Marsden Heights Finance Committee Meeting – 23rd April

The Governors’ Finance Committee at Marsden Heights Community College met on Thursday 23rd April to review the college’s finances.

The budget is very tight indeed at present, and all possible cost savings are being undertaken to keep the college’s financial situation on an even keel.  An area of continuing concern is the cost of operating two very elderly sets of buildings (both now over 70 years old) and keeping them up to an acceptable standard, as the move into the new college building won’t happen until 2010.  I must continue to praise the very cautious and prudent approach being taken to financial management by the college’s Business Manager Mrs. Green and Bursar Mrs. Mellor at this very difficult and testing time, balancing the finances is not easy in the current climate.

What is encouraging is the progress being made by contractors Bovis on the new college campus, the building is now very much a presence on the landscape, and can be seen very clearly from the A6068 Padiham bypass on the way into Nelson.  It is hoped the move into the new complex can only be beneficial in both educational and financial terms.  Once the newbuild is completed, the old sites can be cleared for their new uses.

Town Council Allotments Meeting – 22nd April

On 22nd April, the Community Services and Finance & General Purposes committees of Nelson Town Council held a joint meeting with members of the town’s allotment societies and the Nelson Allotments Society.  This was necessary in respect of the Town Council assuming responsibility for the allotment gardens in the municipal year 2010-2011.

In my view, we had a very constructive meeting, a number of important issues were raised, and the Town Clerk, Mr. Harrison, has been asked to investigate and seek resolutions to them. 

I live very close to the Manor Street allotments, and am looking forward to being able to work with the local society to help them in any way both I and the Town Council can in order to improve their site and the facilities they have.

Town Council Finance & General Purposes Committee – 22nd April

Nelson Town Council’s Finance and General Purposes Committee met on 22nd April to consider various options for deposit accounts, and we requested Town Clerk Mr. Martin Harrison to continue his investigations, as we are under obligation to council tax payers to choose the account which offers the best rate of return on taxpayers’ money.

In addition, we considered and approved Mr. Harrison’s report and approved his expenses for the past month.

Town Council Planning Committee – 22nd April

Nelson Town Council’s Planning Committee met on 22nd April to consider a number of domestic property extensions, which were passed without any undue concern.

The one application we felt very strongly about was the application made by Vodafone to build a mobile telecommunications transmitter on land behind Manor Mill in Hallam Road.  The mast will be 45 feet in height and will be very close to residential properties in Hallam Crescent, Hemingway Place and Hendon Road.  Town Councillors have objected to the application on the potential risk to public health and the fact that the thing will be an eyesore sticking out like a sore thumb.