Hertsmere News - Spring 2014

Hertsmere news

Hertsmere Borough Council’s Magazine Spring 2014

Mind that child!

Inside this issue: • Council tax freeze • Elections • Keeping in touch with us • Planning consultations • Happy birthday Hertsmere!

Community news

Follow us on Twitter @HertsmereBC

Want a say on how your area is run?

On Thursday 22 May, a third of Hertsmere councillors will be up for election so make sure you are registered to vote so you can have your say on how your local area is run.

If you registered recently or responded to the form that was posted through your door last year you don’t have to do anything now, just remember to vote on

the day. But if you didn’t register to vote or if you have moved house since you last registered you will need to re-register, otherwise you may not be able to vote.

Registering to vote is quick and easy so there’s no excuse!

One seat is up in 13 of Hertsmere’s 15 wards – there are no elections for Aldenham East or Aldenham West. European Parliamentary elections will also be taking place on the same day in all areas.

Details of candidates will be published on our website and in local media nearer the time.

If you are unsure if you are registered to vote or want any of the application forms please call 020 8207 7481 or email elections@hertsmere.gov.uk For more information and to apply online visit www.hertsmere.gov.uk/elections

Ways you can vote In person at a polling station If you are registered to vote a poll card will be sent to you about five weeks before the election. If you do not receive a poll card please contact us. The card tells you where you should vote – you can only vote at your allocated polling station. It is helpful if you take your poll card with you but you don’t have to. The deadline to apply to vote in this way is midnight on 6 May.

Voting by post If you are registered for a postal vote you will be sent your ballot paper before the election and you will need to post it back to us. To vote by post you need to apply and forms have to be completed and returned by 5pm on 7 May.

Voting by proxy Proxy voting means another person can vote on your behalf. To have a proxy vote, forms have to be completed and returned to us by 5pm on 14 May. You can vote by proxy if: • you will be away on holiday.

• you have to work away from home.

• you are ill or in hospital.

Keep in touch with us Do you feel like you’re the last to know about what’s going on in your local area?

Then please help us help you by keeping in touch with Hertsmere.

Unfortunately we can’t letter drop every home in the borough when something is happening but there are lots of ways to find out what’s going on via social media or more traditional methods such as reading your local newspaper or attending a council meeting: • Follow us on Twitter for regular tweets, photos and links to our press releases as they are issued – @HertsmereBC • Like us on Facebook for regular updates, links to our latest press releases and photos – www.facebook.com/hertsmere and www.facebook.com/recycleforhertsmere • Check our website regularly, the homepage is updated frequently and all our press releases can be found under ‘Latest news’ – www.hertsmere.gov.uk

• Read your local paper – if you don’t get

one delivered or don’t want to pay for it, most stories are uploaded to their websites • Look out for posters and notices when you’re out and about • Sign up to receive our monthly eNews – email corporate.communications@ hertsmere.gov.uk • Sign up to receive planning updates and consultations – call 020 8207 7527 or email local.plan@hertsmere.gov.uk • Read any council correspondence you get

2 Spring 2014 Hertsmere News www.hertsmere.gov.uk

in the post – if we are writing to you it will contain important information • Come along to a council meeting or watch it live at home or for six months afterwards – you can attend all planning, executive and full council meetings at our Civic Offices – www.hertsmere.public-i.tv • Attend your local Community Safety Partnership meeting – call 020 8207 7801 or visit www.hertsmere.gov.uk/csp • Contact your local councillor – visit www.hertsmere.gov.uk/findmycllr or call 020 8207 7558 • Read this magazine – it’s delivered to every home in the borough three times a year.

And remember, you can access the internet at your local library for free!

If you have any suggestions or comments about communication in Hertsmere please email corporate.communications@ hertsmere.gov.uk or call 020 8207 7417.

In this issue

Hertsmere Borough Council Working with you, for you

Welcome

Contents 4 Empty plastic bags only Appeal for residents to put items in their brown bin loose

to the spring edition of Hertsmere News I’m sure you are as glad as me to welcome spring to the borough.

As usual at this time of year we have been working hard to balance our budgets while our resources continue to be stretched. So it’s great news for us to be able to freeze our portion of council tax for the fifth consecutive year.

This means, despite inflation, you will pay the same amount for the services we provide including benefits, community safety, environmental health, leisure, parks and street cleaning.

On average you pay £157 a year for our services and once again, you have helped us make some tough decisions about what this money is spent on.

Around 400 residents, which is a fair representative sample of Hertsmere’s population, told us how we should allocate money to services in a special survey. Following analysis of the answers, you told us that you don’t mind if we reduce our office opening hours and increase car parking charges if it means other services such as CCTV, grants to voluntary organisations and our contribution towards Police Community Support Officers and Hertsmere Citizens Advice Bureau are protected. Turn to pages 12 and 13 to find out more about the survey and where your council tax goes.

With community safety a priority for residents, you will see from our front cover and page 10 that your Community Safety Partnership is working hard to tackle unsafe parking outside schools, a common complaint from our

5 Have your say on planning issues Details of improvements to how we consult on planning matters 6 Happy 40th birthday to us!

Help celebrate 40 years of Hertsmere 8 Planning our future Find out about plans for development in your area 10 Safer school parking Calling all parents – please park safely at your child’s school 12 Services shaped by you, for you Details of next year’s budget and where your council tax goes 15 Meet your councillors Find out who your councillor is and how to contact them

Contact us www.hertsmere.gov.uk customer.services@hertsmere.gov.uk

@HertsmereBC www.facebook.com/hertsmere 020 8207 2277 Our office opening hours will change to the below from April

Councillor Morris Bright Leader of Hertsmere Borough Council leader@hertsmere.gov.uk

On the cover: Pupils from Shenley Primary School and local PCSOs with one of the new safer school parking banners – details on page 10.

Hertsmere Borough Council Civic Offices, Elstree Way Borehamwood, WD6 1WA Open Monday to Thursday 9am to 5.15pm, Friday 9am to 5pm Bushey Area Office The Bushey Centre, High Street Bushey, WD23 1TT Open Tuesdays, 9.30am to 2pm Potters Bar Area Office Wyllyotts Centre, Wyllyotts Place Darkes Lane, Potters Bar, EN6 2HN Open Thursdays, 9.30am to 2pm

If you would like this magazine in a different format please call 020 8207 7445.

www.hertsmere.gov.uk Hertsmere News Spring 2014 3

Design: www.staffordtilley.co.uk

This magazine is produced by Hertsmere Borough Council three times a year.

We welcome stories and photos – email them to corporate.communications@ hertsmere.gov.uk The deadline for the next issue which is due out mid-June is 28 April.

Each edition costs around 23p per copy to design, print and deliver. When you have finished with it, please recycle it in your blue box or at a local recycling bank.

communities. If you are responsible for dropping off or picking up children at school please observe the restrictions – they exist to keep your children safe.

Residents have also told us that planning is important to them and on pages 8 and 9 you will find information about a significant consultation currently taking place about development in the borough. Residents of Elstree and Borehamwood will also receive a separate leaflet with this magazine about future plans for the Elstree Way Corridor.

As well as looking ahead, we are looking back as we approach Hertsmere’s 40th anniversary in April – turn to page 6 for a trip down memory lane and to learn more about our history. Hertsmere is also celebrating a century of filming in Elstree and Borehamwood this year and a special edition of the Town Crier accompanies this magazine in the relevant areas.

As ever if you’d like to get in touch please do – details of your local councillors are on page 15 and there are a number of ways you can keep in touch with Hertsmere on page 2 opposite.

Community news

Follow us on Twitter @HertsmereBC

Police teams set to move

A time to remember

Borehamwood police teams will be moving from their station in Elstree Way and into the Civic Offices in the coming months to help both organisations save money and strengthen partnership working.

Police officers and Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs), including the Borehamwood and Elstree Safer Neighbourhood teams, are expected to be operational from the new base from mid-May with no gap in service or delivery.

A candlelit parade and ceremony took place in January to mark Holocaust Memorial Day (HMD), observed internationally to remember the millions of people affected by the Holocaust, Nazi Persecution and in subsequent genocides in Cambodia, Rwanda, Bosnia and Darfur.

The Mayor of Hertsmere, Councillor Paul Morris OBE, amended the usual programme for the annual event to draw more attention to it and give more people the opportunity to be involved. More than 100 people took part in the parade, which passed through Borehamwood high street, and attended an open ceremony at The Ark Theatre, also in Borehamwood.

To contact your local police team call 101 or visit www.herts.police.uk

Empty plastic bags only Please don’t put full plastic bags in your brown bin as your bin will not be collected.

We have always asked for your glass, cartons, plastic, cans and cardboard items to be put in loose so if you use a bag to take your recycling to your bin, simply empty it in the bin first and then pop the plastic bag in separately.

Full plastic bags aren’t accepted by our recycling facility as their machinery cannot sort full bags of recycling and some bags don’t contain recycling – we’ve found tied up bags of rubbish, nappies and a chicken! There’s no way of knowing what’s inside a bag until it’s too late.

In addition, we are aware that some of you are finding that your brown bin is getting full quickly and we are working on how we can resolve this. In the meantime please follow our suggestions to flatten/ tear up cardboard to help it fit in and squash cartons, plastic bottles and cans. If you have five or more people in your household you may also be able to get a bigger brown bin.

Thank you for your help.

For more information about recycling or to enquire about a bigger brown bin visit www.hertsmere.gov.uk/recycling or call 020 8207 7480.

Mayor Cllr Morris said: “It’s clear from the very positive feedback that I received from attendees that the occasion enabled all ages and sections of Hertsmere’s multi-cultural community to understand the relevance of these atrocities, even in modern times. We must continue to remember and to consider what we have learnt as a result of what happened.

“The strongest communities are those that celebrate differences and where there is respect for all.”

HMD is commemorated on 27 January each year as this is the anniversary of the day in 1945 when the Soviet Army liberated the largest Nazi concentration camp, Auschwitz-Birkenau.

Promote your business locally Would you like to advertise in this magazine?

Your favourite read, which is delivered to 43,000 homes in Hertsmere three times a year, takes a limited amount of advertising on a first come, first served basis.

Priority is given to local reputable businesses and magazines are published in June and December 2014 and March 2015.

How to book: Email corporate.communications@ hertsmere.gov.uk or call 020 8207 7824 to reserve your place and to obtain artwork specifications.

4 Spring 2014 Hertsmere News www.hertsmere.gov.uk

Full page £400 +VAT Half page £200 +VAT Quarter page £100 +VAT

Community news

Join us on Facebook www.facebook.com/hertsmere

Have your say on planning issues Opportunities to have your say on major planning applications and other development matters have increased following improvements to our consultation practices.

Although the council meets and in most cases exceeds our statutory responsibility to consult with the public on planning applications and documents, we have amended our policies to ensure that we engage with as many people as possible so we can make informed decisions about where you live.

The improvements are set out in our revised Statement of Community Involvement (SCI), first published in 2006, following comments raised during a period of public consultation on the document in May last year and at the Elstree Way Corridor public meetings in October.

Among the additional measures we will: • consult a wide radius of people around a site where proposals are received for more than 50 homes or 5,000 square metres of non-residential floor space, with the radius dependent on the size, height and location of the development • increase our use of social media – we already tweet and facebook a list of submitted planning applications every week • publish details of applications for over 50 homes or 5,000 square metres in this magazine (whenever timescales allow) • increase the number of site notices for applications over 50 homes or 5,000 square metres of non-residential floor space • expect that developers also undertake more pre-application consultation with local residents.

Local cash for local causes From children’s centres and scouts, to theatre groups and sports clubs, a number of local organisations have recently benefited from the council’s Ward Improvement Initiative Scheme which enables Hertsmere councillors to fund good causes in their area.

The money can be used to purchase equipment, pay for repairs to buildings and facilities or fund special projects. Here are some quotes from just a few of the benefiting groups: Anne Frisch of Borehamwood and Elstree Children’s Centre (BECC) said: “We are delighted to have been awarded ward improvement funding which will help us Local organisations, including a children’s centre, have benefited from our Ward Improvement Initiative Scheme

increase the choice of toys available in our library for families with children aged up to five across Hertsmere.”

Jon Marsden from Bushey and Oxhey Football Club said: “We are thrilled with our councillor donations, our new goal posts and training equipment will make a big difference to our sessions and benefit more than 200 boys.”

Amanda Caswell of 1st Little Heath and Potters Bar Scout Group said: “As well as scouts, our hut is used by the wider community and the money we have received from local councillors will help us pay for small repairs to the building to help keep it going for as long as possible while we fundraise to eventually rebuild it.”

Councillors will be allocated £500 each to distribute in their wards for the next financial year.

If you want to apply please contact your local Hertsmere councillor – if you don’t know who that is, look on page 15, visit www.hertsmere.gov.uk/findmycllr or call 020 8207 7558.

Although these measures aim to engage as many people as possible, you can also keep up to date by signing up to our planning updates and consultations which you can receive by email or post – simply email local.plan@hertsmere.gov.uk or call 020 8207 7527.

Turn to the centre pages (pages 8-9) to read about the latest planning document out for consultation about where new development should go in the borough

Studios expansion A multi-million pound development at the council-owned Elstree Studios is currently on target and will help give Hertsmere an economic boost.

Work to prepare around four acres of disused land on the site so that media production facilities can be built on it is well under way with the new facilities expected to be operational by the end of the year.

While the clearance and preparatory work to level the land has been carried out, the world-famous studios were working to full capacity with major shows and feature films on site including Strictly Come Dancing, Celebrity Big Brother, Dancing on Ice and Paddington Bear, and The Voice live shows will be filmed there in March.

Once the new facilities are finished they will be able to welcome even more glitz and glamour to the borough, as demand for studio space in the area is high. The additional income will also help to continue to subsidise 20% of council tax for every home in the borough.

www.hertsmere.gov.uk Hertsmere News Spring 2014 5

40 years of Hertsmere

Follow us on Twitter @HertsmereBC Newberries Parade in Radlett in 1970

The Black Lion in Shenley in 1974

Oakmere House in Potters Bar in the early 1970s, now a Harvester

staff in istrict Council Elstree Rural D re Hertsmere was formed fo March 1974, be

The train sta and Elstre tion serving Boreh amwood e in the 19 70s, in All um Lane

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

YEARS

Hertsmere!

Some of you won’t have been born but many of you will no doubt remember the 70s – the fashion, the music, the food?! To help mark Hertsmere’s 40th anniversary in April, we have collated a few photos and facts from the decade to jog your memories and enlighten those who weren’t around about the borough’s rich history.

Where did it all start?

Hertsmere was formed on 1 April 1974 as a district following the Local Government Act 1972 merging Elstree Rural District Council, the Parish of Aldenham, Bushey Urban District Council and Potters Bar Urban District Council. It was later awarded borough status by Royal Charter in 1977.

Where does the name Hertsmere come from?

Hertsmere was invented for the new area by combining ‘Herts’ with the word ‘mere’ which is an old term for boundary.

Do you have any photos or information about the 70s in Hertsmere? Or perhaps you want to know more about our 40th celebrations?

What does Hertsmere’s coat of arms stand for?

When the area was formed a new coat of arms was developed bringing together aspects from all the different areas including a hart (deer) from the arms of Hertfordshire County Council, a spool of film (under the top deer’s foot) to reflect Elstree and Borehamwood’s film industry, an artist’s palette (on the left-hand deer) to represent Bushey’s artistic history and a potter’s wheel (on the righthand deer) to symbolise Potters Bar.

Did you know? ✿ The likes of Black Sabbath,

Genesis, Roxy Music, Status Quo and Thin Lizzy played at The Farx Club at Elm Court Youth Centre in Potters Bar in the early 1970s.

✿ The highest-grossing film of the

decade was Star Wars which was made in Elstree in 1976 (the film was released in 1977).

✿ George Michael met Andrew

Ridgeley at Bushey Meads School in the 1970s before they formed Wham!

Events and activities will be taking place throughout April, May and June so keep up to date with us on Facebook and Twitter or use our contact details on page 3.

www.facebook.com/hertsmere

6 Spring 2014 Hertsmere News www.hertsmere.gov.uk

@HertsmereBC

www.hertsmere.gov.uk Hertsmere News Spring 2014 7

Planning news

Follow us on Twitter @HertsmereBC

Planning our future Are you interested in where new homes could be built in your area?

How local high streets could be improved and where Hertsmere is planning to provide local retail and industry areas?

Locally and nationally our population is growing and therefore all councils are required, by government, to make plans for building new homes and work with other organisations to provide the necessary infrastructure and services for residents now and in the future.

Our Core Strategy, agreed last year by the council, already sets the overall strategy for the borough with 3,990 new homes to be built over 15 years focused primarily on existing urban areas in order to protect the green belt. The latest planning document out for consultation now is our draft Site Allocations and Development Management Policies which sets out, in more detail, what development could take place across the borough up to 2027. This includes identifying specific sites for a range of land uses and detailed planning policies to

guide decisions on planning applications.

Cllr Harvey Cohen, Portfolio Holder for Planning and Localism, said: “These are critical plans which we want people to give us their views on as they will have an impact on people and the communities they live in.

“These are critical plans which we want people to give us their views on.”

“We have responsibilities to provide adequate land for development, whether that is for retail or for new homes, but we also want to ensure our high streets are supported, that our communities are safe and pleasant places in which to live and work, that green spaces are protected and that all the needs of our diverse communities are met.”

All local authorities must have local plans

in place which set out how and where their area could be developed and following the introduction of the National Planning Policy Framework in 2012, the government expects councils to support sustainable development in these plans. Quite simply, if we don’t put forward plans to provide an adequate supply of housing, we run the risk of being forced to accept inappropriate developments.

The draft Site Allocations and Development Management Policies document was approved by the council’s Executive on 15 January and a six-week public consultation period ends on 14 April.

As part of the consultation, letters have been sent to residents who will be directly affected by certain significant proposals as well as all key agencies and service providers such as Hertfordshire County Council which is responsible for roads and schools, town and parish councils, and

Sign up for planning updates To ensure you are consulted directly on future planning documents and proposals, please email local.plan@hertsmere.gov.uk or call us to be added to our mailing list 8 Spring 2014 Hertsmere News www.hertsmere.gov.uk

Planning news

Join us on Facebook www.facebook.com/hertsmere

community organisations including the newly-formed Elstree and Borehamwood Residents’ Association.

Please note: These are draft plans that we are legally required to propose.

The landowners of the sites haven’t necessarily been approached or planning applications submitted. This is just the first stage of proposing where new development could and could not take place.

All development proposals must meet relevant planning policies and applicants are required to demonstrate that any necessary infrastructure will be delivered.

green belt include the print works at Bushey Hall Golf Course.

What does this mean for…

Elstree and Borehamwood?

Three sites – Burrell & Co, the former Radlett Fire Station (which has planning permission for housing) and the adjoining Radlett Service Station/Regency House – are allocated for housing. A small area of Colney Fields, London Colney, and the former Shenley Hospital housing estate are to be removed from the green belt.

In the document a number of potential locations have been identified for housing development including an estimated 276 homes on the site of Hertswood Upper School, Thrift Farm Lane. Woodcock Hill has green belt status following designation as a village green.

… Bushey?

Sites identified for potential housing include land at Rossway Drive for an estimated 61 homes and Birchville Court and the adjoining haulage yard on Heathbourne Road for an estimated 39 homes. Sites to be removed from the

… Potters Bar? Sites identified for potential housing include the bus depot in the high street for an estimated 70 homes (subject to a suitable alternative site being found for the depot) and the former Sunny Bank School for an estimated 43 homes. Land to the rear of 29-37 Heath Road is earmarked to be taken out of the green belt to address an existing anomaly with the green belt boundary.

… Radlett and Shenley?

Please read the document for further details on each area.

How can I have my say?

There is lots more information in the actual document that will explain what it is and why we have to produce it. We are also holding public drop-in sessions so you can learn more, speak direct with planning officers and give your comments, see dates below.

Drop in Borehamwood – Monday and have 17 March, 12pm-8pm at your say 96 Shenley Road, WD6 1EB Radlett – Thursday 20 March, 4pm-8pm at The Radlett Centre, Aldenham Avenue, WD7 8HL Bushey – Tuesday 25 March, 12pm-8pm at Bushey Country Club, High Street, WD23 1TT Shenley – Thursday 27 March, 4pm-8pm at Shenley Village Hall, 108 London Road, WD7 9BS Potters Bar – Thursday 3 April, 12pm8pm at Wyllyotts Centre, Darkes Lane, EN6 2HN You can also submit comments via email to local.plan@hertsmere.gov.uk or in the post to Site allocations, Planning Policy, Hertsmere Borough Council (full address on page 3). Comments must be received before 14 April.

For more information visit www.hertsmere.gov.uk/siteallocations or call 020 8207 7527.

Last say on Elstree Way Residents of Borehamwood have until the end of March to have their last say on the council’s Elstree Way Corridor Area Action Plan.

The document will act as a master plan to guide the future development of homes and other facilities in the area up to 2027. Changes have been made to the document following public consultation and a revised version is now available.

The next stage of the statutory process is a six-week ‘deposit’ period whereby residents can submit final representations which will be considered by an independent inspector at a public examination, then the document will be submitted to the Secretary of State for independent examination.

A helpful leaflet should have been delivered with this magazine to those who live in the area – if not please contact us.

Copies of the document and leaflet are also available at the Civic Offices in Elstree Way, Borehamwood, and at Borehamwood Library at 96 Shenley Road.

To have your say please complete the online response form or write to us (address details are on page 3).

For more information visit www. hertsmere.gov.uk/elstreewaycorridor or call 020 8207 2277.

The right infrastructure Hertsmere is set to get more freedom to spend money from developers on infrastructure that residents want, following a change in government policy to give communities more power in planning local development.

We expect to be the first authority in the county to take advantage of the new Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) which is replacing the current system of planning arrangements between councils and developers known as section 106 agreements.

CIL is basically a tax that councils can charge developers who are building new developments in their area so that local authorities – including borough, parish/town and county councils – can deliver new infrastructure projects such as road schemes, schools, park improvements or a new health centre for example.

www.hertsmere.gov.uk Hertsmere News Spring 2014 9

Community safety news

Working in partnership for a safer Hertsmere

ry Prima tholic shey a C t r Hea y, Bu Sacred and Nurser l o o Sch

Ashfie

ld Junio

d Primary Summerswoo hamwood School, Bore

r Scho

ol, Bus

hey

Hartsbourne Pr imary School, Bushey

Safer school parking Do you do the school run? Are you often late? Do you stop or park on yellow lines, zig zags, the pavement or other restricted areas? If so you are breaking the law and risking your own child’s life as well as the life of other people.

In a bid to raise awareness of the dangers of thoughtless and obstructive parking and stopping, Hertsmere Community Safety Partnership has been working with local schools to encourage pupils to help educate their parents on the matter. Work has included assemblies with local Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs), regular patrols by council Civil Enforcement Officers and erecting large banners on school railings (pictured above).

Loran Kingston, the council’s Partnerships Support Officer, said: “Dangerous and thoughtless parking outside schools is a common issue across Hertsmere and is often raised at local Community Safety

Partnership meetings. Parents especially should know the dangers of parking on yellow zig zags and in other restricted areas so we are appealing to them and the wider community to please adhere to the restrictions.

“They are there for a reason – to help keep your children safe – so please save yourself the embarrassment of being caught and possibly fined by simply not stopping or parking where you know you shouldn’t.”

If you are seen to be stopping or parking in a restricted area you could be issued with a fixed penalty notice of £30.

Speeding enforcement is also carried out outside schools.

10 Spring 2014 Hertsmere News www.hertsmere.gov.uk

PCSO Esther Ainsley added: “We want to make sure we prevent a serious collision – or worse – by educating pupils and their parents. We hope that the pupils will tell their parents or carers not to park dangerously or illegally when dropping them off or picking them up.”

So far schools in Borehamwood, Shenley and Bushey have been contacted, with schools in Potters Bar and Radlett next on the list.

If you would like a particular school to be involved they can call the council on 020 8207 7801 or send an email to partnership.support@hertsmere.gov.uk

• 9 hole golf course • Driving range • Golf shop • Weddings • Reformer Pilates studio • Gym and fitness classes • Restaurant • Sunday Carvery

Visit us today

Call : 020 8950 2283 Follow us on Facebook and Twitter

www.busheycountryclub.com

High Street, Bushey. WD23 1TT

Complimentary one day pass • Try an energising fitness class • Reformer Pilates Taster session • Access to the Lounge Bar • Round of Golf

to Bushey Country Club*

* To validate this pass call 020 8950 2283 and book your visit with our Membership Consultant.

Offer only valid when accompanied by this pass.

Not exchangeable for cash. Valid for one visit per person. Valid until 30th April 2014.

Budget news

Follow us on Twitter @HertsmereBC

Services shaped by you, for you Once again you have helped us make some tough financial decisions ahead of our annual budget-setting process by telling us what services you would like us to prioritise, and what services you wouldn’t mind paying a little more for.

For the second time, Hertsmere has conducted an independent ‘participatory budgeting’ exercise with a random representational sample of just over 400 residents to provide an accurate reflection of the views of the population as a whole.

The sample was proportional to the borough’s makeup in terms of sex, age, ethnicity, working status and socioeconomic class as well as proportionate to each ward/town.

The results of the face-to-face survey conducted door to door last summer provided valuable information about the services residents want to see protected and those they don’t mind us doing slightly differently to save money and help raise income. A total of 19 questions were asked about a range of services with respondents having to give their preferred option as an answer.

Leader of the Council Morris Bright explained: “All local authorities continue to face difficult decisions in the ongoing financial climate and Hertsmere is no exception.

“I’d like to thank all the residents who gave up around an hour of their time to take part, they have helped us generate savings of almost £350,000.”

The majority of service changes, some of which are detailed here, will be implemented from the beginning of the financial year in April, with further details being published where necessary.

Check our website or social media channels for all the latest news.

Street cleaning

You said: Keep up your level of street cleaning including sweeping main shopping areas every day.

We will: Continue with our current street cleaning schedule.

Hertsmere News

You said: Keep producing and delivering Hertsmere News three times a year.

We will: Continue to publish this magazine in March (spring), June (summer) and December (winter).

Car parking

Grants to voluntary and community groups

You said: Don’t reduce your annual grants budget for local groups.

We will: Carry on providing grants to help fund revenue and capital expenditure for local groups such as sports clubs and charities.

Ward Improvement Initiative Scheme (WIIS)

You said: Increase car parking charges in council car parks and on the side of the road but keep the first half hour of street parking outside shops free.

We will: Charge slightly more for car parking in car parks and on roads and keep the first 30 minutes of street parking outside shops free. This is likely to be implemented in June.

CCTV

You said: Don’t cut money from the CCTV budget.

We will: Carry on funding 23 cameras in the main high streets across the borough.

You said: Cut the amount of Environmental crime money councillors have to You said: Continue to respond to allocate to local projects. reports of fly-tipping and graffiti in We will: Reduce WIIS one to two days. funding by half so We will: Carry on responding each local councillor to environmental crime reports Following residents’ still has £500 to in the minimum statutory feedback we will continue spend on local period of one to two days, to contribute towards PCSOs causes each year. depending on severity.

12 Spring 2014 Hertsmere News www.hertsmere.gov.uk

Budget news

Join us on Facebook www.facebook.com/hertsmere

Green bin collections

You said: Continue with fortnightly collections of food and garden waste.

We will: Carry on collecting your green bin every two weeks throughout the year.

Opening hours

You said: Reduce your office opening times to help save money.

We will: Adjust our office opening hours so from April, the Civic Offices in Borehamwood will be open Monday to Thursday, 9am to 5.15pm, and 9am to 5pm on Fridays. Also our area office in Bushey will only be open on Tuesdays, 9.30am to 2pm, and our area office in Potters Bar will only be open on Thursdays, 9.30am to 2pm.

Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) You said: Don’t cut funding to Hertsmere CAB. We will: Maintain the current level of funding to the CAB including funding a debt advisor post.

Economic development

You said: Carry on allocating £50,000 to economic development to help encourage more businesses to the area and provide local jobs.

We will: Continue with the current spend.

Council tax frozen You will pay the same amount for services provided by Hertsmere Borough Council this year as you did last year with our portion of council tax being frozen for the fifth consecutive year.

While other living costs continue to rise, we have decided not to charge any more for our services to support residents in the ongoing financial climate. It means a resident in an average Band D property will still pay just over £157 to the borough council

Hertsmere Borough Council

11%

Hertfordshire County Council

77%

Services provided include: Benefits, car parking, community safety, elections, environmental health, housing needs, leisure, parks & open spaces, licensing, planning, street cleaning, kerbside waste & recycling collections

Services provided include: Adoption & fostering, early years childcare, Fire & Rescue service, health & social care, household waste recycling centres, libraries, public transport, registry, roads, schools, street lights, trading standards, youth provision

General contact details 020 8207 2277 www.hertsmere.gov.uk

General contact details 0300 123 4040 www.hertsdirect.org

Hertfordshire Police & Crime Commissioner

10%

Town/parish councils (where in place)

2%

Services provided include: General policing, neighbourhood policing, road policing, Neighbourhood Watch & crime prevention, partnership work i.e.

Hertsmere Community Safety Partnership

Services provided include: Local events & some activities for young people & older people, Christmas lights, some allotments, cemeteries & parks, public clocks, war memorials

General contact details 01707 806100 www.hertscommissioner.org

General contact details Aldenham Parish Council 01923 856433 www.aldenham-pc.gov.uk

Always dial 999 in an emergency www.herts.police.uk

You said: Don’t reduce funding for PCSOs. We will: Continue to contribute towards PCSOs.

for 2014/15 – around £3 a week.

Hertsmere collects council tax every year on behalf of other local authorities so we don’t get the whole amount you pay each month, we get approximately 11% of it. The rest is allocated to other local organisations including the police as below, most of which have also frozen their portion of council tax. However, some town and parish councils have applied minor increases to their portion.

Where does your council tax go?

Contacting local police 101 (non-emergency)

Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs)

Hertsme council ta re’s x be frozen will the fifth y for ea in a row! r

Elstree and Borehamwood Town Council 020 8207 1382 www.elstreeborehamwood-tc.gov.uk Shenley Parish Council 01923 855 865 www.shenley-pc.gov.uk South Mimms Parish Council 07976 708019 www.southmimmspc.org.uk

www.hertsmere.gov.uk Hertsmere News Spring 2014 13

Get connected!

Join Hertsmere Connect Thinking of starting your own business?

Not sure where to go for business advice?

Want to network locally?

Want to learn from other entrepreneurs?

Want to do more business locally?

Interested? call 020 8207 7581

Attracting, connecting and supporting business

sharon@hertsmereconnect.co.uk www.hertsmereconnect.co.uk

Hertsmere Connect is a partnership between Hertsmere Borough Council and Watford & West Herts Chamber of Commerce.

Your councillors

Hertsmere Borough Council Working with you, for you

Meet your councillors Aldenham East

Key

You can contact your ward councillors at any reasonable time.

Hertsmere has a Conservative majority, with 35 Conservative and four Labour councillors. Your councillors are listed in alphabetical order by ward. If you don’t know which ward you live in, visit www.hertsmere.gov.uk/findmycllr or call 020 8207 7558.

Aldenham West

Borehamwood Brookmeadow

(Con) = Conservative (Lab) = Labour

Charles Goldstein (Con)

John Graham (Con)

Caroline Clapper (Con)

Daniel Griffin (Con)

Dr Harvey Cohen (Con)

Sam Dobin (Con)

Susan Maughan (Con)

cllr.charles. goldstein@ hertsmere.gov.uk

cllr.john.graham@ hertsmere.gov.uk

cllr.caroline. clapper@ hertsmere.gov.uk

cllr.dan.griffin@ hertsmere.gov.uk

cllr.harvey.cohen@ hertsmere.gov.uk

cllr.sam.dobin@ hertsmere.gov.uk

cllr.susan. maughan@ hertsmere.gov.uk

01992 652222

07976 360961

07818 427745

01923 856121

07974 910215

07737 219318

020 8386 3274

Borehamwood Cowley Hill

Ernie Butler (Lab) cllr.ernie.butler@ hertsmere.gov.uk

020 8207 4844

Ann Harrison (Lab) – Group Leader cllr.ann.harrison@ hertsmere.gov.uk

01707 657379

Borehamwood Hillside

Borehamwood Kenilworth

Di Hoeksma (Lab)

Jean Heywood (Con)

Sandra Parnell (Con)

Farida Turner (Con)

Richard Butler (Lab)

Pat Strack (Con)

cllr.di.hoeksma@ hertsmere.gov.uk

cllr.jean.heywood@ hertsmere.gov.uk

cllr.sandra. parnell@ hertsmere.gov.uk

cllr.farida.turner@ hertsmere.gov.uk

cllr.richard. butler@ hertsmere.gov.uk

cllr.pat.strack@ hertsmere.gov.uk

020 8950 4398

07793 868645

020 8953 0832

020 8953 4347

07706 079439

020 8386 3151

Bushey Heath

Bushey North

Bushey Park

Brenda Batten (Con)

Paul Morris OBE (Con) – Mayor

Seamus Quilty (Con)

Steve O’Brien (Con)

Jane West (Con)

Leslie Winters (Con)

David Collins (Con)

Linda Silver (Con)

cllr.brenda.batten@ hertsmere.gov.uk

cllr.paul.morris@ hertsmere.gov.uk

cllr.seamus.quilty@ hertsmere.gov.uk

cllr.steve.obrien@ hertsmere.gov.uk

cllr.jane.west@ hertsmere.gov.uk

cllr.leslie.winters@ hertsmere.gov.uk

cllr.david.collins@ hertsmere.gov.uk

cllr.linda.silver@ hertsmere.gov.uk

020 8950 1892

07813 918881

01923 246485

01923 802736

01923 449950

07931 858280

07855 444042

020 8950 9251

Bushey St James

Pervez Choudhury (Con) cllr.pervez. choudhury@ hertsmere.gov.uk

07719 788185

Carey Keates (Con) – Deputy Mayor

Elstree

Denise Kieran (Con)

cllr.carey.keates@ hertsmere.gov.uk

cllr.denise. kieran@ hertsmere.gov.uk

020 8387 3163

01923 236052

Morris Bright (Con) – Leader of the Council

Potters Bar Furzefield

Derrick Gunasekera (Con)

Peter Knell (Con)

Brian Legate (Con)

Martin Worster (Con)

leader@ hertsmere.gov.uk

cllr.derrick. gunasekera@ hertsmere.gov.uk

cllr.peter.knell@ hertsmere.gov.uk

cllr.brian.legate@ hertsmere.gov.uk

cllr.martin.worster @hertsmere. gov.uk

020 8207 7570

07771 872280

07802 631984

01707 654216

01707 662688

Potters Bar Oakmere

Potters Bar Parkfield

Shenley

Robert Calcutt (Con)

James Ricks (Con)

Penny Swallow (Con)

John Donne (Con)

Paul HodgsonJones (Con)

Sarah HodgsonJones (Con)

Rosemary Gilligan (Con)

Peter Wayne (Con)

cllr.bob.calcutt@ hertsmere.gov.uk

cllr.james.ricks@ hertsmere.gov.uk

cllr.penny.swallow @hertsmere. gov.uk

cllr.john.donne@ hertsmere.gov.uk

cllr.paul. hodgson-jones@ hertsmere.gov.uk

cllr.sarah. hodgson-jones@ hertsmere.gov.uk

cllr.rosemary. gilligan@ hertsmere.gov.uk

cllr.peter.wayne@ hertsmere.gov.uk

01707 655019

07794 479062

020 8207 3365

01707 658063

01707 660852

01707 660852

01923 857402

01923 857955

www.hertsmere.gov.uk Hertsmere News Spring 2014 15

What’s on

Follow us on Twitter @HertsmereBC

Come along to an event near you!

Information is provided by each organisation – for further details about any event please contact the provider direct.

The Radlett Centre

Wyllyotts Theatre

1 Aldenham Avenue, Radlett 01923 859291 www.radlettcentre.co.uk

Wyllyotts Place, Darkes Lane, Potters Bar 01707 645005 www.wyllyottstheatre.co.uk

22 & 23 March

The Ark

14 May

Thrift Farm Lane, Borehamwood 020 8238 7288 Monday to Friday 10am-4pm www.thearktheatre.co.uk

12 April Jacqui Dankworth Songs from Jacqui’s new album ‘Live to Love’ 7.30pm, £17.50-£18.50

22 March Variety Music Hall Singing, dancing and comedy from a host of local performers 2.30pm & 7.30pm, £10 27 March Peter Howarth of The Hollies: Unplugged The Hollies’ lead singer performs an intimate acoustic show 8pm, £15-£14 26 April Paul Chowdhry Comedy from the star of BBC1’s Live at the Apollo and Channel 4’s Stand Up For The Week 8pm, £14

16 April Beauty and The Beast Award-winning ballet from Ballet Cymru 7.30pm, £13-£15 22 May Shappi Khorsandi Fiesty, razor-sharp stand up 8pm, £12-£14 23 May Great Expectations Retelling of the classic tale with Charles Dickens’ greatgreat-grandson 7.30pm, £13-£14 24 May Wow! This Show is Magic A full-scale illusion show for all the family 2pm & 6.30pm, £9-£12 14 June Bon Jovi UK A tribute to the classic American rockers 7.30pm, £15

Museums (free) Bushey Museum & Art Gallery Rudolph Road, Bushey 020 8420 4057 www.busheymuseum.org To 20 April 22 May Have a giggle with comic Shappi Khorsandi at The Ark

Bananas in Pyjamas (pictured) It’s party time in Cuddlestown Park! Suitable for ages 3-6 Times & prices vary

Pirates! Fact & Fiction Family-friendly exhibition about pirate history, film and literature including costumes and period objects

16 Spring 2014 Hertsmere News www.hertsmere.gov.uk

24 March The Jimmy Buckley Show Mixes old style traditional country music with lilting ballads and music from the 60s and 70s 8pm, £19-£20 18 April

Jungle Book Adapted from the original Rudyard Kipling story. Age 4+ 11am & 2pm, £9.50 25 April Blake Brit Award-winning harmony trio with powerful video projections, comic banter and some unique musical surprises 8pm, £21-£22 30 May Inspector Norse A self-assembly Swedish crime thriller from award-winning comedy duo LipService 8pm, £14-£15

Celtic Flames Eclectic and energetic mix of traditional Irish music, song and dance – a superb family treat for Easter 7.30pm, £15-£20