Town hall unveils £2.1m spending plans
HYNDBURN council have outlined plans to invest £2.1m in local services, buildings and parks.
Nearly £900,000 will be channelled into disabled facilities grants to help those with medical conditions continue to live independely in their own homes.
The money will provide stairlifts, toilet and bathroom adaptations, access ramps and other equipment, as well as grants for major structural alterations where needed.
Finance bosses will also look to make ‘significant investment’ in the boroughs parks with a £250,000 ‘major improvement’ of Milnshaw Park, £150,000 for youth facilities at Mercer Park and a further £25,000 on paths and walkways at other parks.
A resurfacing scheme on Broadway will attract £50,000 while £150,000 will be spent on upgrading Hyndburn Sport Centre machinery.
Hyndburn Leisure will also be boosted with a £36,500 loan to help develop a ‘much-needed gymnastics facility’.
The council are also planning a further £575,000 investment in its ‘key buildings, assets and infrastructure’, including health and safety improvements, upgrading financial and IT systems, vehicle replacements and £10,000 for Christmas decorations at ‘key shopping locations’.
A budget report by deputy chief executive Joe McIntyre said: “In recent years the council has funded significant programmes of capital expenditure which have exceeded £15m per annum.
“In these more austere times it is not possible to fund investment into the local community at these levels. However, the council is able to put forward a substantial capital investment programme of almost £2.1m, despite the severe reductions in public spending that have been necessary due to the recession.”
Council leader Miles Parkinson added: “The capital budget is smaller than in previous years but we are making sure the priorities are dealt with.
“We will get inward investment to spend on parks and leisure and those little things that make all the difference.”
Conservative group leader Councillor Tony Dobson welcomed the government funding for disabilities grants but said he is ‘surprised’ at the level of capital spending.
He said: “Even in bad years we have had about £8m to spend and I will be making enquiries as to the reasons behind it.”