The Middleton Township Devolved Funding and Devolved Services Sub-Committee met to discuss and allocate funding for various local projects. They approved a streamlined decision-making process for utilising additional capital funding from the Greater Manchester Combined Authority, and also approved funding for several projects, including improvements to speed humps, community green spaces, and dropped kerbs. A decision on a footpath project was deferred.

Township Capital Funding

The sub-committee approved recommendations regarding additional capital funding of £3.5 million recently received from the Greater Manchester Combined Authority¹. The funding will be allocated to schemes already approved within the capital programme, with an additional £175,000 allocated per ward.

To ensure efficient spending of the funds by the May 2026 deadline, the sub-committee approved a decision-making process where schemes endorsed by ward members, with at least a two-thirds majority support, will be forwarded to the Director of Public Health and Communities for approval, following consultation with the Township Chair and Vice-Chair. They also approved the delegation of up to £175,000 per ward, and noted that any unallocated funds will be returned to the Township Committee.

The alternative to the approved recommendations was to schedule additional Township Devolved Funding Committees to review the schemes, but this was deemed less efficient.

Middleton Township Funds 2025/26

The sub-committee reviewed the revenue and capital expenditure, commitments, and balances of the Middleton Township Funds 2025/26. They also made the following decisions regarding applications for funding:

• Knight Crescent [https://www.google.com/maps/search/Knight+Crescent+Middleton/]: £10,000 was approved from capital funds for speed hump reprofiling and lining refresh. The project involves reconstructing the existing flat top speed humps on Knight Crescent to improve their effectiveness and compliance with current traffic calming standards. Road markings along Knight Crescent and Abbotsford Drive will also be refreshed.
• Burnside's Community Green Spaces Project: £14,271 was approved from Township Capital Funds for stage two of the Burnside Centre's Community Green Spaces Project[^2]. The balance of £382.25 will be funded from the West, South and North Ward Capital Funds, and £382.25 from East Ward Revenue Funds. Stage two involves the external refurbishment of the building next to the centre, including painting the walls, doors, and window frames to match Burnside's existing colour scheme. This will create a stronger visual connection between the two buildings. [^2]: The Burnside Centre is a local charity that has supported the Langley estate and the wider Rochdale community for over 55 years.
• Nelson Street [https://www.google.com/maps/search/Nelson+Street+Middleton/]: £2,400 was approved from East Ward Revenue Funds for dropped kerbs.
• Times Street [https://www.google.com/maps/search/Times+Street+Middleton/] to Round Thorn Road footpath: The application was deferred.

Delegated Decisions

The sub-committee noted the delegated decisions made since the last meeting:

• £970 was awarded from Projects Fund for Middleton Township crest flags.
• £2,000 was awarded from Ward Fund for a Christmas tree in Truffet Park.
• £3,736.50 was awarded from Ward Fund for communication panels at Clough Road Play Area.
• £550 was awarded from Ward Fund for repainting bollards on Aspinall Street.

Minutes

The minutes of the meeting held on 3 July 2025 were approved as a correct record. At that meeting, the sub-committee had also discussed and allocated funding for various local projects including:

• Functional Fitness - £3240 from Township Revenue Projects Fund
• Christmas Lights Switch On Event - £10000 from Township Events Fund
• Highfield Drive Grit Bin - £1050 from East Ward Capital Funds
• The Downs Grit Bin - £1050 from East Ward Capital Funds
• Mayburn Close / York Road fence and handrails - £1959 from East Ward Capital Funds
• Langley Lane waiting restrictions - £2500 from West Ward Revenue Funds
• Middleton Archer Silhouette - £1320 from Township Capital Projects Funds
• Borrowdale Road community asset infrastructure improvement - £14112 from West Ward Revenue Funds
• Nigeria Community association – Community Centre development - £2277.20 from Township Projects Capital Funds
• Penryn Park Bench - £1375 (East Ward Capital Funds £441 and East Ward Revenue Funds £734)
• Truffet Park Carved Benches - £5180 (West Ward Capital Funds £2590 and Capital Projects Funds £2590)
• Compton Way bollards - £700 from East Ward Revenue Funds

An application for Mainway East Bollards was withdrawn, and an application from Hey Kids was withdrawn as the project was being fully funded from an alternative funding source.