Town hall chief outlines plans for ‘busy year’

TACKLING the cost of living crisis, delivering levelling up and a continued focus on our town centres are among priorities identified by Alyson Barnes after her position as Rossendale council leader was confirmed by last week’s local elections.

Coun Barnes, who was also re-elected for four more years representing Goodshaw, acknowledged a return to Labour control after 12 months of a hung council gave them “a mandate”, but said they “hope and expect” to continue a collaborative approach across the council chamber.

Coun Barnes said: “We have worked well with other parties for the last 12 months, but now we have a mandate to bring in our policies.

“These include improving our town centres and helping residents through supporting our food banks, food groups and Citizens Advice Bureau.

“We also have a green agenda.

“We have declared a climate emergency, planted 7,000 trees towards our target of one for every child in the borough.

“Half our bin wagons now run on recycled cooking oil and all the vehicles will run on biofuel by this time next year.”

Coun Barnes insisted the lead group’s foot “has not been off the gas” over the past 12 months due to not being in overall control, and they have experienced few difficulties in getting through their full policy programme, often with cross-party support or backing from the smaller groups.

“We didn’t really struggle last year because we worked very effectively with other people on the council,” she said.

“I hope and expect to do the same [this year]. I’m much happier working with others and collaborating with others. We are a small district council. At the end of the day people expect us to work together.

“I had a good relationship with them and worked quite closely with them because it’s the right thing to do.”

The leader, who has been at the helm since 2011, said Rossendale had acted quickly to get the Chancellor of the Exchequer’s £150 council tax rebate for Bands A to D into residents’ accounts, but said the focus was now on “working through those people who don’t pay by direct debit to make sure that they get what’s due to them as soon as possible.”

“We’re very aware of the cost of living and we are keen to do more on that if we can help our residents through what is a very difficult time,” she added.

“We are involved in the business case with the rail link and of course we are working with our MP on the levelling up agenda. I expect it to be a very busy year.”