january2025 – Fylde Council

Fylde Modernises Council Tax Management with Digital Service

Fylde Council — Fri, 31 Jan 2025 09:00:22 +0000

Fylde Council is encouraging residents to sign up for an enhanced digital Council Tax service, enabling them to manage their accounts more efficiently through a secure online platform. The initiative marks a significant step forward in the Council’s commitment to providing accessible, modern services to the community.

The digital service enables residents to view their Council Tax bills and payment history, set up or modify Direct Debit payments, apply for discounts and exemptions, update personal details and access previous statements.

Councillor Vince Settle, Lead Member for Finance and Resources, commented: “We understand our residents lead busy lives and require flexible options for managing their Council Tax. This digital service provides 24/7 access to account information, reducing the need for telephone calls and streamlining the process for residents and customer service teams alike.”

The transition to digital accounts supports the Council’s environmental initiatives by reducing paper usage while maintaining the highest standards of security and data protection.

To register for a digital Council Tax account, residents can visit https://new.fylde.gov.uk/my-council-tax/ and follow the simple registration process. The Council’s customer service team remains available to assist with any queries regarding the process.

Keep up to date with the latest Fylde Council news by following us on social media or subscribing to our newsletter. Any new information will be posted directly through these channels, so if you are following us, you’ll be the first to know.

Experience the Magic of the Fylde Ice Festival in St Annes

Fylde Council — Thu, 30 Jan 2025 14:33:27 +0000

The Fylde Ice Festival is back for its third year, bringing a spectacular array of ice sculptures and family fun to St Annes on Saturday 15 February 2025. Following successful events in Lytham and Kirkham, this year’s festival promises to live up to the expectation, transforming the town centre into a glittering winter wonderland.

Visitors can marvel at seven stunning ice sculptures, each located at key sites across St Annes:

Ashton Gardens – Live Ice Sculpture at 11:30am – Can you guess what it is?
Ashton Gardens
St Annes Train Station
Orchard Road/Wood Street Junction
Fylde Council Town Hall
Peace and Happiness Garden (Les Dawson Statue)
Allegria Italian Restaurant (St Annes Rd East)

Get involved in the fun by exploring the ice trail to uncover hidden letters at each sculpture. You can pick up and submit your completed form at the Discover Fylde van in Ashton Gardens for a chance to win fantastic prizes, including:

A £50 shopping voucher
A £25 Lawrence Jewellers voucher
A free family pass for the Fairhaven Adventure Golf course

The main stage and carving wall in Ashton Gardens will be the hub of activity, featuring live demonstrations and entertainment throughout the day starting at 11:30am.

This year’s festival highlights Fylde’s rich heritage, including support from the RNLI with an information stand, and the St Annes Land Yacht Club promoting their work alongside the sand yacht sculpture. Also at lunchtime in Ashton Gardens there will be a special guest appearance from the Snow Sisters performing their singalong set!

Cllr Jayne Nixon, Fylde Council’s Lead Member for Tourism, Leisure & Culture, said: “The Fylde Ice Festival is a fantastic event that not only showcases the incredible talent of ice carvers but also brings people together to celebrate the unique charm of St Annes.

“The past two years in Kirkham and Lytham were hugely successful, attracting hundreds of visitors and creating a vibrant atmosphere for residents and tourists alike. By highlighting different areas of the town, the festival supports our local businesses and encourages visitors to explore everything St Annes has to offer. We’re proud to once again host such a magical event that strengthens our community spirit and promotes the best of Fylde.”

The Fylde Ice Festival is a free event for all ages. Come along, enjoy the unique sculptures, and take part in an unforgettable day of winter magic in the heart of St Annes.

Fylde Council Submits ‘Relevant Representation’ Regarding Morgan and Morecambe Windfarm Project

Fylde Council — Thu, 30 Jan 2025 12:00:46 +0000

On Monday 27 January 2025, Fylde Council submitted a ‘Relevant Representation’ to the Planning Inspectorate, setting out the council’s ongoing concerns regarding the proposal to connect the planned Morgan and Morecambe windfarms to the National Grid at Penwortham.

The representation maintains Fylde Council’s objection to the proposal, first expressed during the pre-submission consultation in November 2023 and repeated when the application was formally submitted in November 2024. This latest representation sets out Fylde Council’s concerns that the development will have significant adverse impacts on local communities, the environment and the economy, and that significant gaps remain in the documentation that has been submitted in support of the application that mean the full impact of the development cannot be adequately assessed.

A full copy of the council’s representation is available here.

Cllr Richard Redcliffe, Fylde Council’s Deputy Leader and Planning Committee Chairman, commented: “Whilst Fylde Council is committed to providing for renewable energy and the infrastructure that supports it, this must be balanced against the potential impacts on local communities and the environment. The proposed scheme fails to address this balance and, if allowed, would result in significant harm to the local area. The Council is working with Lancashire County Council and other agencies to ensure that the Planning Inspectorate has all the necessary information and reports needed to enable them to reach a decision that secures the connection of the Morgan and Morecambe Offshore Windfarms to the National Electricity Grid without any significant impacts.”

At this stage in the process, our ‘Relevant Representation’ sets out the broad areas of concern that the council has regarding the project and the additional work we consider needs to be carried out by the developer to ensure that the final decision on the project is fully informed.

The next stage of the process will be the examination stage when the Fylde Council will provide more details on its views to the Planning Inspectorate along with further evidence to support its position.

Details of all Fylde Council’s representations made on the project to date are available here. For more information relating to the Irish Sea Windfarms, visit our dedicated webpage.

The Morgan and Morecambe Transmission Assets project is regarded as a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project (NSIP) which requires a Development Consent Order (DCO). Further explanation of the NSIP process and DCOs are available on the Planning Inspectorate’s website. Progress on the determination of the Development Consent Order required in order to carry out the project is also available on the Planning Inspectorate’s website.

Details of the transmission project are available on the developer’s website.

Fylde Council Approves Acquisition of Kirkham Pool

Fylde Council — Thu, 30 Jan 2025 09:08:19 +0000

Fylde Council’s Executive Committee has approved plans to acquire Kirkham Pool from the YMCA for a nominal sum of £1, marking a vital step forward in securing swimming provision for the Fylde area.

The decision follows the withdrawal of Wave Reach CIC from the facility’s Disposal Plan process and demonstrates the Council’s commitment to maintaining vital leisure facilities across the region.

Councillor Jayne Nixon, Lead Member for Tourism, Leisure and Culture, commented: “This approval signifies an important milestone in our efforts to preserve swimming provision in rural Fylde. While we recognise the challenges ahead, including the need to secure funding for refurbishment, we are committed to exploring all practical options to ensure the pool’s sustainable future.”

In a strategic move to enhance swimming provision across Fylde, the Council is currently procuring the new operational contract for St Annes Pool. This will now incorporate Kirkham Pool, providing the funding for the Kirkham pool refurbishment plan is secured, enabling potential operators to bid for the management of both facilities and promoting operational efficiency.

The final transfer of the facility remains subject to the outcome of an updated condition survey, which will be presented at the next committee meeting on 17 February 2025.

For more information on swimming provisions in Fylde, visit our dedicated webpage here.

Fylde Council Community Projects Fund Supports Local Initiatives

Fylde Council — Mon, 27 Jan 2025 09:00:30 +0000

Fylde Council is delighted to announce the successful allocation of Community Projects Fund grants to numerous local organisations, demonstrating the Council’s ongoing commitment to supporting grassroots initiatives across the borough.

The Community Projects Fund, which allocates £20,000 annually, has enabled transformative projects throughout Fylde, ranging from sports initiatives to environmental improvements and cultural preservation efforts.

Among the notable success stories, Fylde Coast Cricket Coaching received £1,048.32 to introduce walking cricket to the community. This innovative project specifically targets social isolation, a significant concern in the Fylde area, by providing regular physical activity and opportunities for social interaction for residents.

The Lytham Heritage Group secured £300 to support a creative initiative showcasing local primary school talent. The Heritage Centre will display student artwork throughout February, culminating in an awards ceremony that brings together young artists and their families, fostering community engagement through cultural activities.

A remarkable example of community innovation can be seen in the work of the Roots to Branches Forest School CIC. Their latest grant of £300 supports the provision of hot water flasks and a water dispenser for their community wellness garden project at Weeton Barracks, transforming previously unused land into a welcoming space that serves both military families and the wider community.

Councillor Karen Buckley, Leader of Fylde Council, commented: “These diverse projects exemplify the valuable work being undertaken by our voluntary and community organisations. Through the Community Projects Fund, we’re helping to build stronger, more connected communities across Fylde. If you know of a group who could benefit from some funding, please spread the word”

The Fund continues to support projects across two tiers, with grants between £300 and £2,000 for larger initiatives and up to £300 for smaller projects. All successful applications demonstrate clear benefits to the local community, whether through environmental enhancement, community cohesion or economic development.

Local voluntary, community and faith groups interested in applying for future funding can find detailed information about eligibility criteria and the application process here.

St Annes Kite Festival 2025 Dates Announced

Fylde Council — Fri, 24 Jan 2025 17:00:32 +0000

Fylde Council is thrilled to announce the return of the award-winning St Annes Kite Festival, set to take place from midday on Friday 29 August to Sunday 31 August 2025. The celebrated three-day event will transform the skies over St Annes beach into a breathtaking display of colour and creativity.

In partnership with SmileFactor10, the festival will feature a spectacular illuminated kite display on Friday evening. The excitement will continue over the weekend with two full days of kite flying, attracting talented teams and individuals from across the globe. This year’s festival promises to be bigger and better than ever, cementing its place as one of the UK’s premier kite festivals.

Visitors can look forward to an unforgettable family day out as the festival transforms the beach into a hub of activity and entertainment. From awe-inspiring kite displays to an array of food and drink stalls offering delicious refreshments, there is something for everyone in the family to enjoy.

Craig Harby of SmileFactor10 expressed his enthusiasm: “We’re absolutely delighted to be back in St Annes for another great event, having built this into the UK’s largest and most successful kite festival We’re incredibly grateful for the continued support from Fylde Council and the local businesses that continue to embrace the festival each year.”

Councillor Jayne Nixon, Lead Member for Tourism, Leisure and Culture, added: “The Kite Festival is one of the busiest weekends of the year for our town, and we are delighted to welcome SmileFactor10 back to work with us to deliver another spectacular event to showcase the vibrant spirit of St Annes.”

While this year’s festival coincides with other notable events in the region, including the Southport Air Show and the Blackpool Illuminations Switch-On, the timing has been carefully selected to align with the tides, ensuring optimal conditions for kite flying. This unique scheduling means the St Annes Kite Festival can offer three days of incredible displays (weather permitting), a must-see for locals and visitors alike.

For further updates and announcements as the festival approaches, visit the official festival webpage here: St Annes Kite Festival | Discover Fylde

Fylde Council: Efforts to Improve Bathing Water Quality in 2025

Fylde Council — Fri, 24 Jan 2025 10:52:08 +0000

Fylde Council is committed to continuing its efforts to improve the quality of its bathing waters in 2025 through ongoing collaboration with key local and national partners.

The Fylde Technical Bathing Water Group, chaired by the Council’s Lead Member for Environment, brings together expertise from United Utilities, the Environment Agency, the Ribble Rivers Trust, and the wider Turning Tides Partnership. This multi-agency group remains focused on identifying pollution sources within the Ribble catchment and supporting targeted actions to address them.

“The quality of our bathing waters is crucial for the health of our environment, the safety of our residents, and the vitality of our tourism industry,” said Councillor Tommy Threlfall, Lead Member for Environment. “We are dedicated to continuing our work with partners to ensure that we achieve tangible improvements in water quality.”

In 2024, Fylde Council supported a community-led initiative with Fylde Coast Against Sewerage (FCAS) to conduct parallel water quality testing, which corroborated the Environment Agency’s findings and helped build public confidence in local water monitoring. Although this community project will not continue into 2025, the Council remains engaged with FCAS and other local organisations to advocate for cleaner waters.

United Utilities continues to support the work of the partners, having invested £691 million in Fylde Coast projects since 1989. Their ongoing work includes measures to reduce pollution and improve wastewater management. Fylde Council’s role involves facilitating collaboration, raising public awareness, and providing local insights.

The Council and its partners will focus on:

Supporting United Utilities in identifying and reducing pollution hotspots in the Ribble catchment.
Enhancing public awareness and safety, particularly during pollution risks.
Ensuring that the Environment Agency are made aware of any enforcement issues and that the appropriate action is undertaken.

Fylde Council reaffirms that improving bathing water quality is a shared responsibility amongst all partners. By working together, the partnership aims to achieve ongoing improvements in water quality standards.

“We are committed to maintaining our efforts to ensure that our bathing waters meet and exceed the required standards, protecting them for future generations,” added Councillor Threlfall.

Fylde Council Praised for Strong Community Services and Economic Potential in Independent Review

Fylde Council — Fri, 17 Jan 2025 14:10:37 +0000

A comprehensive peer review by the Local Government Association (LGA) has highlighted Fylde Council’s strong foundations in delivering high-quality local services and maintaining strong community support. The review, conducted in September 2024, praised the Council’s enthusiastic and knowledgeable workforce and its prudent financial management.

The LGA report states: “Fylde Council has strong foundations, providing good local services and achieving very positive customer satisfaction ratings across several service areas.” The service areas scoring particularly well with customer satisfaction are refuse collection (98%), household recycling (94%), and parks and open spaces (94%). The borough was also celebrated as an attractive destination, with 97% of residents rating Fylde as a good place to visit and 96% as a good place to live.

The LGA Peer team further noted: “Considering the council’s place leadership role, Fylde Council is well-regarded by its statutory and non-statutory partners at the local and regional level, and there are strong relationships between the council and partners operating in the borough, at both an operational and strategic level.”

The report also recognised Fylde’s diverse and robust economy, encompassing manufacturing, energy, aeronautics, and tourism sectors, along with two Enterprise Zones that position the borough for future growth. The peer team identified untapped economic potential and suggested a review of the council’s appetite to risk be undertaken and smart delivery planning throughout the organisation be adopted.

Financially, the review commended the Council’s prudent management, noting that Fylde Council is “comparatively financially robust” and “well-regarded by both internal and external auditors.”

Other recommendations from the LGA review team included the need to address the challenges of recruitment and retention in a small local authority, as well maximising the partnerships with other organisations to get best value for Fylde residents. Work around reviewing the committee structure of the council, which changed in 2023 when the number of councillors reduced from 51 to 37, is also suggested, along with recognising the important contribution from both members and officers.

In terms of leadership, the team stated: “The Council has moved from being inward-focussed to more outward-focussed over the last 18 months, and this is particularly welcomed by external partners.”

Council Leader, Cllr Karen Buckley, commented: “I am delighted that this independent review has recognised the dedication and hard work of our council staff in delivering excellent services to our residents. We are proud of the achievements noted by the Peer Team but are not complacent about there being more to do. We look forward to taking on board their valuable recommendations to further improve our services and unlock Fylde’s full potential.”

Read the full report here: LGA Corporate Peer Challenge Feedback Report

Fylde Council Invites Residents to the Town Hall to Celebrate 50th Anniversary

Fylde Council — Thu, 16 Jan 2025 11:36:54 +0000

Fylde Council is delighted to invite Fylde residents to celebrate 50 years since the Council’s establishment on April 1, 1974. While still in our 50^th year, Councillor Karen Henshaw JP, the Mayor of Fylde, will host 50 residents at an exclusive event in the St Annes Town Hall on Friday 7 March at 10am.

The celebration will feature a captivating talk by Sophie Fuce, Fylde Council’s Collections Development Officer, who will delve into the rich history of the Town Hall and its cherished art collection. Starting with the pivotal year of 1925, when Fylde Council acquired the Southdown Hydro Hotel to establish the Town Hall and received the first painting for the Lytham St Annes Art Collection from John Booth, the presentation will highlight significant additions to the collection, including renowned works and historical donations and landmark exhibitions that have shaped Fylde’s cultural identity. The presentation will also provide information on Fylde Council’s recent investments in preserving and enriching the cultural landscape for future generations.

Councillor Karen Henshaw JP commented: “As we celebrate 50 wonderful years of Fylde Council, it’s only fitting that we invite our residents to join us in this milestone event. The Town Hall is a vital part of our community’s heritage, and I look forward to welcoming residents to explore its history and our cherished art collection.”

Attendance is limited to the first 50 Fylde residents who register for the event. Interested participants are invited to email their name and contact details to Joanne Collins, PA to the Mayor, at joanne.collins@fylde.gov.uk to secure their spot.

Please note: We will need your name and contact details to communicate with you about the event. We will only use your name and contact details for that purpose, including asking for feedback afterwards. We will not keep your information for more than six months after the event and we will not share it. We will process your information on the basis of your consent. If you do not want us to use your name and contact details, please do not proceed. You can withdraw your consent for us to use your information at any time by contacting the writer of this email or by writing to dpo@fylde.gov.uk. You can also contact our data protection officer at dpo@fylde.gov.uk.

Celebrating Fylde Council’s Christmas Initiatives

Fylde Council — Thu, 09 Jan 2025 08:44:22 +0000

Fylde Council is proud to reflect on the success of two heartwarming initiatives over the recent festive season, the annual Fylde Christmas Toy Appeal and Christmas Day in the Community. Both events showcased the incredible generosity, collaboration and community spirit of Fylde residents, businesses and volunteers.

Thanks to the remarkable support of AFC Fylde, Fylde Rugby Club, I HOPE and a host of local businesses that served as drop-off points throughout the season, over 500 gifts were collected and delivered to children in local primary schools. The appeal was made possible through the hard work of local volunteers who collected and organised donations, alongside the generosity of the whole community.

On Christmas Day, Fylde Council partnered with local businesses, organisations and volunteers to host a special community event in an effort to combat loneliness and isolation within the community.

Fylde Council extends heartfelt thanks to everyone who helped to make these initiatives a success, with contributions including turkey and pigs in blankets sourced by Redfox and Peacock at Lytham House, potatoes donated by Helena Nelson at Hot Potato Tram Events, and mince pies donated by Jon Byles at St Annes Freemasons. Fylde Food Bank also played a key role in supplying many of the essentials needed to make the event a success, as volunteers came together to cook, serve and foster a warm and welcoming environment for attendees.

Councillor Chris Dixon commented: “These initiatives reflect the very best of Fylde’s community spirit. It is inspiring to see how residents, businesses and volunteers have come together to support each other, especially during the festive season. The joy brought to children through the Toy Appeal and the sense of connection fostered on Christmas Day truly highlight the strength of our community. I’d like to give my deepest thanks to everyone involved and look forward to making next year’s events even more impactful.”

Fylde Council is already looking ahead to Christmas 2025 and invites anyone who would like to get involved in either initiative to reach out. Whether you can donate your time, resources or support, every contribution can make a difference. Fylde Council also provide free DBS checks to regular volunteers to support this effort.

For more information or to register your interest as a volunteer for next year’s events, please contact community@fylde.gov.uk.