Parish Council 2018 — 2019 To serve and respond to the needs of the community Welwyn Parish Council is the most local tier of government and plays an important role in promoting the parish of Welwyn including the village centre and its outlying settlements of , Oaklands and Digswell.

Our aim is to serve and respond to the needs of the community by: providing a strong and independent voice for the community; safeguarding and enhancing the traditions, character and identity of the Parish; promoting the Parish as a clean, safe, welcoming and vibrant place to live and work; providing high standards and cost effective services, and working in partnership with others to achieve for all.

Welwyn Parish Council prides itself for its strong community spirit and supports the work of a variety of local groups and residents within the community.

Our projects and work in 2017 to 2018 included • New front doors (including the installation of a set of fully automatic powered doors) to the entrance area at the Civic Centre and replacement exit doors, to improve energy efficiency, access for users, and reduce noise in the building. • Redecoration at the Whitehill Centre and Pavilion. • Repairs to the Pavilion roof and Civic Centre roof. • Relining and repairs to pot holes at our car parks in the High Street, Lockleys Drive, Broomfield Road and Titmuss Yard. • Shrub clearance and tree works in St Mary’s Closed Churchyard. • Tree and hedge works and the installation of new water butts on the allotments at Lockleys Drive. • • Tree works around the Parish Office. The Chairman of Welwyn Parish Council, Cllr Bill Morris, with the Mayor of Borough, Cllr Lynn Sparks, at the reopening of the • Rebuilding of the car park boundary wall at the Civic Centre. Rebuilding of the car park boundary wall at the Civic Centre. Civic Centre following the installation of new front doors November 2017. • Resurfacing of Cob Lane Common path in Digswell. • Purchase and installation of Christmas lights in Welwyn village centre, Oaklands and Digswell .

Council Chairman, Cllr Bill Morris, will give his annual report to the electorate at the Annual Parish Meeting, which this year takes place on Thursday 24th May at 7.30pm at the Civic Centre.

Welwyn Parish Council precept information: Year Precept per Band D property * Total precept income Other Income Expenditure Year Precept per Total Council Tax Fees and charges Council Tax Total budget 2016/17 Band £83.11D property * income£ 354,920 income £155,795Support Grant** £510,715 2017/182016/17 £8£85.193.11 £354,920£3 79,204 £149,362 £150,222£6,433 £529,426£510,715 2018/192017/18 £85.19£84.67 £379,204£389, 077 £147,475 £138,068£2,747 £527,145£529,426 * Why2018/19 can’t I find this exact number£84.67 on my Council Tax bill? £389,077When Council Tax is set, it£137,555 is calculated on an average band£513 D property. The amount£527,145 charged will be dependent on the banding of your property, and will be a multiple of the figure shown, as set out in legislation. *Why can’t I find this exact number on my Council Tax bill? Welwyn Parish Council works out how much it needs to operate (Total Budget) and then deducts income it expects to derive (from sports pitch and venue fees, other charges and rent for property). The resulting Gross Precept is passed to Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council who then apply any Council Tax Support Grant it wishes to provide (which this year is down by 81% from last year) and then divides that amount byCouncil the number continues of Band D to equivalent manage properties its forecasted that it thinks five it will year be able budget; to get to howeve pay Councilr some tax. Regardlessitems of incomeof what Welw andyn expenditure Hatfield Borough are Council out ofactually achieveCouncil in ’collecteds control Council (such tax, asthey hire still pay and the rentsame incomeamount to, Welwynlegislation Parish requirementsCouncil. and inflation increases). At the end of the **Thisfinancial is a temporaryyear any centralunder government or overspends grant to compensateare allocated for the to abolition General of council Reserves tax benefit or Earmarkedand will reduce R toeserves zero over (sthepecific next twoareas). years. WelwynWelwyn Parish Parish Council Council continues continues to manage to its ensure forecastedtha fivet the year d budget;ecrease however in the some Council items of Tax income Suppo and expenditurert Grant (from are o ut£14,509 of Council in’s control2015 (suchto as hire£513 and in rent 2018 income,19) legislation has not requirements impacted and on inflation the calculations increases). At forthe endthe ofprecept the financial requirements. year any under Welwyn or oversp endsHatfield are allocated Borough to General Council Reserves orlevy Earmarked special Reserves expenses (specific on areas). residents of the Welwyn Parish area, to meet the cost of services specific to the area Welwyn Parish Council continues to ensure that the decrease in the Council Tax Support Grant (from £14,509 in 2015 to £513 in 201819) has not impacted on the(including calculations Digswell for the precept Playing requirements. Fields, , , and Mardley Heath). Welwyn Parish Council do not Welwyncontrol Hatfieldthis elemen Borought ofCouncil the Colevyuncil specialTax. expenses on residents of the Welwyn Parish area, to meet the cost of services specific to the area (including Digswell Playing Fields, Danesbury Park, Singlers Marsh, and Mardley Heath). Welwyn Parish Council do not control this element of the Council Tax. Welwyn Parish Council continues to maintain and develops amenities and infrastructure within the parish for the benefit of it’s residents and visitors. We provide venues for hire (see below for more information), sports grounds, children’s play areas, allotments, car parks, and a community toilet scheme. We lease land to Welwyn Tennis Club, Welwyn & District Bowls Club, Welwyn Sports & Social Club, at Ottway Walk, and Acorn Play Group and Pre- school. We also are responsible for managing St Mary’s Closed Churchyard and Welwyn Cemetery. The majority of parking in the Parish is free thanks to the support of local residents and Welwyn Parish Council. When Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council moved to make the local car parks “pay and display”, local residents agreed that they would prefer to pay through the parish precept to keep it free! Welwyn Parish Council currently pays over £25,000 a year towards the leasing, maintenance and policing of the car parks owned by Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council. We believe the availability of free parking encourages the economic health of the village and the businesses located here, especially our shops, pubs and restaurants. Welwyn Parish Council also continue to consider Grant Aid applications for support from community groups, projects and charity events which benefit the residents and community of Welwyn Parish by discounting hall hire at our venues (please visit http://welwynpc.org.uk/grant-aid/ for more information). If you are interested in hiring any of our facilities please contact our Office Administrator on 01438 716706, email [email protected] or visit http://www.welwynhalls.com/ to check availability.

The Whitehill Centre The Civic Centre is our has two halls for hire largest facility with two halls (including a stage) and is suitable for and a committee room fitness classes, for hire. training events, meetings and parties.

The Pavilion is used by local fitness groups, cricket and football clubs, and is also ideal for small children's parties in the summer. The Parish Office has one small meeting room for evening use by local groups.

New Council projects for 2018 to 2019 include: • Internal redecoration and other refurbishment work to improve the facilities at the Civic Centre.

• Upgrading of water tanks at the Civic Centre, Pavilion and Whitehill Centre.

• Production and distribution of a quarterly newsletter to every household in the Parish.

• A tree survey and plan of managed tree works for Parish land. Your Parish Councillors To contact a Councillor call the telephone numbers below (using the prefix 01438), or you can email at [email protected] or write to them at Parish Council Office, Lockleys Drive, Welwyn AL6 9NT. Oaklands & Mardley Heath Welwyn Digswell Mark Castle 300146 Magdalene Benson 714774 Peter Neville 714394 Colin Hukin 714396 John Blackburn 717806 We have a casual vacancy for the office of Parish Councillor on Marjorie Otty 840018 Karen Mason 716667 Welwyn Parish Council. If you Colin Wright 718213 Bill Morris (Chairman) 715164 would like more information please contact the Clerk on Dennis Spruce 840821 01438 716667.

Welwyn Parish Council staff are based at Parish Council Office, Lockleys Drive, Welwyn AL6 9NT. The office is open to the public Monday, Wednesday and Fridays from 9am to 1pm. Louise Harrison Clerk to the Council 01438 716667 [email protected] Caroline Williams Deputy Clerk (allotment and burial enquiries) 01438 716667 [email protected] John Quinton Head Groundsman (pitches and play areas) 01438 716667 [email protected] Sue Harrop Caretaker (Pavilion and Whitehill Centre) 01438 716667 [email protected] Vacant post Office Administrator (bookings and invoicing) 01438 716706 [email protected]