BROXBOURNE BOROUGH COUNCIL Annual Report and Summary of Accounts 2017/18 CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION 3

FACTS ABOUT THE BOROUGH 4

CORPORATE OBJECTIVES 5

AMBITION : A THRIVING ECONOMY 6

BEAUTIFUL BROXBOURNE: ENHANCING THE QUALITY OF LIFE 8

INNOVATIVE BROXBOURNE: AN EFFECTIVE, ENABLING COUNCIL 16

SUMMARY OF ACCOUNTS 2017/18 21

Annual Report and Summary of Accounts 2017/18 2 INTRODUCTION 2017/18 was another successful year for Broxbourne Borough Council. The Council achieved financial self-sufficiency from the Government, one of only two councils in the country to do so. This will enable the Council to continue to improve the award winning services it offers to all residents. The Council gained three national awards and a county award for innovation. In March, the Council was named the winner of the prestigious 2018 iESE Gold Award for Reinventing Local Services across the Public Sector; a top national award out of 32 entries. The award was for transforming the sports and leisure services to improve outcomes for residents, whilst reducing the overall cost.

Effective use of resources in property investments, with returns better than those through traditional financial routes, have allowed us to achieve self-sufficiency ahead of time and to fund a Council wide transformation programme. Detailed recommendations are awaited but if implemented this transformation programme will allow our customers to access our services 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days of the year. Such a transformation will take approximately two years to truly implement and will require a significant amount of IT investment. Additionally, the Council has been able to refurbish the ‘Spotlight’ and contribute towards a stunning multi-million pound community club house and sports facility in Rosedale. In a joint venture between the Council and the private sector, a new crematorium was built and opened in , offering this service locally for the first time. The Doctors’ surgery at Fawkon Walk, Hoddesdon opened in July, in a brand new state of the art facility owned by the Council.

The Council has been taking major steps towards enhancing skills in the Borough through our ‘Skills Strategy’, including a new action plan to support young people moving on to university, apprenticeships or work, and working closely with local secondary schools and Regional College. The Ambition Broxbourne Business Centre continues to go from strength to strength with 60% of the office space let to 39 separate businesses and a surplus 34% higher than expected. 130 jobs have been created at the Centre in a variety of sectors. July saw the Freedom of the Borough march through Hoddesdon by 85 soldiers from the . In December the ‘Run Around the Town’ Christmas carnival and firework party had a record attendance. The Broxbourne Lottery was launched to raise money for local good causes. Local businesses also agreed to set up the Hoddesdon Business Improvement District, and raise funds to improve the commercial prospects of Hoddesdon.

We are now celebrating Broxbourne’s Year of Community to give residents the opportunity to come together and much good work has already been achieved. The Year was launched with the Big Borough Walk in January which engaged over 50 residents walking from Goffs Oak to Hoddesdon via every ward in the Borough.

These are just some of the examples of the achievements from 2017/18. The Council will continue to work on improving the look and feel of the Borough in order to instil a sense of pride in our neighbourhoods; a place all residents can be proud of. This builds on our core vision and objectives of a thriving economy, enhancing the quality of life and being an effective, enabling council. I look forward to another successful year in 2018/19.

Councillor Mark Mills-Bishop, Leader of Broxbourne Borough Council

Annual Report and Summary of Accounts 2017/18 3 FACTS ABOUT THE

The Borough of Broxbourne is located in southeast , with to the south and to Hertfordshire the east. It has an area of around 20 square miles Essex and a population of 96,900 (source: Office for National Statistics mid-2016 population estimate). The largest towns are , Hoddesdon, and . The Borough is quite well served for London public transport heading north and south, but services Borough of Broxbourne going east or west are limited.

About half of the residents who are economically active work in the Borough. Local employment is mixed, with a predominance of construction, distribution, hotels and catering, business and financial services. Self- employment and microbusinesses employing no more than four people are thriving in Broxbourne but there are fewer medium and large businesses employing 50 or more people than the average for Hertfordshire.

Certain parts of the Borough: Broxbourne and Goffs Oak, are among the least deprived areas in the country. However, there are also areas with comparatively high levels of deprivation, particularly in south Cheshunt, Turnford, Waltham Cross and Wormley. An estimated 14.7% of children in the Borough are growing up in poorer families.

Over the next ten years from 2018, due to longer life expectancy and the large generation born during the postwar “baby boom”, the proportion of residents aged over 75 is projected to increase by 31%, or approximately 2,650 people. This will pose new challenges for public services in the Borough.

The level of housing owner occupation is above the national average. House prices and rents have increased substantially over the past five years, creating an increasing affordability gap for residents on lower incomes. This has resulted in a significant increase in homelessness and requests for support, so the Council has had to allocate increasing resources for temporary housing.

Annual Report and Summary of Accounts 2017/18 4 CORPORATE PRIORITIES AND OBJECTIVES 2017-2020

Broxbourne Borough Council has three corporate priorities. Each corporate priority will be delivered through a set of corporate objectives. AMBITION BROXBOURNE: A THRIVING ECONOMY 1. Support higher educational attainment and skill levels and bring in higher skilled, better paid jobs 2. Promote inward investment and support business growth 3. Support thriving town centres and businesses 4. Deliver affordable homes for local people 5. Lobby for improved transport links and support sustainable transport, such as bus, rail, walking and cycling

BEAUTIFUL BROXBOURNE: ENHANCING THE QUALITY OF LIFE 6. Promote community safety and reduce fear of crime 7. Enhance the quality of life in local neighbourhoods 8. Maintain a clean and tidy Broxbourne 9. Reduce waste and increase recycling 10. Maintain parks and open spaces and promote their use, and seek the creation of new accessible open spaces 11. Help residents to have a healthy lifestyle 12. Encourage a sense of community through events, leisure activities and volunteering 13. Help residents affected by homelessness and disadvantage

INNOVATIVE BROXBOURNE: AN EFFECTIVE, ENABLING COUNCIL 14. Achieve financial self-sufficiency by 2020 15. Communicate effectively with residents of all ages and backgrounds 16. Build strong partnerships to deliver more for the Borough 17. Be transparent and ensure effective scrutiny and risk management 18. Develop a workforce with the skills to meet changing needs 19. Assess the performance of Council services and take action to improve 20. Meet Council service standards and deliver good customer care.

Annual Report and Summary of Accounts 2017/18 5 AMBITION BROXBOURNE: A THRIVING ECONOMY

In last year’s Annual Report, the Council outlined key objectives to develop a strong local economy for Broxbourne in 2017/18. The progress the Council has made is set out below.

STRONG LOCAL ECONOMY

Objective: Submit the draft Broxbourne Local Plan for examination by the Planning Inspectorate. Progress: The draft local plan has now been submitted for examination by the Planning Inspectorate. Objective: Implement a Skills Strategy. Progress: A Skills Strategy has been adopted and, furthermore, the Skills Strategy Action Plan is now being rolled out whilst working closely with partners from local education providers, business, Hertfordshire County Council and the Local Enterprise Partnership. The Council is also supporting a new initiative called ‘Work Ready Schools’ to support young people moving on to university, apprenticeships or work. The Skills Hub is being supported in Waltham Cross, which brings partners together in one Old Pond, Cheshunt building to help address the skills gap in the area. Objective: Support the establishment of a Business Improvement District in Hoddesdon. Progress: Business Improvement Districts (BIDs) are areas, most often in town centres, in which a small levy is charged on all business rates payers in proportion to their rateable values (in Hoddesdon the levy was set at 1.5%). Funds are used to deliver improvements to the town to benefit local businesses. Businesses decide and direct what they want for the area, have a bigger voice on issues and the money is ring-fenced for use only in that area. The Council provided ongoing support to the Love Hoddesdon team, which comprised local business representatives, during both the consultation period (March to September 2017) and subsequent successful election in October 2017 to establish a Business Improvement District. The district covered Hoddesdon town centre and the surrounding area. The new Love Hoddesdon BID came into being on 1 January 2018 and became operational on 1 March 2018, with the appointment of a part-time BID manager and approval of its first year Business Plan. With an annual budget of around £100,000 its aims for the first year include developing a free wifi network for the town, working with the police to develop a radio link system to tackle shoplifting, boosting promotion of the town and the Love

Annual Report and Summary of Accounts 2017/18 6 Hoddesdon brand and investing significantly in town centre events. It will also develop a range of initiatives to support local businesses. Objective: Maximise the occupancy rate of the Ambition Broxbourne Business Centre. Progress: At 31 March 2018, 60% of the office space had been let to 39 businesses. This is ahead of the targets set for 2017/18. Objective: Deliver the Eleanor Square improvement scheme in Waltham Cross. Progress: Proposals are being developed to remodel the vehicle turning area south of the Eleanor Cross monument in Waltham Cross and create a new high quality family friendly town square. The scheme will include seating and physical features which will tell the story and journey made by Queen Eleanor’s funeral procession to her final resting place. The final designs are now complete and the initial tree removal works were undertaken in February 2018.The scheme was tendered in May 2018 with the main construction work expected to commence in early 2019. Ambition Broxbourne Business Centre

STRONG LOCAL ECONOMY: OBJECTIVES FOR 2018/19

• Adopt the Broxbourne Local Plan • Complete the new town square scheme in Waltham Cross • Develop a Waltham Cross Business Forum and encourage increased support for the town’s improvement aspirations, including scoping and evaluating the feasibility of a Business Improvement District for Waltham Cross town centre • Support the Old Pond Strategy • Work with partners to achieve a Digital Improvement Zone Strategy • Ensure all outputs are met at Ambition Broxbourne Business Centre for training and occupancy.

Annual Report and Summary of Accounts 2017/18 7 BEAUTIFUL BROXBOURNE: ENHANCING THE QUALITY OF LIFE

In last year’s Annual Report, the Council outlined key objectives to enhance the quality of life for Broxbourne residents in 2017/18. The progress the Council has made is set out below. WASTE, RECYCLING, PARKS AND OPEN SPACES

Objective: Minimise residual waste and increase recycling.

Progress: In 2017/18 residents recycled and composted 42.2% of their waste, an increase of 1.1% on the previous year. Household waste tonnages decreased by 4% (745 tonnes). The dry recycling yield increased by 7% (462 tonnes), with plastics and cans tonnage increasing by 8%, glass tonnage increasing by 7% and paper and cardboard tonnage increasing by 6%. Organic waste (green waste, food waste and organic street sweepings) decreased by 3% (247 tonnes). Following the introduction of separate weekly food waste collections in March 2017, a total of 2,993 tonnes of food waste was collected during 2017/18.

Objective: Retain Green Flag accreditation for , Cheshunt Cemetery, Cedars Park, Barclay Park and the Community Award for Wormley Top Field. Obtain a Community Award for the Old Highway Recreation Ground.

Progress: The Borough successfully maintained five sites within the prestigious Green Flag standard again this year. In July, representatives from Barclay Park, Cedars Park, Cheshunt Park, Cheshunt Cemetery and Wormley Top Field (Community Award) attended the award ceremony in Watford. The award recognises open spaces that demonstrate the highest possible standards, are beautifully maintained and have excellent facilities. The efforts of volunteers are a key factor in these achievements.

Annual Report and Summary of Accounts 2017/18 8 Objective: Install additional CCTV systems and undertake robust enforcement activity to address fly tipping at Recycling Points.

Progress: The Council installed five new CCTV cameras at Recycling Points during 2017/18. This contributed to the issuing of 161 fixed penalty notices for fly tipping at Recycling Points.

Objective: Carry out grass cutting and grounds maintenance to the Council’s agreed standards.

Progress: The annual programme of grounds maintenance works was completed as planned. Inspections during 2017/18 show grass cutting, hedge maintenance and shrub maintenance works were all within the performance targets set.

Objective: Provide a cemetery service that meets the needs of customers and the local population.

Progress: A total of 315 interments took place at Cheshunt and Hoddesdon cemeteries during 2017/18. Mausoleum crematorium opened.

Objective: Continue to develop relationships with Adopt-a-Street volunteers.

Progress: The Council’s Adopt-a-Street programme continues to grow and 225 volunteers help to keep the areas where they live clean. A group litter pick event was held on 24 March 2018 as part of the Great British Spring Clean and 46 volunteers participated, collecting 74 sacks of waste.

Objective: Maintain the Council’s service standards on scheduled street cleansing and litter picking, including on accessible sections of the A10.

Progress: Inspections during 2017/18 showed performance relating to litter, detritus, graffiti and weeds were all within the performance targets set.

WASTE, RECYCLING, PARKS AND OPEN SPACES: OBJECTIVES 2018/19 • Minimise residual waste and increase recycling

• Retain Green Flag accreditation for Cheshunt Park, Cheshunt Cemetery, Cedars Park, Barclay Park and the Community Award for Wormley Top Field. Obtain a Community Award for the Old Highway Recreation Ground

• Carry out grass cutting and grounds maintenance to the Council’s agreed standards

• Provide a cemetery service that meets the needs of customers and the local population

• Continue to develop relationships with Adopt-a-Street volunteers

• Maintain the Council’s service standards on scheduled street cleansing and litter picking, including on accessible sections of the A10.

Annual Report and Summary of Accounts 2017/18 9 COMMUNITY SAFETY

Objective:Cheshunt Skate Work park with police and other partners to minimise potential for anti-social behaviour at higher- risk times. Progress: The Council continues to liaise closely with partners to reduce crime and anti-social behaviour (ASB) in the Borough and improve the quality of life for local residents. CCTV cameras were redeployed to four locations across the Borough agreed by the multi- agency Joint Action Group to tackle crime and ASB. A Public Space Protection Order was implemented to address the possible unrest during the Halloween and Firework periods. The Council also issued 25 Community Protection Warnings. The Council has seen a 93% compliance rate and breaches have been dealt with by Community Protection Notices. Objective: Implement neighbourhood community safety schemes. Progress: The Local Small Scale Scheme budget has been used to fund nine projects to reduce crime and anti-social behaviour during this period. These were all completed on a match funding basis with local residents. There are a further 11 projects currently out for consultation and it is hoped that these will come to fruition in 2018/19. Objective: Coordinate the role and responsibilities of the Broxbourne Community Safety Partnership in guiding local priorities and developing strategies and action plans in response to crime and anti-social behaviour. Progress: The Council has continued to coordinate the Broxbourne Community Safety Partnership and the local Responsible Authorities Group and was successful in winning the Chief Constable’s Problem Solving Award for tackling ASB in Cheshunt. The Council has submitted funding applications on behalf of the Partnership and was successful in obtaining funding for Speed Indication Devices in Hoddesdon and most recently received £256,000 from the Police and Crime Commissioner to run the new Youth Intervention Project for three years.

Annual Report and Summary of Accounts 2017/18 10 Objective: Continue to increase awareness about safeguarding vulnerable adults and children and identifying appropriate referral pathways. Progress: The Council has continued to provide training for all members of staff and has also facilitated external partners to provide specialist training on topics including Modern Slavery. Training includes referral pathways and how to report any concerns about adults and or children. The Council is in the process of developing a Modern Slavery Action Plan that will highlight the actions to be taken to address such issues. This action plan will feed into the county-wide strategy.

COMMUNITY SAFETY: OBJECTIVES FOR 2018/19

• Continue to work with the police and partners to reduce crime and disorder and improve residents quality of life • Implement the local Small Scale Scheme programme • Implement and deliver the Youth Intervention Project • Continue to increase the awareness of vulnerable adults and children in light of any new issues that may occur.

Objective: Work with local partners to improve support HEALTH for older people, for residents experiencing mental ill- health, and for their families and carers. Progress: Work continued through the Broxbourne Dementia Action Alliance organised by the Council to increase dementia awareness in the Borough. The Council has supported NHS partners to set up a healthy memory clinic and social group in the Borough. Grant funding for MIND Hertfordshire enabled them to extend their welfare support for people experiencing mental health problems in the Borough. Objective: Work to reduce drugs and alcohol misuse, and encourage residents to stop smoking. Progress: The Council provided materials to local GP practice nurses to support brief interventions on alcohol, and promoted local smoking cessation services through National No Smoking Day and Stoptober.

Annual Report and Summary of Accounts 2017/18 11 SPORT AND LEISURE

Objective: Deliver weekly programme of youth engagement to combat anti-social behaviour, especially at peak times of the year (Summer, Halloween). Progress: Over 20 activities for young people were provided. Part-funded by the Police and Crime Commissioner, and Streetgames, many of these projects were located in areas with higher levels of youth anti-social behaviour. In the summer holidays, additional activities included the annual Skate Jam and Skate Camp at Cheshunt Park and the Summer Games programme which was hosted in five of the Borough’s parks. During Halloween, young people were encouraged to attend one of five new projects offered by the Council. A total of 428 young people attended these events, which included an activity day at the Lea Valley White Water Centre and a five-a-side football tournament. Police reported that, during this time, anti-social behaviour decreased by 37% and criminal damage dropped by 70% compared to 2016. The Broxbourne Youth Awards saw 381 nominations submitted online for the 17 awards which celebrate the achievements of young people, with over 400 people in attendance. The election for the Borough’s first Youth Mayor was held. Tom Culley was elected, and he also chairs the Broxbourne Youth Council which has now grown to 15 regular members representing young people in all of the Borough’s schools. Objective: Deliver Kidz Klub play scheme at all school holidays, implementing early years provision to accommodate reception age children. Progress: The registered Kidz Klub play scheme takes place at the John Warner Sports Centre in the school holidays. Total attendances for the year were 17% higher than in 2016/17. The Kidz Klub play scheme became registered on Ofsted’s Early Years Register from May 2017 enabling reception age children to attend and therefore support working parents. Objective: Deliver or facilitate a programme of events in town centres and parks for the Year of the Environment 2017 and the Year of Community 2018. Progress: Two activity days were held in April and October at the Lea Valley White Water Centre and an 80th anniversary celebration of Barclay Park and as well as a ‘Veg Fest’ at Cedars Park in July which was attended by 1,500 people. January 2018 saw the launch of the Year of Community with the Great Borough Walk. In April, 4,000 people attended a special St George’s Day event held at Grundy Park. There are a number of events planned for the rest of the year including the Summer Fair on 9 June and the Borough Open Day on 7 July. Objective: Develop further opportunities for adult residents to participate in sport and physical activity for physical health and emotional wellbeing benefits. Progress: Active Herts (funded by Sport , NHS, and Hertfordshire County Council) helps inactive adult residents at risk of disease or mild-to-moderate mental ill-health into physical activity. 365 referrals were made to the programme with a further 200 in the first three months of 2018 to bring the project’s total to 779. The programme

Annual Report and Summary of Accounts 2017/18 12 includes a consultation with the Get Active Specialist and 12 free weeks of physical activity. The exercise sessions take place throughout the Borough and include swimming, Pilates and walking football. A number of low impact, beginner level activities were delivered in the community during 2017/18 to encourage adults into physical activity. New projects including Nordic Walking, Women’s Rugby and Walking Netball have complemented existing projects such as Health Walks, Guided Walks, Back to Netball, Barclay Parkrun and Futsal. These projects Group sessions at Wormley generated over 9,400 attendances during 2017/18. Objective: Coordinate the delivery of the WWI commemorative programme including the Freedom of Entry march by the Royal Anglian Regiment. Progress: As part of the Borough’s World War One commemorative programme, Freedom of Entry was granted to the Royal Anglian Regiment. Their new right to march in the Borough with drums beating, colours flying, and bayonets fixed was exercised on Sunday 2 July in Hoddesdon by 85 soldiers from the Regiment preceded by their marching band and the Regimental mascot ‘The Poacher.’ Approximately 1,500 residents lined the streets to support the Regiment, watching them take an official salute and inspection by the Mayor at the Jubilee Shelter. Blue ceramic heritage plaques were installed in July at Cedars Park, and at Theobalds Hotel to commemorate the life of Admiral Sir Hedworth Meux who was Admiral of the Fleet during World War One. He lived at Theobalds and donated Cedars Park to the people of Cheshunt. Furthermore1,300 ceramic poppies produced by local schoolchildren were displayed at Cheshunt Old Pond roundabout over the Remembrance Day weekend in November 2017 and Lowewood Museum has continued the digitalisation of Stephen Warner’s war diaries ahead of an exhibition in May 2018. The diaries are also being converted into a graphic novel by students at Hertford Regional College. World War One commemorative benches were installed at Cheshunt Park, Old Highway and Goffs Oak.

SPORT AND LEISURE: OBJECTIVES FOR 2018/19 • Deliver the Broxbourne Year of Community 2018 • Continue to encourage take up of the Active Herts programme • Provide new opportunities for residents of all age to participate in sport and physical activity • Commemorate the centenary of the end of World War One • Deliver Kidz Klub playschemes in all school holidays, increasing attendances and profitability • Deliver a varied programme of exhibitions and events at Lowewood Museum including the completion of the Stephen Warner Diaries project.

Annual Report and Summary of Accounts 2017/18 13 HOUSING

Objective: Minimise the impact and costs of temporary accommodation. Progress: Homelessness continues to be a challenge for the Borough. Just under 1,000 people who were at risk of losing their home, or were homeless, approached the Council seeking assistance or advice. These enquiries resulted in the Council opening a case in around 300 of them where they were either accommodated by the Council or it was able to prevent them from becoming homeless. Objective: Maintain fit-for-purpose Housing Allocations Scheme. Progress: There are currently around 1,400 applicants on the Housing Register of which 875 are families with children and single people seeking housing assistance. All applications to the Housing register are required to be made via the Council’s online system https://www.homeoption.org/ where details of how the scheme works can be found. Objective: Review the Affordable Housing Strategy. Progress: The Affordable Housing Strategy relates to the approach the Council takes to ensuring new affordable homes come on stream to house local people on the Housing Register. The new Strategy works in conjunction with the Local Plan. Objective: Maximise the delivery of affordable rented homes. Progress: 52 new affordable homes were built in 2017/18 bringing the total number in the last five years to 207. These homes are a mixture of affordable rented properties and shared ownership built by local partner housing associations such as B3 Living. All rented properties are allocated to local people on the Housing Register. Objective: Work with private sector landlords to maximise the supply of lettings through the Simple Lets programme. Progress: The Council makes extensive use of the private sector to house families who are homeless, by working with a range of local landlords via its ‘Simple Lets’ scheme. In 2017/18 a total of 96 families were housed in this way. Objective: Monitor the impact of welfare reform and identify actions to mitigate the impact. Progress: The Council works in partnership with the local Job Centre Plus to ensure claimants receive the advice and guidance they need to maintain their current home and engage positively with paid work. The Council’s Financial Inclusion Officer operates from both the Council and the Job Centre Plus to ensure maximum coverage. More recently the service was awarded an excellence award by DWP for its innovative approach. Objective: Ensure applicants receive the support they need to resettle successfully. Progress: Housing Needs provides additional support to people in temporary accommodation who require it to successfully resettle into the community. During 2017/18 over 50 households were helped in this way.

Annual Report and Summary of Accounts 2017/18 14 Objective: Develop and maintain effective partnerships to deliver joined up services to local people. Progress: The Council works closely with a range of agencies to ensure that local people have the greatest rehousing opportunities. This includes those mentioned above with the DWP (financial inclusion) B3 Living (developing additional homes) and local private sector landlords (Simple Lets scheme). The Council also works with numerous other voluntary and statutory sector agencies to develop projects that benefit local people. Examples include Broxbourne Foodbank, Safer Places (who run local Women’s Refuges) and Aldwyck Housing.

HOUSING: OBJECTIVES FOR 2018/19 • Review the Homelessness Strategy • Maximise the delivery of affordable homes for local people • Implement the new Homelessness Reduction Act and increase the rates of homelessness prevention • Keep temporary accommodation costs to a minimum • Ensure vulnerable households receive the support that they need • Improve access to the private sector for households.

Annual Report and Summary of Accounts 2017/18 15 INNOVATIVE BROXBOURNE: AN EFFECTIVE, ENABLING COUNCIL

In last year’s Annual Report, the Council outlined key objectives to develop an effective and enabling Council for Broxbourne in 2017/18. The progress the Council has made is set out below.

Objective: Deliver the savings and income targets in the Efficiency Plan, including increasing usage and income of the Spotlight and the Council leisure centres.

Progress: The Council’s leisure sites will contribute a further £150,000 to the Council in management fees. In addition, usage across the majority of sites is increasing and it is anticipated that this trend will continue during 2018/19.

Objective: Review the Council’s website to make it fully compatible for smartphones and to increase online transactions for Council services.

Progress: The Council’s website is now fully compatible for smartphones and tablets. Additional functionality is being provided to allow the website to be more transactional for the customer. This includes an improved reporting option, on-line payments and a customer portal for council tax and benefits.

Objective: Establish a contract with the new LA1 joint building control company for Hertfordshire, and monitor performance.

Progress: The Council delegated its statutory Building Control functions to LA1 (a single local authority) in February 2018 and is now monitoring its performance.

Objective: Ensure that the Council is adequately prepared for and compliant with new provisions under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

Progress: The Council’s Privacy notice has been updated to reflect the new requirements under the regulations, the notice can be viewed on our website. Data mapping exercises have been undertaken with Council departments to identify risk areas, and where found, mitigation action undertaken. The Council has appointed a Data Protection Officer. An extensive programme of mandatory staff training has been undertaken in the form of briefings between March and April, in addition to on line training. A member briefing took place in March and a further session is scheduled. A member’s guide and privacy notice cards prepared for members to give to constituents. Members have been allocated Broxbourne.gov.uk email addresses to ensure the security of email communication in the course of constituency work. An information asset register and record of processing activity created for each department. The Council’s data protection policies have been updated and placed in an area on the intranet dedicated to data protection to be easily accessible to staff. A dedicated email address has been created to enable staff to notify data breaches to the Data Protection Officer immediately, to facilitate the 72 hour deadline for reports to be made to the Information Commissioners Office.

Annual Report and Summary of Accounts 2017/18 16 Objective: Establish Broxbourne Lottery to raise funds for local good causes.

Progress: The Council has a licence from the Gambling Commission to sell tickets online and hold a weekly draw. Gatherwell Ltd is the licensed external lottery management company running the Broxbourne Lottery on behalf of the Council. 50p of each £1 ticket sold is donated to the local charity or community group chosen by the ticket purchaser, and a further 10p is given to the Council’s own good causes fund. The remaining 40p pays for cash prizes and for the running costs of the Lottery. The first draw was held on 4 November 2017. There are 74 local good causes participating in the Lottery. £29,000 had been raised for good causes by the end of May 2018, and annually, this is estimated to rise to £48,000.

INNOVATIVE BROXBOURNE: OBJECTIVES FOR 2018/19 • Procure the IT infrastructure and software to improve customer interaction

• Train staff in new ways of working

• Commence trading of subsidiary company Broxbourne Environmental Services Trading Ltd (BEST Ltd) to allow additional income to be generated

• Maintain the Council’s self-sufficient financial position

• Reduce the Council’s property investment loans

• Refurbish the John Warner Leisure Centre Gym to facilitate the introduction of an e-Gym

• In conjunction with Council, submit a funding bid for Lowewood Museum improvements and relocation

• Publish the Cheshunt Old Pond Strategy and continue work on the Waltham Cross Renaissance

• Continue to work towards the 2030 vision: ‘the Borough of Broxbourne will have a thriving, vibrant and prosperous economy that is underpinned by innovation, enterprise and entrepreneurship’

• The Council’s leisure facilities to become self-sufficient.

Annual Report and Summary of Accounts 2017/18 17 VALUE FOR MONEY AND EFFICIENCY

Performance Indicator Performance Target Performance 2016/17 2017/18 2017/18 Performance of telephone calls to the switchboard and helpline 85% 100% 84% answered within 10 seconds Percentage of council tax collected 97.2% 98.10% 97.4% Percentage of business rates collected 94.9% 99.1% 98.3% Proportion of business working days lost to sickness absence 6 days 6 days 7 days Employee turnover – all leavers 22.7% No target 23% set Speed of processing new benefit claims 22.7 days 16 days 26.8 days Speed of processing changes in circumstances for benefits 6.7 days 7 days 11.7 days

STAFF

As at 31 March 2018 there were 482 staff. The full time equivalent is 374.66, as 212 of the 482 staff work part-time. The number of staff has decreased by 32% since 2010.

Numbers 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 of staff Full time Equivalent (FTE) Staff Male 277.14 284.29 271.53 271.52 270.99 241.46 240.97 229.61 207.12 224.26 211.02 Female 267.36 272.59 269.55 267.80 254.26 245.01 240.35 229.91 186.08 164.40 163.64 Part time 156.50 156.88 148.88 147.32 146.25 137.18 129.32 127.52 110.20 103.66 104.66 Full time 388.00 400.00 392.00 392.00 379.00 349.00 352.00 332.00 283.00 285.00 270.00 Total FTE 544.50 556.88 541.08 539.32 525.25 486.47 481.32 459.52 393.20 388.66 374.66 Headcount of staff Male 307 318 298 295 290 257 259 247 225 242 238 Female 422 420 407 397 383 371 349 333 267 249 244 Part time 341 338 313 300 294 279 256 248 209 206 212 Full time 388 400 392 392 379 349 352 332 283 285 270 Total Staff 729 738 705 692 673 628 608 580 492 491 482

Annual Report and Summary of Accounts 2017/18 18 Female/male members of staff

Full-time/part-time members of staff Total staff

ETHNICITY Ethnicity remains stable.

Ethnicity of staff 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 Asian 8 7 6 6 5 6 9 9 6 5 4 Black 17 15 17 16 15 17 17 15 12 15 17 Chinese or other 6 8 6 5 6 7 8 6 6 6 5 Mixed 10 12 9 9 9 9 10 6 5 5 5 White 667 686 666 655 636 583 557 539 456 456 447 Not Declared 21 10 1 1 2 6 7 5 5 4 4 Total 729 738 705 692 673 628 608 580 492 491 482

ABSENCE MANAGEMENT This year the Council’s average absence is 7.1 days per full time equivalent employee.

Sickness 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 Absence Days sick per 8.3 6.2 6.1 7.2 5.1 5.3 5.4 6.8 5.4 6 7.1 FTE Total sick 4445 3392 3353 3951 2743 2659 2601 3165 2255 2340 2690 days

Annual Report and Summary of Accounts 2017/18 19 Redundancies 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 Male 1 0 4 1 3 3 1 3 3 0 5 Female 0 0 3 4 1 0 18 16 3 1 5 Total 1 0 7 5 4 3 19 19 6 1 10

Medical 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 retirements Male 0 0 0 2 2 1 1 0 0 0 0 Female 0 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 Total 0 1 1 2 2 1 2 0 0 0 0

TURNOVER Turnover remained stable at 23% as of 31 March 2018. Voluntary turnover reduced to 17%.

Turnover 2007 2008 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 Number of leavers 160 142 134 85 129 97 128 146 161 113 111

Number of starters 179 158 100 84 89 66 101 101 99 98 102 Average staff in 711 724 715 695 675 645 620 594 523 498 487 post in year Turnover 23 20 19 12 19 15 21 25 31 23 23 Voluntary 15 16 19 19 17 Turnover

Annual Report and Summary of Accounts 2017/18 20 SUMMARY OF ACCOUNTS 2017/18

This summary gives an overview of the Council’s financial position for the year ending 31 March 2018. The statement of accounts has been prepared in accordance with the Code of Practice on Local Authority Accounting and is subject to an annual audit inspection by EY, the Council’s external auditors. A copy is available on the Council’s website, www.broxbourne.gov.uk, to give residents, businesses, taxpayers and partners clear information about the Council’s finances. The income and expenditure statement for the year ending 31 March 2018 is set out below. It shows that the Council spent £13m on running services and that the net spend for the year was £12m. The money that the Council spends comes from local and national taxes, business rates and fees and charges.

2016/17 2017/18 £000 £000 Expenditure Chief Executive 3,246 3,358 Environmental Services 5,546 5,815 Finance 3,946 3,337 Legal services 7 19 Broxbourne Sport and Broxbourne 124 352 Leisure and Culture Net cost of services 12,869 12,881 Financing and investment income and (7,081) (7,310) expenditure Other accounting items (including 5,818 8,603 pension fund adjustments and depreciation) Contribution from/(to) reserves 458 (2,437) Total Expenditure 12,064 11,737

Funding Borough of Broxbourne council tax 4,081 4,378 General Government Grant 2,739 1,701 Retained income from rate retention 2,045 3,411 scheme Capital grants and contributions 2,375 1,044 Other income 824 1,203 Total Funding 12,064 11,737 Increase/decrease in general fund 0 0 balance General fund balance as at 31 6,181 6,181 March

The General Fund balance represents the general funds available to the Council if any unexpected events and opportunities arise. The amount left over from the Comprehensive Income and Expenditure Statement, statutory amounts taken into account (e.g. depreciation) and money put into reserves to fund future projects are added to the balance at the beginning of the year. This gives the Council the working balance for the next financial year. As of 31 March 2018, the General Fund balance stood at £6.2 million.

Annual Report and Summary of Accounts 2017/18 21 CAPITAL EXPENDITURE AND FINANCING

Investing in the infrastructure of the Borough and continuing to provide excellent public facilities are made possible through capital expenditure. Capital expenditure is the spending on the acquisition, creation or enhancement of property, plant and equipment. Capital financing is mainly receipts from the sale of such assets mentioned above. Capital expenditure and income are summarised below.

Capital Expenditure and Financing 2016/17 2017/18 £000 £000 Investment property 11 18,614 Investment in Fawkon Walk/industrial 802 1,663 developments Loan to wholly owned subsidary 2,680 1,102 company Sport, leisure, recreation and youth 776 386 facilities Vehicles, plant and equipment 162 246 Greater Brookfield development 0 234 Development of affordable housing 301 215 Private sector housing grants - 371 184 disabled adaptations Information technology 406 147 Environmental and recycling initiatives 197 80 Community projects 182 61 Car parking, traffic calming and road 85 39 safety Bury Green Cemetery extension and 142 27 mausoleum Town centre redevelopments 163 24 Ambition Broxbourne Business Centre 3,783 0 Pound Close Community Facility 34 0 10,095 23,022

£000 £000 Capital Funding Capital receipts 3,150 1,993 Government grants and other 2,005 368 contributions Sums set aside from revenue 4,940 2,398 Borrowing 0 18,263 10,095 23,022

Annual Report and Summary of Accounts 2017/18 22 BALANCE SHEET 2016/17 2017/18 £000 £000 The balance sheet shows the value of the Council’s assets and investments, what is owed to and by the Assets 111,268 132,747 Council, how much cash is held and how these Money invested 32,293 27,569 funds are represented by reserves and balances. The Cash and bank balance 9,239 13,764 Council has a net worth of £139m, which includes Money owed to the Council 20,021 26,428 the Council’s reserves (money set aside for specific Money owed by the Council (42,950) (61,331) purposes). 129,871 139,177

CASH FLOW STATEMENT 2016/17 2017/18 The Cash Flow Statement shows how much cash the £000 £000 Council has received and paid out during the year. Balance as at 1 April 13,256 9,239 Net movement in cash (4,017) 4,525 Balance as at 31 March 9,239 13,764 COLLECTING LOCAL TAXES

Broxbourne Borough Council not only collects its own Broxbourne Borough tax but it is also responsible for collecting council Council 8% tax on behalf of Hertfordshire County Council and Hertfordshire Police 10% Herts Police and Crime Commissioner. In 2017/18 97% of council tax due was collected. The council tax collected by Broxbourne Borough Council during 2017/18 was distributed as follows:

Hertfordshire 2016/17 2017/18 County Council 82% £000 £000 Hertfordshire County Council 40,373 42,935 Hertfordshire Police 5,001 5,238 Broxbourne Borough Council 4,023 4,247 49,397 52,420

BUSINESS RATES

The Council currently collects £40m in business rates, 50% of which is collected on behalf of central government and 10% on behalf of Hertfordshire County Council. The Council pays a charge, known as a tariff, of £12m on the remaining balance of £16m, and is allowed by the Government to retain just over £2m. For any business rates growth above this £2m, the Council will be able to keep 50% of the additional amount.

Annual Report and Summary of Accounts 2017/18 23 Borough of Broxbourne Bishops’ College Churchgate Cheshunt EN8 9XG www.broxbourne.gov.uk