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Whitworth view - Click for bigger pic.
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Whitworth is situated in the Rossendale Valley, Lancashire, in the foothills of the Pennines, between the towns of Bacup to the North and Rochdale to the South.
Local Government services in Whitworth are provided by three local authorities, Lancashire County Council, Rossendale Borough Council & Whitworth Town Council
Whitworth Town Council was formed in 1974 following the reorganisation of local government in England. Prior to this date, Whitworth Urban District Council was the administrative body in the Valley but was abolished following the reorganisation.
The history of local government in Whitworth began in 1874. The latter end of that century, as has previously been mentioned, saw a great deal of local development. As a result, a Local Board was set up in 1874 to administer Whitworth. Further independence arrived towards the end of the century with the creation of the Parish of Whitworth, one of 19 new parishes carved out of the original vast Rochdale Parish. Complete independence came in June 1894 when an urban district council replaced the Local Board. The first meeting was held on 3 January 1895 and the first chairman, appropriately enough, was Mr William Ernest Whitworth. Whitworth had thus, at last, become ecclesiastically and administratively free of its neighbour. The wheel turned full circle in 1974 when the Urban District Council was abolished and Whitworth was absorbed into the newly created Rossendale Borough Council.
The Urban District Council did much to shake off the legacy of the 19th century and Whitworth became as progressive a place, for its size, as any in Lancashire. For example, in four days, 325 officials travelled to Whitworth, then one of Lancashire's smallest local authorities, to inspect the unique housing development at Leavengreave.
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Red Lion Square Whitworth
(Courtesy of www.beautifulbritain.co.uk)
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Today the Town Council consists of 12 elected Members and a part-time Town Clerk. Its mission statement is "To improve the quality of life for the community of Whitworth". The Town Council acts as a pressure group upholding the rights and values of the Township, a sounding board for local opinion and a centre for retaining and enforcing the Town's historical, cultural and social identity. It was instrumental in setting up the Whitworth Sports and Recreational Facilities Trust which is trying to improve facilities in Whitworth.
It actively encourages voluntary initiatives, and accordingly, sponsors the annual Whitworth Festival, the Whitworth and Healey Horticultural Society's Annual Flower & Vegetable Show, holds an annual Christmas Fayre and works hard to encourage tourism and economic  regeneration.
In conjunction with the Whitworth Historical Society and the Whitworth Square conservation Area Partnership, a Blue Plaque Scheme is in hand to identify buildings of historical and architectural interest which, it is planned, will be the forerunner of a heritage trail. In the defence of local interests. The Town Council inspects and comments on all planning applications and is consulted on new bye laws. It nominates school governors and appoints trustees to local charities and representatives on such bodies as the Rossendale Sports Council, Police Liaison Committee and the Healey Dell Joint Management Committee.
Whitworth Town Council obtains the money it needs to carry out the services it provides by levying a precept on the Rossendale Borough Council. Below is a copy of the Precept Levy for the Financial Year 2004/2005.
Financial Year2004/2005 |
Salaries |
13438 |
Contingencies |
1820 |
Civic Events including Town Twinnig and Festival |
2600 |
Millennium Celebrations/Blue Plaque Scheme/Parish Plan |
450 |
Administrative Expenses (Incl. Rents) |
7339 |
Mayoral Allowances |
1750 |
Training/Conference/Members’ Expenses |
500 |
Audit Fee |
350 |
Publications |
200 |
Insurances |
1200 |
Subscriptions to LAPTC & others |
850 |
Election of Members |
300 |
Maintenance & Repairs (net) |
-5246 |
Grants to Outside Bodies (inc hire of Civic Hall) |
5500 |
From Reserves |
0 |
Golden Jubilee Celebrations/Street Floral Displays |
2550 |
COST OF PARISH COUNCIL LEVY - NORMAL RUNNING COSTS |
39401 |
No of “D” Band Equivalent Units |
2292 |
(A) Council Tax Levy per “D” Band - £p (Normal Runnig Costs Only) |
17.19 |
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