Social Value Ideas for Wyre Borough Council

Letter on Hill House risks

The council committed to writing to residents and allotment holders on 7 March 2025 confirming its advice not to eat fruit and vegetables grown within 1 kilometre of Hill House until more is known.

“we have received information from our partners that confirms that items grow in allotments very close to the hill housee site have been tested for per…”

Chapel Street AQMA revoked

The council approved revocation of the Chapel Street Air Quality Management Area after prolonged compliance and road changes reduced pollution. The report said there was no longer a need for monitorin…

“The air pollution around Chapel Street in in Pton was caused by the one-way system, the busy crossroads at the top, and the volume of traffic using th…”

Hillhouse PFAS contamination response

The council reported provisional soil testing showing elevated PFAS/PFOA levels at Hillhouse, including allotments, and said more detailed sampling would follow. Members raised concerns about the exte…

“thank you um as indicated in paragraph 8 of the report a verbal update will be given on the potential land contamination situation uh the provisional …”

Landfill air study request

Residents pressed the council to commission its own independent community impact and air monitoring studies for Jameson Road landfill, arguing that current monitoring is inadequate and that local peop…

“At the last full council meeting, Councelor Vincent confirmed that Wyber Council has duties as both the local authority and the land owner of Jameson …”

External legal and consultancy support for landfill case

The council said it is instructing external solicitors and specialist landfill consultants to support its legal team and to obtain independent expert evidence on Jameson Road. This is intended to help…

“We are in the process of instructing external solicitors to assist our legal team and external consultants with expertise in landfill sites. We as a c…”

Diary-sheet evidence campaign

To support a statutory nuisance case, the council is running a large evidence-gathering exercise using resident diary sheets and home visits by environmental health officers. The leader committed to e…

“When we have received complaints from households, we have routinely responded by email or letter to inform the complainants that they need to provide …”

Budget and council tax set

Council approved the 2025/26 revenue budget, council tax and capital programme, following a recorded vote after debate on the level of council tax and the need to protect reserves and services.

“these are uncertain times for this Council I've already updated the on the position as a local government reorganization in Lancashire the labor gover…”

Budget and council tax set

The council approved the 2022-23 budget and council tax, including a £5 increase on a Band D property. The leader cited around £7 million in lost government funding since 2010-11, and the budget was p…

“the next item on the council tax for 22.23 is the revenue budget for the capital programme as usual the budget meeting we first need to deal with two …”

Council tax rise approved

The leader proposed and the council approved the 2018-19 council tax resolutions, including a rise of 5 pounds 63 a year on a band D property. The budget speech framed this as necessary to protect fro…

“the council tax for 2018-19 we need first to deal with two procedural issues I intend in line with the normal convention and in accordance with my dis…”

Budget tax rise approved

The council approved a 2.99% council tax increase for 2026/27, framed as necessary to protect services and maintain financial resilience amid funding reductions. The leader said the increase equates t…

“"The government settlement assumes that district council will increase council tax to the maximum permitted level of up to 3% or £5 on a band property…”

Funding gaps and savings pressure

The budget speech highlighted major grant reductions, reliance on efficiency savings, and the need to keep services going despite lower central support. This is a clear financial pressure affecting pr…

“which week we get to keep just 12 million or 40 percent of the total money's collected if we could retain 20 percent or nearly 18 million who knows ju…”

Dispensation for Councillor Wells

Full Council approved an ill-health dispensation to cover Councillor Victoria Wells' non-attendance following surgery, ensuring she remained compliant with the six-month rule under section 85 of the L…

“Mr. Chancellor Wells has been suffering a medical condition for quite some time. It's not permanent. It's temporary, but unfortunately, she's had to w…”

Reorganisation costs to be assessed

The council wants to calculate the full cost of local government reorganisation work undertaken at government instruction, and to seek reimbursement for reasonable expenditure if possible. Members emp…

“Mr. Mayor. This motion is not about reopening the argument over which particular map or combination of councils might have been preferable. It's about…”

Committee political balance challenged

Members debated an amendment to remove political balance calculations for the audit, standards and licensing committees so that all members could be considered regardless of party. The monitoring offi…

“The reform group would like to propose an amendment to item number three, uh, recommendations. the proposed amendment to remove the political balance …”