Local News and Events
The Lavelles – Ladies of Motown
Lavelles The Ladies Of Motown presents a dazzling homage to the golden era of America’s soulful vocal stylists, featuring three incredible professional performers. The Lavelles will take you on a journey through the world of Soul and Motown and sing the hits by our most celebrated artists such as Martha Reeves And The Vandellas, Diana Ross And The Supremes, The Marvelettes, Gladys Knight, Aretha Franklin, Little Eva, Freda Payne, Whitney Houston, Mary Wells, The Shirelles and many more. A golden chance to relive these timeless songs, with beautiful melodies and lyrics that will speak to your soul.
Friday 13th May
7.30pm
Tickets: £22
To book your tickets please visit https://www.radlettcentre.co.uk/What-s-On/Music/Lavelles
Update on energy rebates
 We’ve made considerable progress with administering the government’s energy rebate scheme to support households with rising bills. Our revenues and benefits team has been paying out the £150 rebates to eligible households in council tax bands A-D in recent weeks. The vast majority of council tax payers who paid their bills via this route in April should now have received their rebate. If you do not pay your council tax by direct debit, we will need your bank details so that we can verify the information before awarding the rebate. This means you need to complete an online form and provide us with evidence of your bank details. Please click the blue ‘Apply for Council Tax energy rebate’ button on our energy rebates page to apply. We will then carry out pre-payment checks before awarding your rebate. Please allow at least 10 working days before chasing applications. For more information, including details of the discretionary fund for those who don’t qualify for the £150 rebate but need additional support to help pay energy bills, visit https://url6b.mailanyone.net/v1/?m=1nluoD-0000oi-3z&i=57e1b682&c=Cv2XXyM5h1HVuGlDzdhMcX3rovwJR3Ri8OIvncArvPOoPeiBBIf7O4-GXJfVwnKNktIWc0W77iHEuzVpO7XHTPLeEt0ErbVhk7KajZxR9Ufg0S-0lC21_t13-neSlqCl_OzkltnRR6YFwktybj79VhKDLmnfH5gx0G8Pds70_RYDL9pGN_HXQk7FbHCL81IUjY_tz6zlkFIDDEGMtQZ1Wg |
Hertsmere pledges continued support for Ukrainian refugees
| Hertsmere pledges continued support for Ukrainian refugees Unanimous agreement has been given by Hertsmere Borough Council to a cross-party motion strongly condemning ‘Putin’s imperialist invasion of Ukraine’ and resolving to support Ukrainian people who have been displaced into the borough’s communities. The motion, which was presented at a full council meeting on Wednesday 27 April, expressed ‘full solidarity with the people of Ukraine’ and highlighted Hertsmere’s proud record as a place of sanctuary and support for those displaced by conflict, including those from Afghanistan and Syria in recent years. Before the motion was heard at the meeting, members heard from Ukrainian refugee Alla Karimova who’s currently residing in a local hotel with other Ukrainian women and children. She spoke of how she had fled her home country and of the support she had received since arriving in Hertsmere. Her words were warmly received in the council chamber and a standing ovation followed. Measures agreed include immediately making £50,000 available for the council to support Ukrainian refugees both directly and in partnership with Hertfordshire County Council. Funds from the council’s reserves and contingency budgets were also pledged to help speed up suitability checks regarding offers of accommodation, along with measures to actively promote through the council’s communications channels the help that the council and other partners can provide. Cllr Paul Morris, Conservative councillor for Bushey Heath, who proposed the motion, commented: “We’ve been truly appalled by this shocking display of aggression by Putin and the war crimes being perpetrated on men, women and children by Russian forces. Through this motion we were able to set out our commitment as a council to how we will offer our solidarity with the people of Ukraine.” Cllr Jeremy Newmark, Labour councillor for Borehamwood Cowley Hill and Leader of the Labour Group in Hertsmere, seconded the motion and added: “Hertsmere is open to refugees. Once again, as we did for those fleeing oppression from Syria and Afghanistan, local people are providing generous support and temporary homes for Ukrainian refugees. Council staff and partners are working hard to support these efforts. Putin may capture Ukrainian land, roads and bridges but he will never capture the hearts and minds of Ukraine’s people. As Putin resorts to even more desperate and barbaric crimes, we in Hertsmere stand as allies of Ukraine.” To read the motion in full, view item 13 of the council meeting agenda: https://hertsmere.moderngov.co.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=106&MId=11001&Ver=4  |
VALUABLE VOLUNTEERING OPPORTUNITES IN OUR COMMUNITY
Aldenham Parish Council’s Access for All Working Party is delighted to extend this crucial call to anyone who is interested in making a powerful difference to the lives of the elderly in our community.
For the older generation, some living in extreme isolation, a local lunch club is a great way to meet new people, try new activities and feel the warmth of the community around them.
Once a week, there is a small lunch club in Radlett, operated entirely by a team of dedicated volunteers. For a small fee, elderly members are collected from their homes, treated to a hot lunch, pudding and a cup of tea – and a lovely time with friends.
Radlett Lunch Club needs volunteer drivers, cooks and washers-up, on a rota basis (not every week) so their incredible service can continue to thrive. For your chance to be a part of such a worthwhile activity, please contact Anne Newton ASAP: apnewton60@gmail.com
Planning For Growth – Hertsmere Local Plan
| An important decision has been made unanimously to ‘set aside’ the current version of Hertsmere’s new draft Local Plan but continue the plan-making process, so that future development in the borough remains under local democratic control. All 39 councillors were asked to vote on the future of Hertsmere Borough Council’s draft plan at a meeting last night (27 April). Three potential ‘next step’ options were considered by the Executive Committee earlier in the evening. They were to continue to work on the current version of the plan; to set aside the current version of the draft plan, but continue the plan-making process; and lastly, to cease all work on the new plan and rely on the existing adopted Local Plan, which will become increasingly out-of-date. Councillors voted to proceed with the second option, which had been recommended for implementation by the Executive. Hertsmere’s draft plan was published last year and set out how the borough could grow over the next 15 years and beyond, by providing homes for the next generation as well as the infrastructure and jobs needed to support this growth. Nearly 18,000 responses were received on the draft plan during a public engagement last autumn – which is the highest response rate for any engagement, planning or non-planning, ever undertaken by the council. Cllr Morris Bright MBE, Leader of the council and Portfolio Holder for Communications and Consultation, said: “Last year’s public engagement on our draft plan was one of the most successful engagements we’ve ever undertaken. “We’re grateful to all those who made submissions. Those submissions have given us and will continue to give us a valuable insight into the views and opinions of residents, businesses and other stakeholders about how the borough might develop in the future. “It is clear from an initial analysis that a key theme was an objection to the level of development proposed in the draft plan, in particular that related to housing, and the impact on the Green Belt from that proposed growth. “We have now prepared a report on the future of the draft plan which set out three potential next step options. Councillors were asked to consider these options and decide on the best way forward.” Cllr Dr Harvey Cohen, Portfolio Holder for Planning, said: “We asked councillors to make a decision on the future of the draft plan, in light of the wide range of issues which were raised during the last public engagement. “They had to take account of several issues, including the interim findings from the engagement on the draft plan, while balancing the statutory obligation we have as a Local Planning Authority to proactively prepare for growth in Hertsmere, in a way which enables local people to have as much control over the future of their borough as possible. “Whilst we have responded to local concerns in setting aside the current version of the plan, it’s also clear that if we don’t have an up-to-date plan, there will be a risk of speculative applications for development coming forward, which might not benefit our local community or consider local infrastructure. “By opting for this next step, we are resolving to put aside the current version of our plan, but continue the plan-making process, while taking into account any planning reforms announced by the government. “It shows we are committed to doing all we can to positively shape growth in the borough and ensure local people can have a say on where they want development to happen, and how much.” Additional funding was also agreed at the meeting in order to support the ongoing work on the engagement responses and further technical work. The full report on the draft plan is available to view here. It also includes an interim review of the public engagement undertaken on the draft plan. To view the webcast of the meeting go here. |