging from two to five new unitary councils.

The business case proposals for new unitary councils must be submitted to the Government by November 28 and demonstrate:

  • Stronger local leadership
  • Improved service delivery and outcomes
  • Financial sustainability and value for money
  • Economic growth and prosperity
  • Community identity and effective local partnerships

To inform this process, key stakeholder organisations across Lancashire, including parish councils, are asked to complete the survey below by September 28 and share it within your networks for others to complete.

Give My View

Accessible formats and paper copies are available on request from lgr@lancashire.gov.uk or by phoning 0300 1236701.

If you need further information, please refer to the attached news release or visit ribblevalley.gov.uk.https://www.givemyview.com/lancashirestakeholderlgr

Minutes of the meeting held 28th July 2025

MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF BILLINGTON AND LANGHO PARISH COUNCIL HELD ON

 Monday, 28th July 2025 at 7.15pm

 AT THE COMMUNITY HALL

 

PRESENT

 

Parish Councillors. Brian Haworth (chair), Martin Hincks, Eva McPrice,  Dennis Johnson, Michael Collins, Cllr Tony Austin.

 

In attendance –R Greenwood clerk

 

ITEM 1 APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

 

There were  apologies for absence from Katie Swingewood and John Aspden

 

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 June 30th  2025 were accepted and signed as a true record.

 

ITEM 4 PUBLIC PARTICIPATION

 

4.1 There was no public participation.

 

 ITEM  5 PLAYGROUNDS

 

5.1 No report was received from the Lengthsman.

 

5.2 The request for bollards at Bushburn Road Playground has been passed to RVBC to action.

 

 

ITEM 6 ACCOUNTS

 

6.1 The following cheques were presented for payment.

 

Cheque 202659 C Walton Lengthsman £276.92
Cheque 202660 HMRC £7.00
Cheque 202661 Travel £25.46
Cheque 202662 Clerk Salary £532.50
Cheque 202663 N Haworth Groundsman, Old Langho £500.00

 

6.2 The National Joint Council for Local Government Services has forwarded  the Clerk / RFO pay scales. These are scales 1 to 62. The Clerk is on pay scale 2 which has had an hourly increase of 40p per hour. This will be back dated to the 1st April 2025

 

 

6.3 The bank reconciliation and cash flow was presented.

 

6.4 It was resolved that as no meeting would take place in August that the Clerk would raise the cheques for payment and send them out rather than having contractors or employees having to wait for two months for payment.

 

ITEM 7 PLANNING

 

7.1 The following applications were received and considered.

 

3/2025/0482 18 Highwoods Park, no objections
   
3/2025/0516 Oak Tree, Whitehalgh Lane, no objections.
   
3/2025/0454 Land off Snodworth, objections sent to RVBC
   
3/2025/0540 Brooklands, Longworth Road, no objections.
   

 

7.2 Cllr Austin had circulated the report for the failed Appeal for Elker Meadows.

 

7.2 Padel Courts at Mytton Fold  –  this application was passed.

 

7.3 Cllr Austin gave a brief precis of planning issues in the villages.

 

 

ITEM 8 HIGHWAY

 

8.1  Nothing reported.

 

ITEM 9 RIBBLE VALLEY SETTLEMENT REVIEW.

 

9.1 RVBC produced a list of services and facilities for Billington, Langho and Brockhall (Old Langho). The parish council worked through these added missed facilities and removing those that were no longer in place. Concern was raised as the maps that were supplied did not cover the whole area missing Cronshaw Chair and the area opposite Northcote. The clerk to submit the completed forms and forward the  missing area concerns.

 

ITEM 10 OFFICERS REPORT 

 

10.1 The parish council is seeking a volunteer to scan and write up the parish records, these go back to the 1800’s and are in a frail condition. The parish council will work with the Hyndburn and Ribble Valley CVS to source volunteers.

 

10.2 The Groundsman for Old Langho Church was thanked for his work. He had reported that the bushes, hedges and tree’s between the two graveyards are top heavy and need maintenance works. The Clerk to write to Old Langho Church suggesting this work.

 

10.3 Cllr Austin attended a LALC meeting, he raised questions about LCC’s devolution.

 

.

 

ITEM 11 FLOOD CONCERNS AND UPDATE

 

No items were discussed.

 

 ITEM 12 CORRESPONDENCE.

 

12.1 All correspondence has been forwarded by email.

.

 

ITEM 13 DATES OF NEXT MEETING. All at 7.15pm.

 

29th September 2025

27th October 2025

24th November 2025

 

The meeting closed at 20.28 hrs

Monday 28th July  2025

BILLINGTON AND LANGHO PARISH COUNCIL

Email: – parishclerk@billingtonlanghopc.org

 

You are duly summoned to attend the next meeting of Billington and Langho Parish Council to be held at 7.15pm on Monday 28th July  2025

 

AGENDA

 

ITEM 1      Apologies for Absence – To receive apologies and to approve reasons for absence.

 

ITEM 2       Declarations of interest,

  1. Register of interest
  2. To declare any personal or prejudicial interests on items on the agenda.

 

ITEM 3       To approve the minutes of the last meeting of the Council held June 30th 2025

          

 

ITEM 4      Public Participation, 

 

ITEM5       Playgrounds- bollards

 

ITEM 6      Accounts – to approve the bank reconciliation, cash flow and items for payment. 

ITEM 7       Planning – To consider the received planning applications. 

 

ITEM 8      Highways: 

 

ITEM 9     Ribble Valley Settlement Review

 

ITEM 10    Officers Reports, 

 

ITEM 11    Flood concerns and updates 

 

ITEM 12   Correspondence, if not forwarded by email.

 

ITEM 13    Dates of the next meetings 

 

 

29th September 2025

27th October 2025

24th November 2025

 

Monday 30th June 2025

BILLINGTON AND LANGHO PARISH COUNCIL

Email: – parishclerk@billingtonlanghopc.org

 

 

You are duly summoned to attend the next meeting of Billington and Langho Parish Council to be held at 7.15pm on Monday 30th June 2025

 

AGENDA

 

ITEM 1      Apologies for Absence – To receive apologies and to approve reasons for absence.

 

ITEM 2       Declarations of interest,

  1. Register of interest
  2. To declare any personal or prejudicial interests on items on the agenda.

 

ITEM 3       To approve the minutes of the last meeting of the Council held May 2025

 

 

ITEM 4      Public Participation,

 

ITEM5       Playgrounds Annual Grass Cutting SLA.

 

ITEM 6      Accounts – to approve the bank reconciliation, cash flow and items for payment.

 

ITEM 7       Planning – To consider the received planning applications.

 

ITEM 8      Highways:

 

ITEM 9     Social Media and website.

 

ITEM 10    Officers Reports,

 

ITEM 11    Flood concerns and updates

 

ITEM 12   Correspondence, if not forwarded by email.

 

ITEM 13    Dates of the next meetings

 

28th July 2025

29th September 2025

27th October 2025

24th November 2025

 

Monday 26th  May  2025

BILLINGTON AND LANGHO PARISH COUNCIL

Email: – parishclerk@billingtonlanghopc.org

 

 

You are duly summoned to attend the next meeting of Billington and Langho Parish Council to be held at 7.15pm on Monday 26th  May  2025

 

7.15pm AGENDA AGM

 

ITEM 1           Declaration of interest

 

ITEM 2           Apologies for Absence

 

ITEM 3           Minutes of the previous meeting

 

ITEM 4           Election of Chair

 

ITEM 5          Election of Vice Chair

 

ITEM 6 Appointment of members to Committees

 

ITEM 7           Open Forum – Items raised by parish residents

 

ITEM 8           Billington Poors Charity

 

8pm AGNDA

 

ITEM 1 To approve the minutes of the meeting held on April 2025

 

ITEM 2  Public Participation

 

ITEM 3 Playgrounds

 

ITEM 4 Accounts – To consider payments, cashflow and bank reconciliation

 

ITEM 5 Planning – To consider any planning applications received.

 

ITEM 6 Highways,

 

ITEM 7 Officers Reports

 

ITEM 8 Correspondence

 

ITEM 9 Date of the next meeting –

 

30th June 2025

28th July 2025

29th September 2025

27th October 2025

24th November 2025

 

 

Monday 28th April  2025

BILLINGTON AND LANGHO PARISH COUNCIL

Email: – parishclerk@billingtonlanghopc.org

 

You are duly summoned to attend the next meeting of Billington and Langho Parish Council to be held at 7.15pm on Monday 28th April  2025

 

AGENDA

 

ITEM 1      Apologies for Absence – To receive apologies and to approve reasons for absence.

 

ITEM 2       Declarations of interest,

  1. Register of interest
  2. To declare any personal or prejudicial interests on items on the agenda.

 

ITEM 3       To approve the minutes of the last meeting of the Council held March 31st 2025

          

 

ITEM 4      Public Participation, 

 

ITEM5       Playgrounds 

 

ITEM 6      Accounts – to approve the bank reconciliation, cash flow and items for payment. 

ITEM 7       Planning – To consider the received planning applications. 

ITEM 8      Highways: 

 

ITEM 9   Officers Reports, 

 

ITEM 10   Flood concerns and updates 

 

ITEM 11 Correspondence, if not forwarded by email. Issues with the website. 

 

ITEM 12   Dates of the next meetings 

 

26th May 2025

30th June 2025

28th July 2025

29th September 2025

27th October 2025

24th November 2025

 

Monday 31st March 2025

BILLINGTON AND LANGHO PARISH COUNCIL

Email: – parishclerk@billingtonlanghopc.org

 

 

You are duly summoned to attend the next meeting of Billington and Langho Parish Council to be held at 7.15pm on Monday 31st March 2025

 

AGENDA

 

ITEM 1      Apologies for Absence – To receive apologies and to approve reasons for absence.

 

ITEM 2       Declarations of interest,

  1. Register of interest
  2. To declare any personal or prejudicial interests on items on the agenda.

 

ITEM 3       To approve the minutes of the last meeting of the Council held February 2025

 

 

ITEM 4      Public Participation, letter regarding LCC ditch, email re electric bikes.

 

ITEM5       Playgrounds Annual grounds maintenance invoice, response to email

 

 

 

ITEM 6      Accounts – to approve the bank reconciliation, cash flow and items for payment.

●       Steel kissing gate delivery costs incurred by Billington and Langho PC

 

 

ITEM 7       Planning – To consider the received planning applications.

●       Planning enforcement Signage at Old Langho Church,

 

 

ITEM 8      Highways:

Whalley Rd, Billington carriageway defect, nr Elker Lane

Footpath post at Colliers Farm, Billington, Report Reference 155146

Neddy Lane closure – Cllr Schofield dealing

 

 

 

ITEM 9     Sec 106 Contribution to Leisure in Billington

 

 

ITEM 10    Officers Reports,

 

ITEM 11         Tree’s

  • Tree’s at Old Langho Church
  • Cenotaph Memorial Oak

 

 

ITEM 12 Flood concerns and updates

 

 

ITEM 13 Correspondence, if not forwarded by email.

 

ITEM 14   Dates of the next meetings

 

28th April 2025

26th May 2025

30th June 2025

28th July 2025

29th September 2025

27th October 2025

24th November 2025

 

Monday 24th February 2025

BILLINGTON AND LANGHO PARISH COUNCIL

Email: – parishclerk@billingtonlanghopc.org

 

 

You are duly summoned to attend the next meeting of Billington and Langho Parish Council to be held at 7.15pm on Monday 24th February 2025

 

AGENDA

 

ITEM 1      Apologies for Absence – To receive apologies and to approve reasons for absence.

 

ITEM 2       Declarations of interest,

  1. Register of interest
  2. To declare any personal or prejudicial interests on items on the agenda.

 

ITEM 3       To approve the minutes of the last meeting of the Council held 27th January 2025

 

 

ITEM 4      Public Participation

 

ITEM5       Playgrounds

 

 

ITEM 6      Accounts – to approve the bank reconciliation, cash flow and items for payment.

 

 

ITEM 7       Planning – To consider the received planning applications.

  • Flood Lights

 

ITEM 8      Highways: Longsight Road Bus Stops,

Board Signs at Old Langho.

SpiDs in the vicinity of St Leonards.

 

ITEM 9     Officers Reports,

 

ITEM 10    Correspondence, if not forwarded by email.

 

ITEM 11 Flood concerns and updates

 

ITEM 11   Dates of the next meetings

 

31st March 2025

28th April 2025

26th May 2025

30th June 2025

28th July 2025

29th September 2025

27th October 2025

24th November 2025

 

Monday 27th January 2025

BILLINGTON AND LANGHO PARISH COUNCIL

Email: – parishclerk@billingtonlanghopc.org

 

 

You are duly summoned to attend the next meeting of Billington and Langho Parish Council to be held at 7.15pm on Monday 27th January 2025

 

AGENDA

 

ITEM 1      Apologies for Absence – To receive apologies and to approve reasons for absence.

 

ITEM 2       Declarations of interest,

  1. Register of interest
  2. To declare any personal or prejudicial interests on items on the agenda.

 

ITEM 3       To approve the minutes of the last meeting of the Council held November 2024

 

 

ITEM 4      Public Participation

 

ITEM5       Playgrounds and Graveyard quotes.

 

 

ITEM 6      Accounts – to approve the bank reconciliation, cash flow and items for payment.

 

 

ITEM 7       Planning – To consider the received planning applications.

 

ITEM 8      Highways:

 

ITEM 9     Officers Reports,

 

ITEM 10    Correspondence, if not forwarded by email.

 

ITEM 11 Flood concerns and updates

 

ITEM 11   Dates of the next meetings

 

24th February 2025

31st March 2025

28th April 2025

26th May 2025

30th June 2025

28th July 2025

29th September 2025

27th October 2025

24th November 2025

 

 

Minutes of the meeting held June 2025

MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF BILLINGTON AND LANGHO PARISH COUNCIL HELD ON

 Monday, 30th June   2025 at 7.15pm

 AT THE COMMUNITY HALL

 

PRESENT

 

Parish Councillors. Brian Haworth (chair), Martin Hincks, Eva McPrice, John Aspden, Dennis Johnson, Michael Collins  Cllr Steve Farmer, Cllr Tony Austin. Katie Swingewood.

 

In attendance – Two members of the public. R Greenwood clerk

 

ITEM 1 APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

 

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 May 26th 2025 were accepted and signed as a true record.

 

ITEM 4 PUBLIC PARTICIPATION

 

4.1 Mr Baron, speed campaigner for Whinney Lane and Snodworth Road, attended the meeting to request that is there was unallocated money in the Community Infrastructure Levie Fund (CIL) that it was a project to reduce speed on Snodworth Road / Whinney Lane be considered. Cllr Tony Austin will look into this, and if it is available will be put on a future agenda.

 

4.2 Mr Renwick of Luna Developments, Whalley, attended the meeting to discuss a planning application proposal. This will be for the land opposite Northcote Hotel. The development proposed is for a petrol station, EV station, and employment units (as they have previously done in Barrow and Altham). With this will be an obligation for employing local people and for the units to be occupied by local residents.

.

 

 ITEM  5 PLAYGROUNDS

 

5.1 No report was received from the Lengthsman.

 

5.2 There were more reports of dogs in Langho Playground.

 

5.3 The grass cutting contract with RVBC was signed for the next financial year. This will be £2520.17

 

5.4 An incident was reported to the Police and the Parish Council where a car was driven onto the playground at Langho. From this the Parish Council is looking to install bollards on the ginnel at Bushburn Drive to prevent vehicles entering the playground.

 

5.5 A further incident of vehicles was reported, this was that parents are driving onto Langho Playground to the children’s area to pick up their children, this is not allowed and will be reported to the Police if seen.

 

 

ITEM 6 ACCOUNTS

 

6.1 The following cheques were presented for payment.

 

Cheque 202651 Void  
Cheque 202652 C Walton Lengthsman £318.00
Cheque 202653 N Haworth Old Langho Church £500.00
Cheque 202654 Nurture for Cronshaw Common Knotweed £120.00
Cheque 202655 Travel and office £25.46
Cheque 202656 HMRC £7.00
Cheque 202657 Clerk salary £532.50
Cheque 202658 Community First Insurance £788.17

 

6.2 The Concurrent Form was signed and will be processed to RVBC

 

6.3 The bank reconciliation and cash flow was presented.

 

ITEM 7 PLANNING

 

7.1 The following applications were received and considered.

 

3/2025/0432 Birtwistle Terrace
   
3/2025/0195 14 The Drive
   
3/2025/0838 St Augustines School
   
3/2025/0304 2 Chapel Close
   
3/2025/0487 19 Pendle View
   
3/2025/0422 Highwoods park

 

7.1  The application for 300 homes was refused. Cllr Steve Farmer was thanked for his work.

 

7.2 Padel Courts at Mytton Fold  – whilst the parish council recognises the need for economic development it  was asked to represent the views of local residents who objected to this application. The application is to go back to the planning committee with a recommendation to grant the application.

 

 

ITEM 8 HIGHWAY

 

8.1  The sign at Pashmire Brow is buried in the hedge and will be reported to repair.

 

8.2 A59  towards Langho Roundabout – more reports about the state of the road, these have been unsuccessfully reported via the Love Clean Streets App but have been closed off. However the volume of potholes plus the large channel along the road make driving dangerous with cars swerving to avoid.

 

8.3 The blocked drains on Northcote Road have been cleared.

 

ITEM 9 SOCIAL MEDIA AND WEBSITE.

 

9.1 Stuart Howarth at RVBC was thanked for helping the clerk with the website and email issues now fully resolved.

 

9.2 It was resolved that the minutes of the meetings would not be put on social media – these will be placed on the notice boards and also on the website.

 

ITEM 10 OFFICERS REPORT 

 

10.1 It was resolved  that Cllr Austin represent the Parish Council at Parish Council Liaison Committee meetings.

 

10.1 There has been a report of cold callers knocking on doors on St Marys Drive asking to buy gold jewellery. This is a no cold calling area.

 

10.2 Fraud – Five local residents have been issued with solicitor’s letters demanding £10,000 for ground rents. Cllr Tony Austin is leading on this as this is a fraudulent request. Residents experiencing this are asked to contact either the clerk or Cllr Austin.

 

10.3 Digital Switchover Landline phones are switching to digital, which could stop telecare alarms working. Landline providers are here to help. If you or someone you know uses a telecare alarm, you must call the landline provider. They will help make sure alarms keep working through the switchover, for more information please see www.digitalphoneswitchover.com

 

10.4  It has been announced that former Cllr. Kathleen Robinson passed away earlier this month. She had represented the village on Ribble Valley Borough Council.

 

ITEM 11 FLOOD CONCERNS AND UPDATE

 

No items were discussed.

 

 ITEM 12 CORRESPONDENCE.

 

12.1 All correspondence has been forwarded by email.

.

 

 

ITEM 13 DATES OF NEXT MEETING. All at 7.15pm.

 

28th July 2025

25th August 2025 (additional date and bank holiday)

29th September 2025

27th October 2025

24th November 2025

 

The meeting closed at 20.18 hrs