Community NEWSAUTUMN/WINTER 2020 We’re All In This Together The Council has been A sample of the activities battling with a range of we have undertaken and partner organisations are continuing with can be to limit the impact of found on pages 4 and 5. COVID-19 on the District. One of our key tasks has We have been working since been to reinforce the the lockdown in mid-March Government’s key messages with the NHS, Hertfordshire on social restrictions and County Council, St Albans how to stay safe. BID (Business Improvement As part of our response, District) and community we made a video that has groups on a wide range reached more than 30,000 of initiatives. This has people and can be seen included dealing with on our Facebook page: the County Council’s www.facebook.com/ pedestrianisation of some StAlbansCouncil. City Centre streets to ensure better social distancing. The Council’s Civic Centre Some of our employees Offices remain closed to delivered food parcels to the the public with most staff vulnerable at the height of working remotely. the pandemic while others Our website, revamped volunteered to help West earlier this year, contains Hertfordshire Crematorium’s the latest information on hard-pressed staff. our services and is updated regularly: www.stalbans.gov.uk. Download NHS COVID-19 App We are encouraging all residents to download the NHS COVID-19 tracing app for England and Wales. This is an essential tool in the fight to control the virus. It will let you know if you are at risk so you can alert your loved ones, protecting them and the community. It can be downloaded from the App Store or Google Play.
Your Questions Answered Hertfordshire GPs Dr Prag Moodley and Dr Nicolas Small have put Community News is together the answers to common published by St Albans questions about coronavirus. City & District Council These can be viewed here: Approved by Plain English www.healthierfuture.org.uk. www.stalbans.gov.uk Campaign WIN £2,000 THROUGH E-BILLING Residents who receive their Council Tax bills electronically will be entered into a prize draw with the chance to win £2,000. The sum more than covers the yearly Council Tax for a Band D property. We’re holding the draw to encourage more people to ditch paper bills. That is good for the environment, preserving precious resources, and saves Council Taxpayers money. It costs around 42p to print and post a bill with around 60,000 households having to be contacted each year. To enter the draw, residents need to sign up to e-billing before Sunday 21 February 2021 and will have to be a Council Taxpayer in the District on Thursday 1 April 2021. Residents who already use e-billing are automatically entered. The draw will take place in April. To sign up to e-billing, you need to set up a MyStAlbans District account: www.stalbans.gov.uk/mystalbans.
Mayor’s Fireworks Plea Charity Appeal The RSPCA has issued advice on St Albans Mayor Janet Smith how to make has renewed her plea for fireworks less charity donations after a rise in frightening for dogs domestic violence cases during and other animals. the COVID-19 lockdown. Residents celebrating Councillor Smith made St Albans Bonfire Night, Diwali, and Hertsmere Women’s Refuge the New Year or other her charity for this Mayoral year. occasions should follow the guidelines to Recent figures show there has minimise the risk of causing an incident. been a 33% increase across Research shows that the bangs and cracks of the UK for services like the fireworks can be a terrifying experience for dogs refuge which supports as they have highly sensitive hearing. domestic abuse victims. For information on how to reduce the risk of To make a donation, go to: fireworks upsetting or injuring pets, livestock https://sahwr.org.uk/give. and wildlife, see: https://bit.ly/3mRWEia.
Are Your Registration Details Correct? It’s important to make sure that your electoral registration details are up to date. If you’ve received a household canvass letter, you should respond right away if you haven’t done so already. Elections are scheduled to take place in May next year. If you’re not registered to vote, you’ll not be able to have your say on polling day. The easiest way to register is online at: www.gov.uk/register-to-vote. For further information, contact us at: [email protected].
2 Autumn/Winter 2020 St Albans City & District Council Community News Eco Issues
Among the commitments are the including habitats for birds and Action To Tackle The creation of more charging points for wildlife. electric vehicles and improving the Climate Emergency A full-time staff member is to be energy efficiency of Council homes. More than 100 actions are to recruited this year and given the be taken to tackle the climate Energy audits of the Council’s largest role of delivering the strategy. buildings, such as Westminster emergency and make St Albans The Council agreed in a unanimous Lodge and the Civic Centre, will look District carbon neutral by the end vote in July last year to declare a at how consumption can be reduced. of the decade. The initiatives are climate emergency. An update on part of a sustainability strategy A £100,000 rewilding project over the past year’s progress was given that has been developed over the the next two years will improve to September’s virtual meeting of past year by the Council. biodiversity across the District, the Full Council.
Bikes For Key NHS Workers St Albans City Hospital nurse Jane O’Connor is the first winner of a bicycle that has been restored and donated by a partnership formed by the Council, rail operator Thameslink and the St Albans Cycle Campaign Picture: Artist’s impression of what the project will deliver. Thameslink has donated six bikes abandoned Revitalising The Ver and unclaimed at railway stations across its A multi-million-pound project The Council is working with network. The Council commissioned cycle to improve the River Ver as it the EA, Affinity Water and other repair specialists to restore them and the flows through St Albans is now partners to restore the Ver and campaign group funded the work. picking up pace. enhance the water quality of the West Hertfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust park’s artificial lakes. The Environment Agency (EA) organised a prize draw for the bikes and has appointed an engineering This will be achieved by returning Jane was the first winner. contractor to progress the the river to a more natural course detailed design. In September, and introducing meanders and they held a workshop with key habitats on the banks. groups to develop the plans. Work should start on site in Over the next year the designs Spring 2022 and be completed will be finalised for a public the following winter. consultation and then a planning application will be made towards To find out more, visit: the end of 2021. The project’s www.stalbans.gov.uk/ first phase is focused on revitalising-river-ver. improvements to the river as it flows through Verulamium Park.
Waste And Recycling Advice Frozen bins – to ensure waste is all removed when we have a cold spell, please loosen the material before collection, especially your garden waste. Crews do not have the equipment on board to do this. Garden Waste – do not include soil or stones. It makes the bins too heavy to lift onto the vehicle. Paper and Card – cover your boxes with the lid to keep the content dry. Wet paper and card can be rejected by the processor. Quality over quantity. Missed collection – please report within two working days. Excess waste cannot be picked up and overfilled bins cannot be emptied. www.stalbans.gov.uk 3 During the COVID lockdown and subsequently we:
Answered over 50,000 calls Supported over 130 to the Council contact centre households in temporary accommodation Maintained our Called 2,500 vulnerable residents to offer support and 1,200 residents Housed 20 rough sleepers twice-weekly markets who had not responded to government shielding letters
Held more than 50 committee Enabled more than Redeployed over 70 Council staff meetings remotely Secured 2 closure orders 90% of staff to work to help respond to COVID-19 to help tackle anti-social from home behaviour and crime
Distributed over £27.1 million of grants to more than 1,950 businesses Worked with Hertfordshire County Council to Gave more than 350 businesses advice distribute food parcels to vulnerable residents, and support to re-open safely and people in temporary housing and supported accommodation
Kept all our all our parks
Relaxed parking restrictions at the www.stalbans.gov.uk open for people to enjoy Made over height of the lockdown to support and excercise 6,000 repairs businesses and key workers to Council houses Reopened Museum + Gallery and Verulamium Museum with COVID-secure measures Attracted 41,200 visits to the museums Gained 1.4 million visits to the Emptied over 2.36 million waste website, hosted 2 online exhibitions and Council website, including 18,700 and recycling bins and maintained made nearly 52,000 collections objects to the COVID-19 updates page and a full waste collection service accessible online 6,000 to business support services Cleared over 140 fly-tips
www.stalbans.gov.uk
4 Autumn/Winter 2020 During the COVID lockdown and subsequently we:
Answered over 50,000 calls Supported over 130 to the Council contact centre households in temporary accommodation Maintained our Called 2,500 vulnerable residents to offer support and 1,200 residents Housed 20 rough sleepers twice-weekly markets who had not responded to government shielding letters
Held more than 50 committee Enabled more than Redeployed over 70 Council staff meetings remotely Secured 2 closure orders 90% of staff to work to help respond to COVID-19 to help tackle anti-social from home behaviour and crime
Distributed over £27.1 million of grants to more than 1,950 businesses Worked with Hertfordshire County Council to Gave more than 350 businesses advice distribute food parcels to vulnerable residents, and support to re-open safely and people in temporary housing and supported accommodation
Kept all our all our parks
Relaxed parking restrictions at the www.stalbans.gov.uk open for people to enjoy Made over height of the lockdown to support and excercise 6,000 repairs businesses and key workers to Council houses Reopened Museum + Gallery and Verulamium Museum with COVID-secure measures Attracted 41,200 visits to the museums Gained 1.4 million visits to the Emptied over 2.36 million waste website, hosted 2 online exhibitions and Council website, including 18,700 and recycling bins and maintained made nearly 52,000 collections objects to the COVID-19 updates page and a full waste collection service accessible online 6,000 to business support services Cleared over 140 fly-tips
www.stalbans.gov.uk
5 St Albans Chief Inspector Lynda Coates said: “I hope that local residents feel Police reassured by our latest priorities. We know that it’s a really tough time for Priorities everyone and I hope that our increased Breaches of COVID regulations, patrols in response to the pandemic car crime and drug dealing are to provide you with peace of mind.” be priorities for Police in St Albans over the next few months. Much car crime is opportunistic and there is a lot drivers can do to reduce During a recent spike in COVID-19 the chance of becoming a victim. You cases, officers patrolled green spaces should refrain from keeping valuables and parks to make sure people were in your car, such as loose change or observing social distancing. dash cams. Close all of your windows Following a spate of criminal damage to and, if you do leave anything in the cars near the City Centre, officers have vehicle, lock it in the boot or glove been undertaking high-visibility patrols. compartment. Most importantly, lock Drug dealing hotspots have been the doors even if you are only going to identified around the City and action will be away from the vehicle for a minute be taken by neighbourhood officers. or two.
Domestic Abuse If home isn’t safe, Victims of domestic abuse have been under particular strain during we’re here to help. the Coronavirus lockdown. There is never an excuse for committing abusive acts, no matter the circumstances, and victims are Public Space urged to seek help. If you or someone you know is Protection Order If you are a victim or are worried experiencing domestic abuse, A Public Space Protection Order about the welfare of someone, call 0300 790 6772* for (PSPO) covering the centres of St dedicated support is available by advice and support. calling 0300 790 6772. Albans and Harpenden has been In an emergency, always call 999. extended for a further three years. Anyone who requires emergency If you are afraid to speak, call 999 from a mobile and press 5, 5. This follows a consultation with the refuge accommodation can call For more information go to hertssunflower.org public and local organisations. Safer Places’ specialist domestic abuse service on 0330 102 5811. A PSPO requires individuals to This line is manned 24/7.
hand over alcohol when asked to *This number operates 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday. Calls outside of these hours may be diverted to a national helpdesk. do so by an authorised person such as a Police Officer of accredited Council Officer. Failure Mental Health Report to hand over alcohol could result in confiscation, arrest and a fine of up Efforts to improve mental health in the District have been highlighted in a to £500. The new PSPO came into national report. force in October 2020. “Our Place” is a detailed analysis by the Centre for Mental Health and the Local The order will be enforced when Government Association into what councils are doing to promote good mental people drinking alcohol seem likely health and general wellbeing. Our work features as an example of how a local to cause anti-social behaviour. authority can take a strategic approach. A case study shows how we helped Street drinkers will continue to be draw up a three-year programme with local organisations with the ambition of “where everyone lives a fulfilling and healthy life” offered advice and support to help supporting a District . them address their addictions. The full report can be viewed here: www.centreformentalhealth.org.uk.
6 Autumn/Winter 2020 St Albans City & District Council Community News St Albans Museum + Gallery, St Peter’s Street, St Albans, AL1 3DH WHAT’S ON Verulamium Museum, St Michael’s Street, St Albans, AL3 4SW at the museums St Albans Museum + Gallery For detailed information about the events programme, go to: www.stalbansmuseums.org.uk.
Opening Hours We have introduced measures to keep all our visitors safe: masks must be worn inside, social distancing observed and details given for the NHS Test and Trace scheme. Hand sanitiser is available at entrances and extra cleaning is taking place. St Albans Museum + Gallery Open every day: 11am – 5pm Verulamium Museum Monday – Friday: 10am – 4.30pm Saturday: 11am – 3.30pm COVID-secure indoor café seating is available in the historic Courtroom at St Albans Museum + Gallery.
Cabaret Mechanical Marvels 175 years of the St Albans and Saturday 14 November 2020 Hertfordshire Architectural to Sunday 21 February 2021, and Archaeological Society Weston Gallery, Museum + Gallery. From now until Sunday 31 Celebrating the fascinating world of January 2021, Keeper’s Galleries, automata, self-propelling machines, Museum + Gallery, Free. this exhibition showcases some of 2020 marks the 175th anniversary the finest contemporary examples of the Society, the home for people from the UK. Interactive exhibits curious about the history of St will feature fun scenes powered by Albans. Telling the story of the gears, cranks and cams and you City and surrounding District, this can have a go at creating your own. exhibition highlights a series of fascinating objects, all associated Learn how automata are made and with the Society, and shows its see a selection of historic tools regional and national impact. collected by local resident Raphael Salaman.
Admission: Adults £4, Concessions (Students and Seniors) £3, Children (5-16) £3, Friends of St Albans Museums and Under 5s, Free
The internet alternative will include festive music from local Christmas Plans performers, workshops on making sustainable decorations The Christmas Cracker event to launch the festive and children’s stories. The focus for the Online Christmas season in St Albans District is to be turned into a virtual Cracker will be the Enjoy St Albans website with more experience because of the COVID-19 pandemic. details due to appear here: www.enjoystalbans.com. Normally, crowds of more than 12,000 throng the City The Charter Christmas Market will be in operation every Centre for a six-hour-long street party that culminates in the day from Saturday 12 December to Christmas Eve. switching on of the Christmas lights. Such a large gathering St Albans BID (Business Improvement District) will cannot take place this year, so the Council - which be organising a Christmas Trail, Santa Post Boxes organises the event - has decided to reimagine it online so and Pop-Up markets from Monday 30 November. that Christmas can still be celebrated by the community. www.stalbans.gov.uk 7 Picture: Dave Diedhiou, ENTER: St Albans City FC SHIKARI St Albans City FC have an exciting new sponsor – rock band Enter: Shikari. The group, whose four members were born and bred in the City, has become the club’s main shirt sponsor for this season. Remembrance Warmer Homes Sunday Scheme The very large annual St Albans Warmer Remembrance Sunday Homes helps parade in the City Centre to residents improve honour Britain’s war dead has the energy efficiency been cancelled because of of their homes and COVID-19 restrictions. reduce their fuel bills. St Albans Mayor, Councillor Those who may Janet Smith, will attend a qualify for funding service on Sunday 8 November include people who at the Cathedral where she will Market Trader’s Award receive means-tested lay a wreath and observe a St Albans Charter Market trader Danni benefits or who have two-minute silence. Jefferson was shortlisted for a prestigious a low household national award. She will also lay a wreath at the income. They could War Memorial within the Civic She was one of the finalists for the Young receive free or low- Centre at a private ceremony Market Trader of the Year title which is handed cost cavity wall and attended by a small number out by the National Market Traders’ Federation. loft insulation as of invited guests. Danni had previously won the regional final for well as new energy- London and the South East. efficient boilers or A video of this will be put on boiler upgrades. a special Remembrance Day She set up a stall at the twice-weekly market page on the Council’s website: 18 months ago after being made redundant If you think you may www.stalbans.gov.uk. This will from her retail job. Her Jefferson Crafts sells qualify, call YES include links to national activities eco-friendly products for bathrooms and Energy Solutions and Royal British Legion sites. kitchens that she makes herself at home on 01422 880100. from sustainable and reusable materials.
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