april2024 – Fylde Council

Fylde Volunteer Ranger Service Wants You!

Fylde Council — Tue, 30 Apr 2024 10:12:48 +0000

If you love Fylde’s parks and coastal areas, and would like to help preserve, protect and improve them while learning new skills and meeting new friends, why not register your interest in joining the Fylde Volunteer Ranger Service?

We’re looking for enthusiastic people over 18 years of age and with an interest in the environment to work with our rangers, coastal patrol staff and fellow volunteers to make a positive contribution to the conservation and ecology of Fylde.

Whether you want to undertake practical conservation work, survey some of the UK’s most protected species or work with the public in the delivery of events and environmental education, we have a volunteering opportunity to suit you.

As a volunteer, you’ll receive training and develop transferable skills, meet like-minded people, and enjoy a sense of achievement in knowing that you’re really making a difference.

Volunteer Ranger Peter spoke about his experiences: “I enjoy the camaraderie working as a member of the sand dunes conservation group. It’s great exercise in the fresh air and gives me a real sense of achievement when we complete a task.”

Fellow Volunteer Ranger Jim agrees: “You can vary the time you spend with the group, and you can go at your own pace contributing to the team effort in the way you are most comfortable with. Collectively, you make good progress with tasks which have an impact

Cllr Tommy Threlfall, Fylde Council’s Lead Member for Environment, said: “We consider volunteering to be a two-way process. Whilst the council and our environment benefit from the time and contribution of our volunteers, it’s equally important that our volunteers gain from their experience with us. If you have the time and motivation to commit to volunteering, we would love to hear from you.”

For more information on the volunteer roles available and to register your interest visit the Fylde Council website and download the information pack.

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Sir Bill Beaumont GBE DL Awarded Freedom of the Borough

Fylde Council — Fri, 26 Apr 2024 09:13:33 +0000

Fylde Council were honoured to award Sir Bill Beaumont GBE DL the Freedom of the Borough in a civic reception held at the Town Hall in St Annes on Thursday 25 April.

Members at the February 2024 full Council meeting unanimously resolved to support the Notice of Motion proposed by Cllr Karen Buckley, Leader of Fylde Council, in recognition of Sir Bill’s services to rugby.

At the reception, following a few words from both Cllr Buckley and Cllr Cheryl Little, Mayor of Fylde, Sir Bill spoke of how moved he was to receive the honour, describing how – though he was not born in Fylde – he is delighted to call it home, and looks forward to returning whenever he travels.

Cllr Buckley said: “It was a wonderful occasion to mark Sir Bill Beaumont’s contribution to world rugby by awarding him the highest honour of the borough of Fylde. Sir Bill played rugby for Fylde and for Lancashire. He became England captain in 1978 and in 1980 led them to their first grand slam since 1957.

“After retiring from rugby, he became a well-loved personality in the TV schedules as one of the team captains in the BBC’s ‘A Question of Sport’.

“Sir Bill has not only subsequently driven transformational governance reform in support of world rugby, but he has also driven improvements for player welfare and wellbeing. It was a privilege to award him the freedom of the borough of Fylde in recognition of these great achievements.”

The Freedom of the Borough is the highest award that a Council can bestow. It is a power that is very rarely used and is normally awarded only to people or bodies who have, in the opinion of the Council, rendered eminent service to the Borough.

The only individual to have previously received this award from Fylde Council is former Fylde MP Michael Jack CBE in 2010, while The Queen’s Lancashire Regiment and AFC Fylde collectively received the honour in 1990 and 2008 respectively.

The award of the Honorary Freedom of the Borough does not convey any legal rights or responsibilities other than a ceremonial role at civic functions. The award dates to the Middle Ages, when Freemen had commercial privileges and a route into a position of power in a town or city.

£30,000 Grant Approved to Help Replace Rawstorne Sports Centre Roof in Freckleton

Fylde Council — Fri, 26 Apr 2024 09:05:39 +0000

Fylde Council’s Executive Committee has approved the payment of a £30,000 grant to Freckleton Parish Council as a contribution towards replacing the roof of the Rawstorne Sports Centre.

The grant will contribute towards the estimated £39,180 cost of the works, with the remainder coming from a separate grant and Freckleton Parish Council’s financial reserves.

The Rawstorne Sports Centre is used by numerous sports teams and local organisations, as well as hosting social and community events such as christenings, charity fundraisers, Club Day and more.

In 2023, the building experienced electrical issues which were determined to be caused by a leak in the roof. Despite emergency repairs at the time, issues such as rotten roofing battens and failed tiles meant the building was no longer waterproof, with parts of the roof still leaking and leaving the centre unable to operate at full capacity. Freckleton Parish Council – who own the building – approached Fylde Council to ask for financial assistance.

Cllr Ellie Gaunt, Lead Member for Finance and Resources, said: “We’ve all been reminded in recent years of the value of community spaces where people can comfortably share time with each other, whether as a sports team, a youth club, a birthday party, or any of the various other gatherings that the Rawstorne Sports Centre has been home to.

”We’re pleased to be able to help Freckleton Parish Council with the repairs to the roof, to restore the centre to its rightful place as a community centrepiece.”

A legal agreement is to be signed by both parties prior to payment being made, to ensure the funding is used in accordance with funding bid as submitted.

Once the grant is paid, it is the intention for the repair works to be performed in Spring/Summer 2024.

Executive Committee Approves Scrutiny Recommendations on Swimming Provision in Fylde

Fylde Council — Fri, 26 Apr 2024 09:03:00 +0000

Fylde Council’s Executive Committee has considered and accepted recommendations from the Community Focus Scrutiny Committee on swimming provision in Fylde.

These recommendations are to ensure sustainability and value for money are key elements of any such provision in the future, and to provide guidance for local community groups who may wish to submit a business plan to acquire and operate the Kirkham Pool.

The Scrutiny Committee previously met to discuss a report – available on the Fylde Council website here – which presented numerous items of relevance to swimming provision. These included the Disposal Plan agreed with YMCA Fylde Coast for Kirkham Pool, the outputs of the council-commissioned Active Lancashire consultation with key local stakeholders and swimming providers, and the feasibility and cost of making the existing Kirkham Pool fit for purpose or building a new fit for purpose swimming pool on another site.

The report contained work from consultants appointed in January 2024 to present feasibility and costing studies on four potential design concepts, ranging from the minimum requirement to recommission existing facilities at Kirkham Pool through to a new pool being constructed on a notional site to be determined. The purpose of these studies was to provide any parties considering the submission of an Expression of Interest a broad idea of the scope and costs that would be involved and provide a basis for their future Business Plan.

The report also set out potential workstreams over the next few months to secure swimming, in accordance with the resolution of Council dated 5th December 2023 which confirmed this as a priority. A dedicated Swimming in Fylde webpage has already been produced to set out what Fylde Council is doing in exploring all practicable options to support swimming provision in Fylde.

Having discussed the report, the recommendations presented to the Exec Committee are to incorporate sustainability and value for money as key elements of any future consideration of swimming provision.

Further, the Scrutiny Committee recommended that the Exec Committee consider introducing guidance for voluntary and community groups in relation to the submission of business plans and appoint a group (made up of key lead members and officers) to oversee the process of evaluating any business plans submitted.

Cllr Jayne Nixon, Lead Member for Tourism, Leisure and Culture, said: “The Executive Committee welcomed and unanimously endorsed the recommendations from Scrutiny last night. There is clearly a shared appetite amongst councillors and members of the public to see swimming provision return to rural Fylde as demonstrated in the results of the Active Lancashire consultation exercise.

“I would urge any interested groups to check the wealth of information available on the council’s webpage and submit an expression of interest. We will be providing guidance on the next step regarding the submission of business plans.”

The YMCA Kirkham Rural Splash facility closed permanently in August 2023 due to significant structural damage caused by Storm Arwen in December 2021. Efforts to repair the damage and reopen the facility were hindered by the high costs involved, which would include replacing the damaged roof and addressing issues caused by aging infrastructure.

In accordance with the 2009 agreement under which YMCA Fylde Coast obtained the freehold ownership of the facility and continued to operate it, YMCA Fylde Coast submitted for the consideration of Fylde Council a Disposal Plan. This plan set out proposals for the future of the asset and how these would be achieved, whether through transfer to an interested party or sale on the open market.

Following discussion, Fylde Council and YMCA Fylde Coast agreed the details of the Disposal Plan in March 2024. The agreed plan allows community groups to submit an Expression of Interest in taking on the facility and allows time to develop a business plan for its operation. The Expressions of Interest stage opened in early April 2024 and will run until Friday 24 May 2024.

If you represent a community group who may wish to consider acquiring and operating Kirkham Pool, or if you simply wish to know more about the process and what Fylde Council are doing to safeguard swimming provision in the borough, visit the dedicated Swimming in Fylde webpage on the Fylde Council website.

St Annes Kite Festival Named Event of the Year at Coastal Radio DAB Local Business Awards 2024

Fylde Council — Tue, 23 Apr 2024 14:48:10 +0000

The St Annes Kite Festival has been named the Event of the Year at the Coastal Radio DAB Local Business Awards 2024!

Voters chose the spectacular three-day September event as their favourite of the year, coming in ahead of other brilliant contenders JoyFest at the Marine Hall Fleetwood, Santa Comes to Bispham, Tia’s Crown Dancefloor Heroes, and the Blue Skies Dragon Boat Race.

Despite this strong competition, the Kite Festival was chosen by the public with an incredible 32% of the vote to take home the prize from the glamorous ceremony at Blackpool Tower Ballroom on the evening of Friday 19 April.

Cllr Jayne Nixon, Fylde Council’s Lead Member for Tourism, Culture & Leisure, said: “This was a category packed with wonderful events, and we were just as thrilled to be nominated alongside them as we are to receive this award.

“Our thanks to all who voted, and a huge thank you to all those who made the Kite Festival happen – our partners, the sponsors, the traders, the fliers, and everyone who attended. We hope to see you all again later this year!”

The full list of nominees and prize winners from the Coastal Radio DAB Local Business Awards 2024 can be found here: https://www.coastalradiodab.co.uk/awards/local-business-awards/

Last year’s Kite Festival welcomed over two hundred kite fliers from the UK and around the world to the beautiful St Annes beachfront, where hundreds more visitors from across the country gathered to marvel at three days of airborne excitement.

Organised by partners SmileFactor10 and Fylde Council, the Kite Festival has become a popular fixture in Fylde’s calendar of events, and the event for 2024 is already planned for the weekend of 13 – 15 September 2024.

For more information about the upcoming St Annes Kite Festival and to see the rest of what’s on in Fylde, visit the Discover Fylde website: https://www.discoverfylde.co.uk/events/

Fylde Community Hub Supper Club: Residents Share Their Stories

Fylde Council — Mon, 22 Apr 2024 12:43:04 +0000

The Fylde Community Hub Supper Club has been welcoming people on a Monday evening with a warm meal and a place to meet people, and residents have been sharing their stories about how much it has meant to them.

Three service users have highlighted how the warm and welcoming atmosphere has helped them socialise and save money on utilities, as well as boosting their confidence and mental health and wellbeing.

Stephen, Wendy and Sue spoke of how significant a difference attending the free club and saving money on food and energy has made to their financial situation, and had nothing but praise for the club and the people who provide it.

The Supper Club initiative is currently funded through Fylde Council and Lancashire County Council, and the organisers aim to eventually secure further funding to support their ambitions going forward.

Cllr Chris Dixon, Lead Member for Social Wellbeing, said: “It’s heartening to hear how the Fylde Community Hub Supper Club has been helping people, whether it’s with good food, a warm place to stay, or with advice and signposting to other support services. Just having a place where you feel welcome can make an incredible difference to people’s lives, and I’m pleased that Fylde Council are able to fund this.”

Designed for vulnerable and isolated individuals in the community, the Supper Club offers not just nourishing food, but also a supportive environment and meaningful companionship.

The free Supper Club takes place every Monday between 4:00pm – 5:30pm at the Well Community Centre, 92 St Albans Road, Lytham St Annes, FY8 1UZ.

More helping hands are always welcome! If you’d like to volunteer and help with the Supper Club, email your details to Siobhan Tweedale at fyldecommunityhub@gmail.com

If you or someone you know are finding it difficult to make ends meet during the cost-of-living crisis, support is available. Visit the Fylde Council website to access a list of resources and links to support services.

Click the thumbnails below to read the full case studies from the Fylde Community Hub Supper Club!

Work Commences on Play Area Improvements

Fylde Council — Fri, 19 Apr 2024 08:27:39 +0000

More play areas in Fylde will benefit from refurbishment this year as improvement works begin at Waddington Road, Hove Road and Raleigh Close.

The works will update play equipment and safety surfacing and will take approximately four weeks to complete. Some areas of the parks will be closed while improvements are underway, with signage and fencing in place.

Refurbishment of the play area at Lowther Gardens is also planned to for later in the year, with more details to follow closer to the time.

An audit conducted by Fylde Council’s Parks and Coastal Services team found several of the more frequently used children’s play areas in Fylde would greatly benefit from remedial and replacement works to equipment and surfacing. A subsequent community group consultation helped to lay out specifications for what each of the sites would most benefit from, with particular attention paid to improving accessibility, and to ensuring that health and safety requirements are met alongside community need.

Cllr Jayne Nixon, Lead Member for Tourism, Leisure & Culture, said: “We’re delighted to be able to provide exciting play areas for our children to enjoy. Improvement projects such as these ensure that our play areas will remain safe and accessible to all.”

Fylde Council have a qualified playground inspection and maintenance team who ensure the weekly inspection and upkeep of play sites, and the council holds an operating budget to carry out minor repairs to play equipment and surfacing. This budget covers the replacement of worn parts such as bolts, panels, and seats, as well as small repairs to rubber safety surfacing, fencing and furniture. However, the Council does not hold a budget for the full replacement of failing or decommissioned play equipment or safety surfacing.

Following the tendering process, a contract was awarded to ESP Scotland Ltd to perform the work, with a funding budget of £120,000 included within the Capital Programme for 2023/2024.

For more information about play areas and open spaces in Fylde, please visit our website: Parks and Open Spaces – Fylde Council

Workplace Health Champions Programme Smashes Targets!

Fylde Council — Tue, 16 Apr 2024 09:26:26 +0000

Fylde Council’s Workplace Health Champions programme has surpassed its targets in helping local businesses create health ambassadors to drive positive change in their organisations and is set to continue making a real difference to even more workplaces.

Through funding from the EU European Social Fund (ESF), the Workplace Health Champion programme delivers NCFE accredited qualification training to people aged 18+ in work, helping upskill and improve their future employment opportunities while supporting their colleagues in becoming happier, healthier people.

Fylde Council’s delivery partnership with Active Lancashire proved highly successful, achieving and exceeding the programme targets:

Participants living in a single adult household with dependent children: Target 11, Achieved 15
Participants attaining a level 2 qualification: Target 45, Achieved 89
Participants attaining a level 3 qualification: Target 35, Achieved 38

The success has allowed the project to drawn down further funding to continue engaging with businesses and extend the working partnership with Active Lancashire, targeting more small-to-medium size businesses which have been shown to benefit most.

The programme is part of Fylde Council’s Business Health Matters scheme to support local businesses in improving the physical and mental health of their employees. Staff enjoy improvements to their overall health and happiness, whilst employers benefit from increased resilience and productivity within their workforce. Participating organisations have also been able to benefit from Fylde Council’s brilliant CHANGE Healthy Weight Service, helping people make small changes to their lifestyle leading to big changes in their health, from implementing healthy eating habits to understanding food labelling.

Cllr Chris Dixon, Lead Member for Social Wellbeing, said: “Each workplace is unique and best understood by the people who work there, so by teaching people these skills and helping them become drivers for positive change, we empower them to keep supporting their colleagues.”

If you feel that the health and wellbeing of your staff is critical for your business to be successful, visit the Business Health Matters page and get in touch: https://www.businesshealthmatters.org.uk/

Individuals are also welcome to self-refer to the CHANGE Healthy Weight Service though the Fylde Council website: https://new.fylde.gov.uk/change/

New Webpage Available for Swimming Provision Information in Fylde

Fylde Council — Fri, 12 Apr 2024 14:47:33 +0000

A new dedicated webpage details how Fylde Council is exploring all practicable options to support swimming provision in Fylde following the resolution of the Notice of Motion resolved in October 2023 at a meeting of Fylde Council. The webpage offers a comprehensive source of information for residents and interested parties.

The webpage incorporates an in-depth timeline with details of all actions taken to date and will be regularly updated to reflect progress. Readers can review information such as the Active Lancashire community-wide consultation on the future of sport and leisure facilities in Fylde, read about the successful applications to the Swimming Pool Support Fund, and track progress through the stages of the disposal plan. It will also serve to enable the submission of Expressions of Interest in the acquisition and operation of Kirkham Pool by eligible voluntary and community groups. Fylde Council is facilitating the Expression of Interest process with the permission of YMCA Fylde Coast.

The disposal plan for Kirkham Pool agreed between Fylde Council and YMCA Fylde Coast following the formal closure of the pool in August 2023 outlines the importance of continued swimming provision for the borough. As such, the first stage of the plan opens the facility to consideration from eligible groups, giving them the opportunity to lay out their case for investing in the pool.

From Friday 12 April 2024, voluntary and community bodies will be able to submit an Expression of Interest in acquiring and operating the Kirkham swimming facility. This submission period will run for six weeks, from Friday 12 April 2024 until Friday 24 May 2024. Expressions of interest can be easily submitted using the dedicated online form available via the new webpage: https://new.fylde.gov.uk/swimming-in-fylde/

Applicants who have made an Expression of Interest will be contacted by email when the Expression of Interest period closes and will be invited to prepare and submit business plans for their proposals to operate Kirkham Pool.

Cllr Karen Buckley, Leader of Fylde Council, said: “Many of our residents are curious about the future of Kirkham pool and the broader question of swimming in Fylde, and this comprehensive new resource will provide a way for us to give detailed updates on each stage of the journey and a roadmap for what comes next. The first stage is to invite expressions of interest and we have commissioned several architectural options and costings to inform interested parties, all of which are available on the webpage.

“For those interested in the future of St Annes Pool, there is also information regarding the successful bid to the Swimming Pool Support Fund which will help safeguard this council-owned asset.”

Cllr Jayne Nixon, Lead Member for Tourism, Leisure & Culture, said: “The in-depth Active Lancashire Report is very informative and highlights views of residents, schools, and the wider community. Fylde Council and the YMCA Fylde Coast are united in our goal of ensuring swimming provision in the borough meets the need of our residents. I would encourage any voluntary and community group with an ambition for helping fulfil this goal to submit an Expression of Interest through our new webpage.”

Graham Oatridge, CEO of YMCA Fylde Coast, said: “The new dedicated website sets out the information and a pathway for interested agencies to take forward swimming provision in Kirkham. We believe that it provides the clarity to enable community groups to submit their interest whilst also providing critical updates to local residents.”

The new webpage can be found on the Fylde Council website here: https://new.fylde.gov.uk/swimming-in-fylde/

Plan for Future of Kirkham Pool Approved

Fylde Council — Tue, 09 Apr 2024 08:34:15 +0000

Fylde Council and YMCA Fylde Coast are pleased to announce that a plan has been agreed for the future of the former Kirkham pool facility.

Constructive discussions between the partners sought to safeguard their shared priority of continued rural swimming provision for the borough, and the resulting disposal plan allows exploration of all realistic possibilities of using the facility for that purpose.

The plan lays out proposed methods of disposal, giving community or voluntary groups the opportunity to submit expressions of interest in acquiring and operating the facility, before consideration is given to selling the premises on the open market.

Interested groups will be able to submit their expressions of interest from Friday 12 April 2024. More information about how to put forward an expression of interest, as well as broader information about Fylde Council’s steps to ensure the availability of swimming provision, will soon be available on the Fylde Council website.

Cllr Karen Buckley, Leader of Fylde Council, said: “When Kirkham Baths was transferred to the YMCA in 2011 there was a written agreement governing the steps that must be taken should the YMCA seek to dispose of the asset, known as a disposal plan. The first iteration of the plan was rejected by the Executive Committee at Fylde Council on 5 December 2023 for not allowing sufficient time to involve the community in seeking alternative providers and funders. We have been pleased to work with YMCA Fylde Coast to develop a plan for the Kirkham pool premises which allows this exploration work before the asset is potentially put on the market for sale.

“Swimming provision in Fylde is a matter the Council considers of great importance, as demonstrated by the Notice of Motion resolved in October 2023.”

The Notice of Motion is as follows:

In the corporate and local plan this Council seeks to maintain or encourage public swim provision. I propose that this Council as a matter of urgency, supports that position and in light of the recent announcement by the YMCA to permanently close Kirkham Baths looks at all practicable options to work with partners and stakeholders to support that provision, and such options to be considered by the external Scrutiny Committee.

Cllr Buckley continued: “The approval of this Disposal Plan lays out concrete steps in achieving our goals of considering all practicable options to meet the needs of our residents.”

Cllr Jayne Nixon, Lead Member for Tourism, Leisure & Culture, said: “Since the formal closure of the Kirkham pool, we have been hard at work considering the best way to guarantee continued swimming provision to the residents of Fylde. To this end, we commissioned Active Lancashire to conduct a community-wide consultation, the results of which we will soon be able to share.

“Separately, we have assessed the feasibility of several options for the Kirkham facility both on site and off and these plans will be made publicly available.

“The adoption of the Disposal Plan means we will soon be able to invite Expressions of Interest from those groups who can demonstrate the capacity to take on and run the pool for the good of the community.”

Graham Oatridge, CEO of YMCA Fylde Coast, said: “YMCA is proud to have been able to provide swimming to the rural Fylde community since 2009. Despite the disappointment of no longer being able to offer this provision, we are pleased to have worked closely with Fylde Council to reach a position which enables voluntary and community groups the opportunity to express an interest in taking and operating Kirkham Pool. We hope the determination of the local community drives a successful submission.”

More information about how voluntary and community groups can submit an Expression of Interest will be available soon. Follow Fylde Council’s social media channels and sign up to the weekly newsletter to receive the latest updates on this and many more stories in Fylde.