FORUMHARPENDEN TOWN COUNCIL’S AWARD WINNING QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER CLOSER TO THE COMMUNITY MARCH 2013 - ISSUE 144 My Mayoral Year Station Road Tunnel gets face lift 2013 Town Events ALSO IN THIS ISSUE and • News in Brief • Senior Citizen’s Parking • Probus Club HARPENDEN HARPENDEN HARPENDEN • Harpenden EVENTS CRICKET CLUB IN BLOOM Society page 6 page 8 page 10 Delivering ‘Quality Status’ services 2013 marks the ninth anniversary of Harpenden Town Council’s awarding of Quality Town Status - a AIMS AND OBJECTIVES 2013/14 government backed award that is given in recognition At the Town Council meeting on the 4 February the budget for 2013/14 of high standard of service delivery. The award was set and agreed. Cllr David Williams, Chair of the Policy and Finance demonstrates that Harpenden Town Council has the committee, presented the budget by saying that the proposed budget ability and experience to promote greater co-operation was set taking into account the St Albans District Council’s approved between the tiers of local government by encouraging alternative scheme which addressed the Localisation of Council Tax Support - a government welfare reform. This had resulted in a reduction in St Albans District Council and Hertfordshire County the council tax band D equivalent base from 13,759 currently to 13,411 in Council to work in closer partnership with the Town 2013/14, balanced by an increase in the compensating grant. Council for the benefit of the local community, With the increased grant exceeding the impact of the reduced tax base by something which the Town Council has been very £590, he proposed that the precept charge be maintained at £67.52 resulting successful in achieving in recent months with the in a precept of £905,510 with the sum of £590 added to the budget for new devolution of a number of assets from St Albans District initiatives. This represented no increase on the 2012/13 budget. Council to the Town Council. He went onto say that two issues have influenced the development of this Mission Statement: budget. • First, the absolute level of Council Tax is understandably a concern to To promote the area as a place to live, a place many residents. I have therefore sought to ensure that our residents’ to work, a place to visit and a place to invest. expense for Harpenden Town Council remains at a Band D equivalent charge of £67.52 for a further year (out of a total Band D Council Tax Corporate Objectives charge for Harpenden of £1,495.84). This will be the forth year in • To promote and represent the community’s views and which the charge to our residents for the services now provided by the aspirations at local, county, regional and national level. Town Council has either been reduced or maintained at the same level even though, like household budgets, the Council’s expenses have been • To serve those who live in the Town, work in the subject to inflationary pressures. Further, of course, unlike principal Town and visit the Town. authorities, the Town Council does not receive a government grant to • To promote growth of Council activities where new help with the freezing of Council Tax services can be taken on effectively and efficiently. • Secondly I have consolidated the savings and efficiencies achieved • To strive to improve the quality of life for all during recent years. So the basis of many of the individual 2013/14 residents of the Town. budget lines is not this year’s budget but the expected outcome for the current year or indeed the previous year’s actual outcome. • To work in partnership at local, county, regional and national level to promote and provide for the well Initiatives and issues for 2013/14 include: being of the Town. • The transfer of Park Hall Community Hall which is a key asset to the Town from St Albans District Council. Harpenden Town Council delivers a wide range of services to the local community including: • Prepare for a Neighbourhood Plan for the town, as part of the districts planning strategy. Environment • Develop a toddler’s play area at Porters Hill Park. In addition to the management of 15 allotment sites, • Carryout improvement works to the horse ride surface on the Common. the sustainable management and maintenance of the • Carryout renovation works to the Lydekker Park pond liner. Common and other Greens, Recreation areas including • Carryout the retendering exercise of the Grounds Maintenance Contract Westfield, Porters Hill and Marquis Lane, the Nickey for the Common and Lydekker Park. Line, Lydekker Park and car park, and the Parish Paths • Install new updated interpretation boards and produce new leaflets for Partnership. Land assets including the redevelopment Lydekker Park. of disused allotment sites. Restoration and rejuvenation projects such as Lydekker Pond and Southdown Ponds. Community Services BUDGET FIGURES 2013 – 14 The Town Hall and Information Point, Park Hall TOTAL COUNCIL TAX REQUIREMENT FOR HARPENDEN community building, Harpenden in Bloom, Farmers’ TOWN COUNCIL FOR 2013/14 = £905,510 Market, Community safety including CCTV, Restricted I Park Hall Alcohol Zone and lighting. Christmas celebrations £21,510 • 2.4% I Allotments (Christmas lights, poster competition, and the window £16,450 • 1.8% display competition). Public toilets plus other services I Servicing like bus shelters, litter bins, dog bins, notice boards and of Loans I Commons, bicycle stands. £50,290 • 5.5% Greens and Play Areas I Community Democratic Representation £378,320 Services and Management • 41.8% Committee and Member support, Civic Representation £56,970 • 6.3% (Town Mayor support), Planning and Development I Corporate I Democratic Control. Town Twinning, Youth Town Council, Grant Management and Representation Aid to local organisations, Communications (Forum newsletter, Town Guide and website). Partnership working. Administration £258,930 £123,040 • 13.6% • 28.6% Corporate Management COST PER “D” BAND PROPERTY PER ANNUM = £67.52 = AROUND £1.30 PER Administrative and Statutory responsibilities. WEEK A more detailed breakdown is available on the Town Council’s website 2 HARPENDEN TOWN COUNCIL, TOWN HALL, LEYTON ROAD, HARPENDEN, HERTS. AL5 2LX Park Hall Allotments Servicing of Loans makeCommunity Services pie 100mm wide thenCorporate Management brighten and Administration colours Commons, Greens and Play Areas exDemocratictrude Representation by 60, look in options - blend with 150 Delivering ‘Quality Status’ services My Mayoral Year KEY ACHIEVEMENTS by Nicola Linacre 2012/13 kindly donated raffle prizes, or come along • The successful transfer of six key to support the events personally. I would assets to the Town - Lydekker like to say a particular thank you to the Park and Car Park, Batford Harpenden Photographic Society for kindly Springs Local Nature Reserve donating prints for auction, which was and Westfield, Marquis Lane and very generous of their members and much Porters Hill Recreation Areas. appreciated. We held a quiz night led by Ginny St John-Glew, a very popular local • Lead the Town’s Queens quiz setter; a Call My Bluff wine tasting Jubilee celebrations including led by George Edkins; a Charity Dinner the installation of four jubilee supported by the Harpenden House Hotel structures as lasting memorials. with music provided by a harpist, keyboard • Improved the Christmas lights in player and a young local ukelele band, and the Town Centre, Southdown and a bridge day for local enthusiasts. Batford in compliance with the I have been invited to many different Recommended Code of Practice. events over the year and highlights • Successfully retained the Green include the induction of The Reverend Flag for the Common for a sixth Cannon Dennis Stamps, Oscar night at consecutive year in recognition of The Mayor’s role is a very busy one Grove School, the Teddy Bears’ Picnic in the high standard the Common is Lydekker Park, the opening of Harpenden managed to. combining civic duties with leading the Council. The Town Council currently Mencap’s new facility; Pine Court, many • Refurbished the Town Signs at faces many issues that require co-operation lovely carol concerts over the Christmas Kinsbourne Green and on the between the different levels of government period, the local pantomime, the 64th Common. and our aim is to ensure Harpenden Gang Show, art exhibitions and enjoyed • Assisted in the organisation of the residents’ needs and aspirations are properly each and every one. The arts thrive in annual Armed Forces Day in June represented. Harpenden whether it is through amateur on the Common. dramatics, art, photography or music. It has been an enormous honour and I have been to some wonderful concerts privilege to be Town Mayor, but also great performed by local choirs including the fun during a year in which the community Harpenden Light Operatic Society, Music really came together to celebrate the Queen’s Makers, The Lea Singers and the Rock Diamond Jubilee. Choir. Another highlight was a visit from There were many events during the Jubilee the London Welsh Male Voice Choir, Weekend, including the Town Council’s supported by local girl Alison Langer which Jubilee Day, street parties, lighting the was a fantastic evening raising funds for our Jubilee beacon, a tea party for our seniors local Mencap. We really do have a wealth held in the Public Hall, and a special Festal of talent here and it’s fantastic that people Evensong in St Nicholas Church with devote their time and energy to share it in one of the Queen’s chaplains. So many support of worthwhile charity events. volunteers were involved in making each Our annual events continue to thrive event successful; local scout groups, the WI, as they bring people together to enjoy the Harpenden Trust, Seniors Club and the Round Table Carnival, Discovery Seniors Forum to name but a few.