NOTICE PERIOD FOR THE EXERCISE OF PUBLIC RIGHTS

Posted on by

Please be advised that notice of the period for the exercise of public rights and a declaration that the accounting statements are yet unaudited, will commence on Tuesday the 1st of July 2025 and will be available to until Tuesday the 12th of August 2025.

They will then be available to view in our Finance section of the website.

Any person interested has the right to inspect and make copies of the accounting records and the unaudited AGAR (subject to change as a result of review by appointed auditor) for the financial year to which the audit relates and all books, deeds, contracts, bills, vouchers, receipts and other documents relating to those records must be made available for inspection by any person interested. For the year ended 31 March 2025, these documents will be available on reasonable notice by application to:

Dr Anna Haines, Read Parish Clerk, Read Parish Council, 19 Windsor Close, Read, BB12 7QH

readparishcouncilclerk@gmail.com

Local government electors and their representatives also have the opportunity to question the appointed auditor about the accounting records; and the right to make an objection which concerns a matter in respect of which the appointed auditor could either make a public interest report or apply to the court for a declaration that an item of account is unlawful. Written notice of an objection must first be given to the auditor and a copy sent to the smaller authority.

The smaller authority’s AGAR is subject to review by the appointed auditor under the provisions of the Local Audit and Accountability Act 2014, the Accounts and Audit Regulations 2015 and the NAO’s Code of Audit Practice 2015.  The appointed auditor is PKF Littlejohn LLP.

This announcement is made by Dr Anna Haines, Parish Clerk, Read Parish Council

Beware! Theft of patio/garden furniture

Posted on by

Dear residents of Read,

This week we’ve had the theft of some patio furniture reported to us. Offenders have reached over the garden gate to un-bolt it and then entered the garden and stolen a table and 3 chairs out of 4 (presumably they didn’t have room for the 4th!). We have no witnesses or any CCTV so offenders will likely remain undetected. 

Please take this opportunity to think about the value of items that may be readily accessible in your gardens and if relevant check your home insurance policy to see if you have adequate cover for them.

Take care

PCSO Katie Ferguson

Ribble Valley Borough Council’s Affordable Warmth Fund

Posted on by

Calling all Ribble Valley households – if you live in a cold or damp home, funds are available to help you stay warm.

Ribble Valley Borough Council’s affordable warmth grant is available for the servicing, repair and replacement of boilers, radiators and heating appliances.

But if you need help act quick, because the grants are only available for as long as funds last.

The grants help low-income households in receipt of means-tested benefits, or with a gross household income of less than £31,000, and with vulnerable members, such as the over-65s, under-fives and pregnant women, those with cardiovascular and respiratory problems, a disability or mental health condition, stay warm.

Up to £4,000 per property is available for the servicing, repair and replacement of boilers, the purchase of oil-filled heaters and dehumidifiers, or dedicated home energy assessments by the Home Improvement Agency.

Mark Hindle, chairman of Ribble Valley Borough Council’s health and housing committee, said: “There are a high number of hard-to-heat properties in Ribble Valley and our affordable warmth fund aims to help those vulnerable households stay warm.

“Improving the health and wellbeing of local people is one of the council’s key priorities and we are keen to offer this much-needed help to anyone living in a cold or damp home.”

The affordable warmth fund is administered by Ribble Valley Borough Council on behalf of Lancashire County Council.

Further details and application packs are available at ribblevalley.gov.uk.

Ribble Valley Borough Council’s First Time Buyer’s Greener Homes Grant

Posted on by

Up to £15,000 is available to help first-time homebuyers in Ribble Valley make their properties energy-efficient or undertake crucial renovations.

The First-Time Buyer Greener Homes Grant aims to address housing affordability, as well as tackle climate change.

The grants will help first-time buyers purchasing a property with an energy performance certificate of D to H increase the rating to C or above, or address significant disrepair.

The property must be over 10 years old, in the council tax bands A to C and located in Ribble Valley.

Applicants must be a first-time buyer aged 18 or over, with a Ribble Valley connection and income under £60,000, or combined household income under £80,000, and intend occupying the property as their main residence.

For further information please refer to our discretionary grant policy.