To consider any communications to be submitted by the Mayor or the Chief Executive.
Minutes:
Yorkshire in Bloom Awards
The Chief Executive was pleased to report that once again Barnsley was celebrating its growing reputation in the Yorkshire in Bloom awards by receiving an incredible 21 awards this year.
The following areas/schemes had all received Gold awards as well as the Council as joint category winner for town or city centre:
· Elsecar Park and Nature Reserve
· Oxpring Primary School
· Friends of Lock Park
· Churchfields Peace Garden
· Carlton Marsh Nature Reserve
· Barnsley Hospice
· Friends of Monk Bretton Memorial Garden and Friends of Monk Bretton Park
It was also the first time that Barnsley had won the Yorkshire Rose Community Award for both the large and small group categories. Elsecar Park had scooped the community award for small groups and the Council was crowned winner for the large groups, a first of its kind for this award.
The Judge, Brendan Mowforth had said ‘Whilst this may not be the traditional type of organisation to receive this award, the council has taken on the role of facilitator to both develop voluntary groups and engage with the community’. The Chief Executive commented that this was one of the Councils priorities and it was pleasing to note that other organisations realised that the Authority was delivering on those priorities.
The judge went on to say, ‘The levels of involvement shown by Barnsley Council clearly showed that they were at the heart of the community and provide that vital link that ensures things work’.
This was a fantastic example of Barnsley communities working together for a Brighter Future, A Better Barnsley.
Congratulations were extended to the Parks Team and particularly to Jo Birch, the Parks Supervisor who was in the Chamber this morning.
The Mayor and Members of the Council expressed their thanks to all involved in the usual manner.
Councillor Lamb, Cabinet Support Member for Communities asked to place on record his individual congratulations to all those involved in these fantastic achievements. He commented that these achievements were a testament to and a demonstration of the success of the Area Council initiative which was helping communities to work together in partnership with the Council and other organisations to improve the areas in which people lived.
The Mayor of the Council echoed these comments.