SEPTEMBER 2018 - ISSUE 166 FHarpendenorum Town Council’s Quarterly Newsletter IN THIS ISSUE AUTUMN DIARY page PHOTO COMP page GANG SHOW page OF A BAT 8 WINNERS 10 TURNS 70! 14 SEPTEMBER 2018 - ISSUE 166 FHarpendenorum Town Council’s Quarterly Newsletter FOCUSSING ON OUR PRIORITIES IN THIS ISSUE I’m writing this at the beginning of August, which is just over 2 years from when I first started HERTS OPEN page GANG SHOW page CHRISTMAS page in my role at the Town Council. Before I started here I had the impression that Harpenden was a STUDIOS 12 TURNS 70! 14 IS COMING! 18 vibrant place and that the Town Council was committed to making it even better in the future. Front cover image - Tommy Silhouette It was only when I joined that I realised just how much there is going on across the area at Batford Green and just how many dedicated people there are out there that make the place what it is. It really is a pleasure and an honour to be Town Clerk here. The Town Council continues to deliver a huge amount across the Town and credit must go to the officers and volunteers that help us to do so much. I often think that it is not quite understood how much the Town Council does across the Town so maybe we need INFORMATION to shout about that some more. We have a business plan that sets out our priorities up until 2020. This includes six DOCUMENTS key aspirations and many initiatives that sit below them and aim to bring them to life. The Town Council has a requirement to produce The initiatives vary massively in terms of size and complexity which is one of the things certain documents. These documents are approved by I love about working here. Whilst they all vary, what they all have in common is that they Full Council and are available on the Council’s website. will help deliver positive outcomes across the Town. Hard copies are also available at the Town Hall. Details of where to find our business plan and annual report can be found elsewhere on this page. I’ve also set out below some of most recent work: Public and Statutory Documents AFFORDABLE HOUSING AT FORMER WESTFIELD ALLOTMENTS – For some www.harpenden.gov.uk/documents/public-and- time the Town Council has had the aspiration of developing affordable housing at the statutory Former Westfield Allotment site. Our area is in desperate need for affordable housing in particular socially rented dwellings. In July we were successful in securing outline This section also includes details on the General planning permission for the construction of 24 affordable dwellings consisting of 16 Data Protection Regulations and the Council’s Policy houses and eight flats. At least seven of these dwellings will be available for social rent Statements. with the remainder being other forms of affordable housing. Our next step on this is to Business Plan – this document aims to give work with a third party to develop the scheme. a clear picture as to what the Council is trying to HARPENDEN NEIGHBOURHOOD PLAN – After 1000’s of residents’ contributions achieve between 2017 and 2020. to its development, we were able to submit a Final Neighbourhood Plan for examination earlier this year. We now have an independent examiner appointed and they will be Financial and Transparency Documents going through their examination process in the next couple of months. I hope to be able www.harpenden.gov.uk/documents/financial to have a community referendum on this in late 2018/early 2019. ‘THERE BUT NOT THERE’ TOMMY SILHOUETTES – A much smaller initiative This section also includes details on Auditors’ Reports, but one that we felt it was important to be involved in. We have installed three Tommy Grants Awarded and Transparency Payments. silhouettes in the High Street, Southdown and Batford as a way of commemorating those Annual Return 2016/17 – which that made the ultimate sacrifice in WW1. The front cover image shows the one at Batford. summarises the Town Council’s transactions for Our work isn’t just about delivering things ourselves as we play an important role in 2016/17 and includes its Annual Governance supporting other organisations to deliver their priorities. A good example of this is the Statement. They are prepared in accordance with the exciting future plans for the Leisure & Cultural centres and the NHC Health & Wellbeing Hub. We also see it as our job to comment on proposals from others that impact on required code of practice and accounting standards for Harpenden in a negative way. There are two current examples of this below. smaller local authorities. INCINERATOR CHILTERN GREEN ENERGY PARK – We are very concerned about Annual Governance and this proposal and have written to those that wish to bring it forward. It will have a Accountability Return 2018/19 – significant impact on Harpenden such as air pollution problems, excessive HGV activity summarises the Town Council’s financial position on roads and a risk to the River Lea and our chalk streams. for 2018/19 and includes its Annual Governance LUTON AIRPORT EXPANSION – The plan is to double passenger numbers from 18 Statement and Accounting Statement. They are million passengers per annum using the existing runway. We already have concerns in prepared in accordance with the required code Harpenden with the current operation but the potential impact that the expansion could of practice and accounting standards for smaller have on noise and other environmental matters is worrying. We have contributed to a recent consultation on the expansion. local authorities. At the time of going to print, this document was an unaudited statement. I hope you enjoy reading Forum and discovering more about the great things that are going on. As ever if you wish to get in contact with me about anything please feel free to Budget 2018/19 – which sets out the budgets do so using my contact below. All the best. Carl for the service areas and the precept for the Town Carl Cheevers, Town Clerk, Harpenden Town Council Council. Further details were produced in the March Email: [email protected] Tel: 01582 768278 edition of Forum. 2 HARPENDEN TOWN COUNCIL, TOWN HALL, LEYTON ROAD, HARPENDEN, HERTS. AL5 2LX Seniors Forum celebrates 10th Anniversary Harpenden Seniors Forum organised a very special afternoon tea back in May to mark its 10th anniversary. The tea was a sell- TOWN MAYOR’S out, and nearly 100 members attended COMMENTS as well as HSF Life Since taking office in May calendar including our President Alan Cox, I have had the privilege of fantastic ‘Wild West’ Summer his wife Rita and the serving as Town Mayor of Carnival, the 25th anniversary Mayor of Harpenden, Harpenden for nearly four Classics on the Common and Councillor David months and it has been a very the Harpenden Lions Highland Heritage. busy time so far! Gathering where I had the A giant cake was privilege of acting as Clan decorated with the In June I was very honoured area. Membership is free, Chief for the day. Harpenden Seniors Forum logo, to welcome Her Majesty’s and members receive a free and it was cut by Alan Cox, Lord-Lieutenant of I also held my first charity newsletter twice a year hand pictured with Cllr David Heritage Hertfordshire, Robert Voss event of the year in July, delivered by volunteers. Esq CBE and Mrs Voss to my the ever-popular charity and HSF Chairman Fiona Gaskell. Every year there is a programme Civic Service at St Nicholas quiz. My sincere thanks to Fiona Gaskell said “We are very of free events including the Church. This was an especially everyone who participated pleased with the success of Seniors Fair, which this year is significant occasion as it in and supported this event, this event, which demonstrates on 16 October. Seniors can join coincided with the church especially to our talented how the Forum has grown and Harpenden Seniors Forum free of celebrating its 800th birthday. quizmaster Ginny. I was developed over the past 10 charge by calling 01582 462926 St Nicholas Church is at the able to raise £1600 toward years. Alan Cox deserves all the between 10 a.m. – 12 noon centre of Town life in many my nominated charities, credit for his drive and initiative Mon-Fri or by visiting ways and it was a pleasure Herts Young Homeless and in getting the Forum going and www.harpendenseniorsforum.org to celebrate this anniversary Harpenden Mencap. I am establishing it as a well-known looking forward to hosting Sadly, in June, Alan Cox passed with them; I think everyone local organisation. By happy away following a long battle particularly enjoyed the another event later on in the coincidence the event was held year, details will follow! with illness, which makes his Grove School Samba Band on Alan and his wife’s 54th attendance at the anniversary who added a Latin flavour to Two other landmark events wedding anniversary, so it was a party even more poignant. the proceedings! for the Town that I have very special day for them.” The Forum was Alan’s brainchild The summer is always a busy recently attended are also Harpenden Seniors Forum and its continued success is a time for the Mayoralty and detailed on this page. has nearly 1500 members, true credit to Alan’s drive and I attended a number of key Best wishes. all living in the AL5 postal determination. events in the Harpenden Councillor David Heritage CITIZENS ADVICE IN HARPENDEN The Town Council is delighted to be able to play an integral role in the Citizens Advice service returning to Harpenden.