Christmas Time

The Picture House welcomed two new members of staff last night (Friday 21st Dec) as the 22 regular members of staff took the night off to enjoy a well earned Christmas Knees Up.
Hebden Royd Town Council Mayor, Cllr Christine Davenport and Deputy Mayor, Cllr Karl Boggis stepped in to make sure the customers of the Picture House didn't need to miss a show in the run up to Christmas.

Pictured with recently appointed manager, Rebekah Fozard, Cllr Davenport said 'the staff of the Picture House work so hard it's really important for them to enjoy some time away from the cinema as it will be open throughout the Christmas holidays for the whole community to use and enjoy.'

The Work Continues.....

I've had some lists in my time but the Picture House list is the longest I have ever seen!
We've been wading through all the jobs and its gonna take some time to get there but we know its gonna be worth it. Gala Opening night should be good if it all comes together.

Picture House Website

Hebden Bridge Picture House will be transferred in to the ownership of Hebden Royd Town Council in April 2012. Its website is currently housed by Calderdale MBC and a new site is required to inform the users of the Picture House and those beyond of the programme and activities at the Picture House.

Hebden Royd Town Council would like to invite quotes for the provision of this website.

Information is available from info@hebdenroyd.org.uk with submission to be received no later than Friday 10^th February 2012 12 noon. Electronic submission to the listed email address are encouraged.

If further information is required please contact Hebden Royd Town Council through this address.

Jason Boom

Town Clerk

Hebden Royd Town Council

2/2/12

2012/13 Budget & Precept

During a meeting of the full council on Wednesday 11th January the 2012/13 budget was discussed and passed by a majority of Councillors attending the meeting.
It was decided that the budget for the 2012/2013 year be increased from the £275,750 in 2011/12 to £331,382 in 2012/13. Budget Breakdown 

This will increase the Town Council Precept by 24.31% on a band D property.

If you have any questions please contact me at the Town Clerk's office on 01422 842181.

I am very happy to say that following a meeting of the Calderdale MBC Cabinet last night the decision was taken to transfer the Hebden Bridge Picture House to Hebden Royd Town Council on a 125 year lease. Subject to the completion of all required documentation and legal agreements this transfer should be in place by the 1st April 2012.

This really is good news I believe for the Picture House and will allow Hebden Royd Town Council to give the Picture House and its users a secure future with the digitalisation of the cinema, improved facilities within and local people a real say in the Picture House. The key principles we adopted from the outset will be delivered and we can be secure in the knowledge that lemon drizzle cake and mugs of Fairtrade Coffee will be on offer for many years to come.

Hebden Bridge Picture House

Monday 9th January 2012 sees Calderdale MBC decide on the request from Hebden Royd Town Council to transfer responsibility for the Picture House to HRTC. The officers reports are recommending the transfer and HRTC stands by with budget, and consequently precept decisions to be made later on that week. The meeting at Halifax Town Hall starts at 6pm and all are welcome.

New Lights and Santa.

We hope this year we have been able to add that often commented upon lack of colour to the years festive lights. The 'twinklies' add to the overall look and we would really like to know if the scheme looks better.

We'd like to thanks Santa for helping us last night and for escorting Christine back to the office with the much sort after candy canes.

Time to go.....

After many years of loyal service Christine Jackson will be retiring later today. She has served the people of Hebden Royd for over 23 years. She provides a welcome smile to all who visit us here at the Town Council with her knowledge of the area and the goings on unsurpassable. I for one will miss her and wish her well in her retirement. The Parish will be losing a loyal and valuable asset.

Christine with some of the councillors she currently serves.

Picture House Newsletter

Picture House News Update October 2011

 

It’s been a while….

And we can only apologise but we have been very busy behind the scenes collecting and analysing information and making decisions to secure the future of the Picture House. There is much to tell.

Following the agreement in principal to transfer the Picture House by Calderdale MBC the partners (Hebden Royd Town Council, Hebden Bridge Community Association, the Hill Top Parish Councils and the organisations that use the Picture House) continued to discuss the best way to manage and develop the Picture House. Following the local elections in May and with the endorsement of the Partners Hebden Royd Town Council is now applying to solely take on responsibility for the Picture House.

The mandate from the public meeting for an elected body to take on the Picture House formed part of the reason but in addition the Quality Parish Status of the Council, its ability to fund raise and deliver projects (New Skate Park and various play areas are only a few examples), its relationship with the community, the way it supports its community and its reputation all added to its appeal.

Good Governance....

Hebden Royd Town Council wants to ensure that all those interested in the Picture House have a say in how it is run not just those who live in Hebden Royd. The management committee at present includes six town councillors, a representative from the Hill Top Parishes, two staff reps, an industry expert and we hope to soon welcome two elected members of the Friends of the Picture House. You’ll soon be invited to a meeting to adopt a constitution for the Friends and plan an election to get those reps onto the committee.

The building….

A concern of many and was highlighted in the last newsletter. Since then mechanical, electrical and structural surveys have taken place and advice has been taken. We have been pleased to find that while there are small issues it is generally in a very good state of repair. The large figures mentioned in the building compliance report produced by Calderdale, and mentioned at the public meeting look to bring the building up to a ‘new build’ standard, something very costly to achieve. A generous allocation, in excess of previous years has been made in the Repairs, Alteration & Maintenance section of the proposed budget.

We are also please to have found out that the Picture House is in the top five for energy efficiency in all of Calderdale MBC’s public buildings with a rating of 32.

The staff….

Meetings have been held and the last few months have been spent getting to know them and listening to them. TUPE regulations will be adhered to where the transfer takes place and as in the original principal their employment will be a major concern of ours.

Digitalisation….

The reason we are here. Research continues with site surveys imminent, costs vary between £40k and £75K depending on the ‘add ons’. 3D and the ability to stream live events to the Picture House are also affecting these costings. We haven’t forgotten 35mm however and we plan to retain this facility beyond digitalisation. The industry estimates that out of the 3600 screens in the UK only 100 will retain this facility when digitalisation will be fully rolled out.

Money Matters….

The Town Council has committed to fund the digitalisation of the Picture House and detailed budget discussions start soon. We aspire to install the digital system as soon as possible following transfer as more cinemas convert to digital less 35mm film prints are being produce by the distributors. Funding opportunities are at present infrequent but we continue to search for opportunities.

Tell us more…

We’re sure many will have seen and completed the Community Consultation we have been circulating in Hebden Royd, the Upper Valley, across Calderdale and further afield. If you have yet to see it take a look online at:

www.surveymonkey.com/s/7JXDXX3

Don’t forget the deadline of the 30^th October.

Drop in….

We hope that this has gone some way towards answering many of the questions you no doubt have but if you’d like to ask more drop in at any time between 6pm and 8pm to the Town Hall Council Chamber on Wednesday 26^th October we’ll be there to answer any questions you may have.

Thanks for taking an interest in the Picture House, we are sure our aspiration to make the Hebden Bridge Picture House the best single screen cinema in the country is one you will support us in.

Hebden Bridge Picture House

 
You may be aware that Hebden Royd Town Council is currently applying to Calderdale Council to take over the Hebden Bridge Picture House. 
 
The current financial climate is likely to limit the ability of Calderdale MBC to invest in the future of the Picture House. A lack of investment in the Picture House could mean that its future becomes less assured.

The aim of Hebden Royd Town Council is to ensure that this much loved resource is able to continue to provide the best possible experience for many years to come and we aspire to develop the Picture House into the best single screen cinema in the country.

The following survey will help Hebden Royd Town Council to achieve these aims.

Picture House Survey

Hebden Bridge has a new bridge.

Not the temporary one while the Packhorse Bridge is being repaired but in Warstein our twin town in Germany.
Members of the Hebden Bridge & District International Group and Hebden Royd Town Councillors travelled to Warstein to unveil the newly named 'Hebden Bridge' Bridge on the outskirts of the town on Saturday.

Dog Control Orders

Your chance to have a say on dog control, nuisance dogs and the biggie, dog mess. Click on the Hyperlink and give Calderdale MBC your opinion.

Dog Control

Success in the sun....and the dark.

The recent unseasonal weather has seen huge numbers of skaters using the new facility at Calder Holmes. As part of our agreement with the funders we continue to monitor numbers and they are well beyong what we had hoped for.
We started counting after dark last week and were surprised to find 22 skaters using the park at 8.30 pm on a Thursday evening.

I am chuffed to see that the skate park is working, and used by more and more of our young people but even happier to not be facing the winter just yet.

Rising Fast

As we look out of the window, in fact I am sure many can see from their windows, the new part of the Town Hall is starting to take shape.

The Town Hall is starting to become a popular location for meetings and some of the meeting rooms are rarely free, all bodes well for the future of the Town Councils home.

The mumblings appear to have dried up of late, I can only apologise. I'll try to keep you posted on the happenings now with more regularity - a post summer holiday resolution.
While I have been away I was approached by a fellow tourist about Hebden Bridges aim to become the greenest in the land, it appeared Transition Towns had been heard of as far south as Shrewsbury.
After a conversation about the activities in Hebden Bridge the gentleman commended the Towns efforts and wished us well. Lets hope he tells more about our town and gets other places to join us. Well done to all who strive to achieve this goal and hopefully as HRTC looks to adopt a way of reducing our carbon emissions we'll be able to do our little bit.

Its been some time since the last post. Along with a few holidays we have been busy working with Calderdale MBC on the Picture House. In the next few weeks we should have the relaunch of the Friends of the Picture House as well as confirming the general good health of the building. Its then onto looking at how we can improve the facilities with our budgets, most importantly of all the digitalisation of the cinema.

The Handmade Parade

Shock!.......Giant Chicken loose in Hebden Bridge!

All who view will be amazed, a fabulous event supported by Hebden Royd Town Council.

The Mayor in Germany

Cllr Trickett, the Mayor of Hebden Royd was in Warstein this weekend to celebrate the opening of the refurbished square in Belecke and to witness the twinning of Petrapaulo (Italy) and Warstein. He was also welcoming Petrapaulo to our family of twin towns.

Welcome

At the Annual Meeting of the Town Council Cllr Scott Trickett was elected to serve as Mayor for 2011/12.

Cllr Dave Young was elected to serve as Deputy Mayor.

Cllr Trickett is accompanied by his wife Amy and Cllr Young with one of his two consorts Janet Oosthuysen, the other being Cllr Susan Press.

A New Mayor.

This evening will see the appointment of a new Mayor for Hebden Royd. The foot steps to follow are big, Robin Dixon has for the last twelve months been an excellent Mayor.
I for one have enjoyed tremendously his support, guidance and friendship and I wish him well for all that he does in the future.
Good luck to our new Mayor....whoever they may be.