Progressive borough promises to ‘think big’ as leadership changes

At a civic reception for retiring Council Leader Mohammed Khan CBE, Blackburn with Darwen Council affirmed its commitment to moving forward and ‘thinking big’ on behalf of its diverse communities.

The event, held in Blackburn’s King George’s Hall earlier this week, recognised Mohammed Khan’s 30-year civic contribution until his retirement last month.

New Council Leader Coun Phil Riley paid tribute to Mohammed during his speech and thanked him for his leadership.

Coun Riley also looked towards the future. He said:

We are a progressive borough with exciting plans to continue the economic growth that has been made in recent years. As a Council we have an ‘anything is possible’ attitude and will continue to think big and deliver on our ambitions.

Our borough has one of the youngest populations in Europe and I am keen to make this work to our advantage. I want these young people, our future, to see Blackburn with Darwen as a vibrant, exciting and lively place that provides the chances for them to build their lives and careers here.

The event in King George’s Hall was attended by civic dignitaries and local stakeholders representing different sectors in the borough – from health and education to business and interfaith relations.

Denise Park, Chief Executive of Blackburn with Darwen Council, said:

Blackburn with Darwen is a place where we know we can rely on supportive partners across many different sectors to work with us in the best interests of residents, building on our collective strengths to deliver high quality local services. During his leadership, Mohammed has certainly nurtured that collaborative way of working and I and new Council Leader, Coun Riley, are determined that we continue Mohammed’s legacy.

During his speech at the event, Mohammed Khan CBE spoke about the key achievements that give him the most pride. After the event, he commented:

It has been the greatest honour of my life to serve this wonderful borough. Very little can be achieved by working alone, it is our local partnerships that are our biggest asset and as I retire I want to put on record my thanks to the many partners who have worked closely with the Council over the years.

I always wanted the best for the people of this borough, particularly our vulnerable residents. I am proud that Blackburn with Darwen now has some of the best extra care housing in the country. I am also immensely proud to have led the Council to become one of only five National Integration Areas – over the last three years our social integration programme has certainly helped to strengthen relationships between people from different backgrounds and cultures.

Over the years, we’ve taken on many challenges but always focused on improvements and have been recognised among the best councils in the country. Together with our dedicated workforce, we won The MJ Council of the Year award in 2018 – credit must go to our staff, who are true public servants and work so hard with passion to put our residents first. I have always really appreciated their commitment.

Despite the challenges of the last two years and the austerity cuts of the last decade, I feel that I am leaving the Council in a strong position. I am delighted to pass on the baton to Phil Riley, and I wish him all the very best for his Council leadership.

Coun Riley recently penned an open letter to residents of Blackburn with Darwen, in which he sets out his vision for the future. Read it now on The Shuttle website.