extra Spring 2017 Win a fantastic The UK’s first meal for two making festival YOURTurtle Bay competition n4 COUNBlackbCIurn to become a hotbedL’Sof creativity n3 BUDGET — THE FACTS DIFFICULT decisions continue “We must remain ambitious to be made about what the and make sure that long term Council can provide for the improvement projects, such as people it serves amidst the new Cathedral Quarter, massive budget cuts. can continue. This is because A great deal of money is this type of investment leads to needed to make sure that older better job opportunities and a people and people with disabili- better standard of living for ties get the care they need and people. That’s why we are deserve when they can no long- focusing on providing these er manage themselves. We also opportunities for investors to need to provide funds to pro- come to our towns either to tect vulnerable children living in build houses or start-up busi- Blackburn with Darwen. nesses. This in turn makes it Tough decisions have been taken at the town possible for the Council to gen- There will be an increase in hall and, right, Councillor Andy Kay Council Tax from April 1 2017 of charges for police and fire ser- Plan of Action erate more income and so we 1.99% with a further 3% vices. Councillor Andy Kay, Executive can provide services.” (£1,340,300) which is to be So why can’t we do as much member for Resources said: “We Thanks to Staff spent exclusively on the delivery as we did? are constantly looking at ways “Special recognition must of Adult Social Care. The n£140million cut from the to provide good quality and go to the staff striving to Government has reduced our Council’s budget by the effective services in a cheaper deliver the best possible ser- support and assumed we will Government since 2010 way and look to ways of gener- vices with much less money increase Council Tax by these nWe have had more ating more money. Council has even when their own job is amounts. responsibilities passed to us approved a plan to help navi- under threat. We recognise The amount of Council Tax from Government gate the financial difficulties that we have also seen a phe- people pay in Blackburn and nWe have more people which we know are going to nomenal rise in people volun- Darwen remains the second wanting and needing our help continue for some years. teering to give something lowest in Lancashire. nReserve funds are at a “The fact remains that the back to the community, for The increase for the ‘average’ minimum. What we do have Council will not be able to do this we are extremely grateful household in a Band A property are already allocated and we everything it used to do, includ- as it enables delivery of some is 84p per week. must keep a minimum safe ing the services which we know services we would otherwise The amount you pay includes level. people really value and rely on. not be able to provide.” Council Tax...what you will pay Council area Valuation Bands A B C D E F G H Eccleshill Parish £1,092.73 £1,274.84 £1,456.97 £1,639.09 £2,003.34 £2,367.57 £2,731.82 £3,278.18 Livesey Parish £1,081.32 £1,261.52 £1,441.75 £1,621.97 £1,982.42 £2,342.84 £2,703.29 £3,243.94 North Turton Parish £1,086.73 £1,267.84 £1,448.97 £1,630.09 £1,992.34 £2,354.57 £2,716.82 £3,260.18 Pleasington Parish £1,079.94 £1,259.92 £1,439.92 £1,619.91 £1,979.90 £2,339.87 £2,699.85 £3,239.82 Tockholes Parish £1,098.91 £1,282.05 £1,465.21 £1,648.36 £2,014.67 £2,380.96 £2,747.27 £3,296.72 Yate and Pickup Bank Parish £1,090.82 £1,272.62 £1,454.43 £1,636.23 £1,999.84 £2,363.44 £2,727.05 £3,272.46 Darwen Town Council £1,084.96 £1,265.78 £1,446.61 £1,627.44 £1,989.10 £2,350.74 £2,712.40 £3,254.88 All other parts of the Council’s area £1,076.07 £1,255.40 £1,434.76 £1,614.10 £1,972.80 £2,331.47 £2,690.17 £3,228.20 2 Celebrating Blackburn’s women of substance International Women’s Day was celebrated in style. MOHAMMED Volunteers and organisations came up with creative ways to get KHAN messages across and celebrate. Leader of Councillor Maureen Bateson was the Council behind the community call to get behind the day. E are often told at residents She said: “The community spirit meetings that people want shown was fantastic. People really Wto know more about what got behind International Women’s the Council does and what it spends Day and used it as an opportunity its budget on. to promote important services, We are responding to your feed- highlight issues and celebrate the back by providing this Shuttle Extra achievements of local women.” publication twice a year to compli- Five inspirational women also ment the wider information that we featured on a poster campaign to share on our website and using our encourage people to think about social media platforms. This publica- International Women’s Day. tion is aimed at giving you informa- Craft work created in ‘Dreams tion about the Council services that for our Daughters’ community matter to you, whilst helping to pro- workshop decorated a tree mote the borough and sharing useful outside Blackburn Cathedral and information and events. Decibelles, part of Blackburn In February, I was delighted to be People’s Choir, gave performances. invited to the One Voice Awards din- Pop up stalls gave out information ner to present the Council Leader’s Award to a very deserving winner. in The Mall, Blackburn, and The award acknowledges people Blackburn Market. that have promoted community Other highlights were a lunch cohesion through leadership. event featuring guest speakers Chris Seddon was this year’s recipi- head of crime at Lancashire Police ent. She was nominated for her work Susannah Clarke, Anjum Anwar supporting the refugee community MBE and Margo Grimshaw. There and the Blackburn YMCA. She has were also match day activities at also served as a governor of a local Ewood Park. school for 30 years as well as volun- teering for a wide range of communi- ty activities. Chris is a worthy winner of this Your Council’s budget facts....continued from P1 award. She has done much good work over the years to promote com- munity togetherness. She has led efforts to build bridges between dif- ferent communities. Chris is one of many people in We’re building a better Blackburn with Darwen who show this borough is a friendly and neigh- bourly place to live. Of course we have challenges, most Councils do. But volunteers like Chris are doing Blackburn As a council we are committed to keeping everyone fully informed Developments designed to make town a better place to live and to do business their bit and bringing people togeth- er. The Half Fish Foundation has been appointed to manage Promoting neighbourliness is a key Daisyfield Pools priority for this Council and my pledge to people like Chris, to the Investing in our good neighbours and community groups who make Your Call happen and make this borough a better place is this – this Council will support best assets...you! you. One symptom of divided communi- IN order to make taxpayers money go further the Council has been ties is hate crime. And together we making the most of one of the borough’s best assets: its residents. must tackle it. In January, an event to Local people have stepped up and are now running two of the commemorate Holocaust Memorial borough’s leisure centres after residents told the Council keeping Day was held in the Council Chamber. them open was very important to them. I was delighted to see, once again, A community group, the Jamia Ghosia Association has taken over so many people attend and especial- the management of Audley Sports and Community Centre. ly to see the number of young peo- While the Half Fish Foundation, which delivers swimming and ple. coaching courses to the leisure industry has been appointed to man- It was a great event, one of many age Daisyfield Pools. held in Blackburn with Darwen. However we do acknowledge there Gerardine and Wayne Hemingway are bringing their vision of contemporary living is also more that we as a Council and to Blackburn indeed everyone else can do. Everyone has a role to play to THE Council is committed to boosting For example, the £40million Pennine ensure Blackburn with Darwen is free economic growth and prosperity across Reach transport scheme is designed not from hatred. the borough. only to make the town a better place to live We want the borough to remain a To do this we need to help businesses but also to do business. great place for people of all faiths grow, attract new ones to the borough and The infrastructure is intended to make it and backgrounds to continue to help get residents into work as well as mak- easier for people to travel to work by bus, to want to live, work and visit. ing the borough an attractive place for peo- reduce traffic congestion and to make I want to say thanks to the ple to come and live employment sites more accessible.