february2022 – Fylde Council

Mayor and Councillor Applaud Katrina Kelly’s 222 Fundraiser Challenge!

Fylde Council — Wed, 23 Feb 2022 14:41:33 +0000

Fylde resident Katrina Kelly has triumphed in her 222 Challenge fundraiser, cheered on by members of the Connect Community Choir, the volunteers and diners of Wesley’s Community Café and Larder, the Mayor of Fylde Cllr Elaine Silverwood and Cllr Sue Fazackerley of Central Ward.

To mark the uniquely palindromic date of 22.02.2022, celebrate her birthday, and raise funds for the two charities, Katrina set herself a formidable challenge: a 22.2km run (further than a half-marathon), 222 push-ups, and then an 8 hour bike ride!

Mayor Silverwood said:

“I felt very privileged to be invited to Katrina’s incredible 222 Challenge. To arrive when she had just completed the 22.2km run and ready for the next challenge of 222 press ups felt very humbling. Katrina was serenaded by the very talented members of the Connect Community Choir during the press ups which I am sure spurred her on. What a wonderful way to raise monies for the Connect Community Choir and Wesley’s Community Café and Larder whilst at the same time raising their profile to our communities and beyond. The atmosphere at Wesley’s was warm and welcoming and had a real buzz – this can only be achieved by the dedicated volunteers who work so hard and very often go completely unnoticed.

We left at the start of Katrina’s 222km cycle – a gruelling 8 hours – and I am absolutely sure that she will have continued to smile throughout that challenge. Huge congratulations Katrina and to all the volunteers.”

Councillor Fazackerley said:

“What a privilege and inspiration it was for me to witness, as ward councillor, a part of Katrina Kelly’s’ ‘222 Challenge’, raising funds for the Connect Community Choir and Wesley’s Kitchen. What a tremendous effort on this young lady’s part and what an achievement.”

Mayor Silverwood and Councillor Fazackerley were present at the Our Lady Star of the Sea Parish Centre in St Annes as Katrina completed her half-marathon by running up onto the stage and preparing to complete her next feat of 222 push-ups. The Connect Community Choir sang hits classic and new to spur her onwards, after which Katrina and the Councillors went to Wesley’s Community Café and Larder. The Mayor and Councillor Fazackerley spoke with the organisers and volunteers at Wesley’s, before sitting down to a delicious meal with Katrina to prepare her for her 8 hour cycling session. Funds raised were used to support both the Choir and the Café.

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Fylde Garden Waste Subscriptions are now open for 2022/23

Fylde Council — Tue, 22 Feb 2022 08:57:53 +0000

Subscriptions for the 2022/23 Garden Waste Collection Service delivered by Fylde Council are now open. You can subscribe online by visiting www.fylde.gov.uk/gardenwaste

The service has proven to be extremely popular with over 19,000 subscribers each year, offering a convenient way for residents to recycle garden waste at home through the green bin collection service. Collecting garden waste separately in the green wheeled bins is a natural method of processing this material, so by recycling the garden waste at home residents are benefitting the environment.

The 2022/23 service charge is increasing to £35 per green bin to cover rising operational costs. This charge equates to just £1.40 per collection. Fylde Council offers 25 collections throughout the year with the exception of the Christmas and New Year period when the service is suspended.

At the Full Council meeting on 7 February 2022, members elected to approve the £5 price increase. Cllr Roger Small, Chair of the Operational Management Committee, said: “The increase to £35 per garden waste bin is necessary to ensure a high standard of service continues to be delivered. The service offers excellent value for money whilst helping achieve national targets to maximise recycling through our services. Garden waste recycling contributes 15% to the Council’s overall recycling rate with 43% of all household waste recycled, ranking Fylde Council amongst the top recyclers in the North West. Throughout the pandemic the collection service continued without disruption thanks to our hard working crews, we are proud of the praise the service receives.”

For more information about the Garden Waste Collection Service, including details on how to subscribe, please visit the Fylde Council website: https://new.fylde.gov.uk/gardenwaste/

Coastal Contamination in Fylde: Oil Release Offshore

Fylde Council — Wed, 16 Feb 2022 11:51:22 +0000

An oil release offshore means small tar balls may wash up on the Fylde coastline in the coming days and weeks.

Allan Oldfield, Chief Executive of Fylde Council, said:

“We have been made aware of a quantity of oil being released off the North Wales coast.

“Owing to currents and weather forecasts in the next 24 hours, we may see deposits in the form of ‘tar balls’ washing up on our coast in the near future.

“We would stress that removal of this waste should only be carried out by professionals, and we ask that members of the public do not attempt to remove any ‘tar ball’ deposits.

“While this type of incident is rare, Fylde Council and its partner agencies have robust plans in place to ensure any contamination or disruption to the coastline is minimal.

“We will be supporting ENI UK Limited’s clean-up teams in the coming weeks to remove any potential contamination.

“If you come across these deposits, in the first instance please contact Fylde Council at listening@fylde.gov.uk to report the location and number of deposits.”

Further information will be published via our social media channels as it becomes available.

FAQs

We encourage our residents and visitors to the Fylde coast to familiarise themselves with the information provided below.

Is the Council prepared for this type of incident?

While this type of incident is rare, Fylde Borough Council and its partner agencies have robust plans in place to ensure any contamination or disruption to our coastline is minimal.

Who will clean up the oil spillage?

We will be supporting ENI UK Limited’s clean up teams in the coming weeks to remove any potential contamination.

What should I do if I come across any washed-up oil spill?

We urge all visitors to Fylde’s coast to avoid contact with any suspected spill wash up or ‘tar ball’. This is a potentially hazardous substance, so we also advise that dogs are kept on a lead and under control to prevent contact or ingestion.

Please report any suspected deposits to listening@fylde.gov.uk, noting the location and quantity of deposits.

Can I volunteer to help with the clean up?

We would like to stress that removal of this waste should only be carried out by professionals wearing PPE, and we ask that members of the public do not attempt to remove any ‘tar ball’ deposits.

What should I do if my dog has come into contact with it?

The Veterinary Poisons Information Service have provided the following advice:

‘We would recommend that dog walkers avoid beaches until clear up is complete. If walking in areas where material has washed up dogs should be walked on the lead. If owners suspect their dog has eaten some crude oil they should not attempt to make their dog sick and if concerned should seek advice from their vet. Owners should contact their vet if their dog is vomiting or coughing. If there is any oil on the skin it should be washed off promptly using a detergent such as shampoo or washing up liquid. If the dog has significant contamination of skin and hair owners should seek advice from their vet.’

In cleaning your pet, we advise wearing gloves and avoiding contact with your skin. It is very unlikely that anyone exposed to crude oil for a short period of time will have any long term health effects. If you touch the tar balls and get oil on the skin, remove affected clothing and wash with soap and water for 10 minutes. If you feel unwell seek medical attention.

Can I continue to fish?

The UK Health Security Agency state they are not in a position to comment on safety of food potentially contaminated as part of this incident.

Any individuals using the shoreline should avoid any contact with the material if they see any. If you touch the tar balls and gets oil on the skin, remove affected clothing and wash with soap and water for 10 minutes as short term exposure to skin may result in irritation. If you feel unwell seek medical attention. It is very unlikely that anyone exposed to crude oil for a short period of time will have any long term health effects. The material may smell, the human nose is very sensitive to odour, many substances that are perceived as odorous or smelly are usually present at levels at which there is no direct harmful effect.

Fairhaven Kiosk Design Exhibition 24-26 February 2022

Fylde Council — Tue, 15 Feb 2022 11:13:22 +0000

An upcoming exhibition of the proposed new Fairhaven Kiosk will give the public the opportunity to view the exciting design for the landmark building.

The exhibition will be held on Thursday 24 and Friday 25 February, as well as the morning of Saturday 26 February, in the Mawson Room at Fairhaven Lake. Signage will be present on the day to direct visitors to the boathouse building.

The Mawson Room is in the boathouse building, marked with a star.

A bespoke scale model of the proposed design will be available for inspection, and should members of the public have any questions or opinions, representatives of the project will be on hand to receive them between 11am – 1pm on the Thursday and Friday, and 10am – 12pm on the Saturday.

Fylde Council invites anyone who wishes to comment or feedback on the proposals to attend the exhibition and see the design in person.

Since 1965, the small kiosk at the entrance to the Stanner Bank car park has served ice cream and refreshments to generations of residents and visitors. When work began to upgrade the Fairhaven sea defences in 2017, discussions took place between the tenants and the Council over how the existing kiosk would be affected by the raising of the car park.

A series of initial designs produced by Creative SPARC Architects, working on behalf of the tenants, were iterated into the current proposal, intended to evoke the form of the birds for whom the estuary and Fairhaven Lake are a migratory destination. The structure would sit on the grass area opposite the current kiosk site, to better accommodate the new car park entrance, and would incorporate a fully enclosable covered 25-seat terrace usable throughout the year providing a view over the estuary.

Councillor Michael Sayward, Chair of the Tourism and Leisure Committee, said: “With the Fairhaven sea defence work complete, we have a perfect opportunity to revisit the refreshment offering at Stanner Bank. The architects have produced a striking proposal which would act as landmark in its own right, and as a beautiful capstone to the coastal regeneration works. I would encourage anyone with an interest in the future of the kiosk to visit the exhibition and view the striking design for themselves.”

The proposal went to full Council on 5 July 2021, and it was resolved to approve the fully funded scheme to the Council’s Capital Programme to the sum of £360,000 (with £180,000 for 2021/22 and £180,000 for 2022/23), met in full from the Funding Volatility Reserve.

COVID-19 Additional Relief Fund Provides Extra Support for Businesses

Fylde Council — Mon, 14 Feb 2022 16:54:52 +0000

Eligible non-domestic ratepayers throughout Fylde will soon be able to apply for additional help with business rates through the COVID-19 Additional Relief Fund (CARF).

The fund, totalling £1.25m, is intended to support those businesses which have been affected by the pandemic, but which have been ineligible for existing support linked to business rates. This total will be split between all eligible businesses, in addition to existing discretionary business rates relief such as small business rates relief or mandatory charitable relief.

Councillor Karen Buckley, Leader of Fylde Council, said: “Over the course of the pandemic, Fylde Council have been able to distribute millions of pounds in financial support to local businesses affected by COVID-19. We are delighted to be able to provide this additional relief from payable rates to those whose businesses were impaired by Omicron restrictions but who did not meet criteria for the rates-related support schemes.”

Since the initial announcement in March 2021, councils have been waiting for further details of the fund. The legislative changes received Royal Assent on 15 December 2021, and the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities published guidance on 16 December 2021 to support councils in administering the fund, to be offered in the form of relief from business rates for the period 2021/2022.

Eligible businesses are those who:

• Did not for this period receive, or be eligible for but not apply for, the Extended Retail Discount (covering Retail, Hospitality and Leisure), the Nursery Discount, or the Airport and Ground Operations Support Scheme (AGOSS).
• Occupied a rateable premises in the Fylde Council district area for the period.

This fund is intended to focus on those businesses adversely affected by the pandemic. As such, certain classes of business are excluded on the basis that they are deemed not to have been adversely affected by the pandemic:

• Education premises (schools/colleges/higher education institutions)
• Government properties, legislative bodies and the armed forces
• Utilities and communications infrastructure, including telephone masts
• Waste transfer sites
• Advertising right / station and premises
• Network supplying utilities and associated properties
• Cemeteries
• Petrol stations

Eligible businesses will be contacted directly from this week onwards with details of action required to claim the relief. The deadline for applications is 9:00am on 20 March 2022. Check our website for more information: COVID-19 Additional Relief Fund (CARF) (fylde.gov.uk)

The CARF scheme is subject to the subsidies chapter within the UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA).

However, for CARF there is an exemption for subsidies under the value of approximately £2,243,000 per economic actor (broadly speaking, for example, a holding company and its subsidiaries). This allowance comprises 325,000 Special Drawing Rights (at current exchange rates about £343,000) for Small Amounts of Financial Assistance and a further £1,900,000 for COVID-19 related subsidy.

To be awarded CARF you must not have claimed over the period 2019/20 to 2021/22 more than £2,243,000 from schemes that fell within the Small Amounts of Financial Assistance or COVID-19 related allowances. COVID-19 business grants you have received from local government and the 2019/20 Retail Relief should count towards this limit, but you should not count any Extended Retail Discount you have received since 1 April 2020.

For more information regarding subsidy control and how it applies to the CARF scheme, please see the Government website: COVID-19 Additional Relief Fund (CARF): local authority guidance – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Omicron Hospitality and Leisure Grant Scheme Deadline Extended

Fylde Council — Mon, 14 Feb 2022 16:17:47 +0000

The deadline for the Omicron Hospitality and Leisure Grant Scheme (OHLG) has been extended from Tuesday 15 February 2022 to Monday 28 February 2022.

The OHLG was launched on 17 January 2022 and outlined eligibility criteria for one-off grants of up to £6,000 for businesses within the sector, dependent on the rateable value of their premises. Eligible businesses were contacted directly by Fylde Council to advise them of the steps required to obtain the financial support.

This deadline extension gives those eligible businesses who have been contacted but have not taken the action required to claim the grant additional time to do so. Eligible businesses who do not appear to have received contact are advised to check the spam and/or junk folders of their email inboxes.

There is no open application process for this grant. Businesses which have previously been awarded a COVID-19 business grant have been assessed against the eligibility criteria, and those eligible have been contacted via email to outline the action required to claim the Omicron Hospitality and Leisure Grant.

For further details, including eligibility criteria and what to do if you believe you are eligible but have not received an email, please see the Fylde Council website: Omicron Hospitality and Leisure Grant (fylde.gov.uk)

Budget Proposal Consultation 2022/2023 Open

Fylde Council — Tue, 08 Feb 2022 15:25:59 +0000

The proposals for the 2022/23 budget have now been published and can be viewed on our website www.fylde.gov.uk.

Feedback from all stakeholders received before 17th February 2022 will be considered at the budget-setting Council meeting of 3rd March 2022.

Feedback should be submitted by email using listening@fylde.gov.uk or by post to Budget Consultation Feedback, The Town Hall, Lytham St Annes, Lancashire, FY8 1LW.

For 2022/23 the Council is proposing several capital growth items. These seek to enhance the local environment for the residents and visitors and include:

Replacement of Town Centre CCTV Systems
Additional public toilets at North Beach Car Park
Refurbished public toilets at Stanner Bank, Fairhaven Lake
New Electric Vehicles
New Play Area for Blackpool Road North Playing Field
Rolling programme of improvements to Fylde Council’s Parks
New Petanque Court on the Promenade
Additional Mechanical Cleaning Sweeper Vehicle

In addition to the capital growth proposals there are 2 further revenue budget proposals for 2022/23 including:

Increased resources for Flood Risk/Surface Water Management
Extended Enforcement Team resources

All of these will contribute to ensuring Fylde is a vibrant and thriving place to live and visit and residents will be asked to contribute a modest additional sum within their Council Tax to ensure this is achievable.

Cllr Karen Buckley, Leader of Fylde Council, said: “This is the time of year when we lay out our vision for making Fylde an even greater place to live and to visit. These items, together with the brand new Windsports Centre at North Beach and the safety improvements to the Boating Lake, seek to further improve our leisure offers, make our towns safer, and move towards a greener, cleaner Fylde.

“For 2022/23 there is a proposed overall increase for Council Tax of less than 10p per week for a Band D property which is less than the maximum increase allowed and will help to safeguard services whilst delivering continued investment in our borough for the benefit of all.

“It’s important that we receive feedback from as many of our residents as we can, to ensure we’re providing what people would like to see, and I would encourage anyone with an interest to participate in our consultation.”

The budget consultation can be found at the following link.

St Annes Regeneration: Progress Update!

Fylde Council — Tue, 08 Feb 2022 09:21:19 +0000

Development of the St Annes Town Centre and the Island Masterplan continues apace, as consultants met on Tuesday 2 February 2022 with the elected members of St Annes Town Council to discuss their vision for the project and seek their views on how best to bring prosperity to the town.

This follows meetings in November 2021, where experts from Building Design Partnership Ltd (BDP), the agency appointed by Fylde Council to lead the consortium responsible for the development of the Masterplan, met with Fylde Council’s Town Centre Working Group and St Anne’s Enterprise Partnership (STEP) to outline the scope of their work and provide opportunity for feedback. A household survey was also conducted to directly contact residents and obtain an understanding of their needs and preferences.

The project seeks to revitalise the town centre of St Annes through a collaborative effort with all stakeholders, including householders, residents, businesses, and the owners of key sites and premises in the town centre and island. The development of the Masterplan includes funding from Lancashire County Council’s £12.8m Economic Recovery Growth Fund, which supports projects to help local economies bounce back from the effects of COVID-19.

Cllr Karen Buckley, Leader of Fylde Council, said: “We know how much admiration people have for St Annes, and it’s vital to our plans to ensure residents and business owners have their say in the future of the town. Our aim is to make our beautiful town and seafront even better for everyone, whether locals or visitors. Giving people the chance to make their opinions heard is essential to making this happen.“Further engagement opportunities will be occurring through the next few months. Residents and businesses can share their thoughts and ideas about what they would like to see for St Annes, and these ideas can feed into the masterplan to shape the future of the town. I urge all businesses to get involved and respond to invites when received. Don’t miss this opportunity to voice your views.”

A two-week in-person public consultation exhibition will offer people the chance to view the plans so far, and details of private sector consultation webinars will be coming soon. Details about these events, as well as the current version of the Masterplan Communications & Engagement Plan, can be found on Fylde Council’s dedicated webpage for the St Annes Regeneration Project here: https://new.fylde.gov.uk/stannesregen/

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Compulsory Purchase Order Approved for Squires Gate Station Accessibility

Fylde Council — Tue, 08 Feb 2022 09:15:37 +0000

Fylde Council’s elected members have approved the making of a Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) of land adjacent to Squires Gate Station to allow the creation of a step-free accessible route to the station platform.

In the Full Council meeting of 7 February 2022, it was resolved to approve the expenditure of up to £6,000 from the 2021/22 approved Capital Budget. This would comprise of the expected £3000 for the purchase of the land, £2000 plus VAT for legal fees, and an additional £1000 from the Capital Investment Reserve for additional legal and surveying fees associated with the CPO process.

Once confirmed by the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, the purchase of this 35.6m2 plot of land will pave the way for the next stage of realising Fylde Council and the South Fylde Line Community Partnership’s joint aim to provide safe, easy access for wheelchair users and others for whom the stepped access prevents difficulties.

A series of enquiries from 2018 to present have shown that the land is currently unregistered at the HM Land Registry, with no freehold or leasehold interests confirmed, and that the land is therefore in unknown ownership. On 28 June 2021, the Fylde Council Finance and Democracy Committee recommended Full Council approval be given to pursuing CPO to acquire land to allow an accessible route to Squires Gate Station platform.

Cllr Karen Buckley, Leader of Fylde Council and Chair of the Finance and Democracy Committee, said:

“The lack of easy wheelchair access has long been an issue at Squires Gate station, and my fellow St Leonard’s Ward councillors and I have frequently voiced our concerns on behalf of constituents who have struggled to access the platform. The approval of this Compulsory Purchase Order brings us that much closer to making Squires Gate Station easily accessible for everyone, regardless of their mobility, and I wholeheartedly support the planned adaptations.”

The power to obtain the land compulsorily is in section 226(1)(b) of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990, which covers land “which is required for a purpose which it is necessary to achieve in the interests of the proper planning of an area in which the land is situate”.

The Council considers that enabling access to the rail network at Squires Gate station for wheelchair users and others for whom the stepped access presents difficulties is a purpose which falls within this power. The use of Compulsory Purchase Powers would be required as there is no realistic prospect of the Council acquiring the land by any other means.

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Bulky Waste Collection Back on the Menu!

Fylde Council — Mon, 07 Feb 2022 09:57:52 +0000

Fylde Council are pleased to announce the return of the popular ‘bulky waste’ special collection service from Monday 7^th February 2022.

Initially suspended in March 2020, the service is being reintroduced in partnership with Furniture Matters to help residents dispose of large household items in a convenient, cost-effective, and environmentally conscious manner.

This chargeable service will initially be brought back on a three-day per week pattern as follows:

Week 1 – Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, 9am to 5pm

Week 2 – Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday, 9am to 5pm

The proposed charges for the service are the same as they were before it was suspended:

Up to 3 items: £21.60
4-10 items: £43.25
Over 10 items (charged per hour): £80.95
Collection of a single fridge, freezer, or combined fridge/freezer: £43.25
Garden shed (max size 6’ x 6’ / 1.83m x 1.83m): £49.50

This three-day pattern will help the Council assess the ongoing demand for the collection service, and if it proves as popular as it previously was, may be expanded to a five-day arrangement once again.

Furniture Matters aim to refurbish and reuse as many of their collections as possible, helping minimise the environmental footprint and to provide low-cost quality furniture and white goods to the local community.

Councillor Roger Small, Chairman of the Operational Management Committee, said: “It’s a pleasure to be able to bring back this well-loved service. Many of our residents don’t have the ability to take larger items to the recycling centre themselves, and we are delighted to once again offer a service that is both affordable and contributes to the community.”

For more information on how to book a special collection, please call our Customer Services team on 01253 658658 or see our website: www.fylde.gov.uk/bulky