Local News and Events

Hertsmere Borough Council’s budget for 2022/23 agreed

Budget agreed at full council meeting

The council’s elected representatives have backed a budget which acknowledges and responds to the on-going financial impact of the Covid 19 pandemic, while aiming to achieve a vision for Hertsmere that prioritises strong identity, enterprise and climate action with delivery of essential services at its core.  

Hertsmere Borough Council’s revenue budget for the next financial year (2022/2023), which sets out the anticipated outgoing costs of delivering services and how they will be met by funding resources, was approved at a recent Full Council meeting (Wednesday 23 February). Despite ongoing cost pressures and loss of income caused by the pandemic, a balanced budget was presented to the meeting and an average increase of £5 per household for Hertsmere Borough Council’s share of council tax bills was agreed, the same rise as last year.

A household in a Band D property will pay an average of £192 in council tax to Hertsmere Borough Council for its services for the year 2022/23- which equates to around 53p per day. That money is used to fund services including waste and recycling; planning; housing; parks and open spaces; street cleaning and environmental health; benefits administration and contributions towards Police Community Support Officers and the Citizens Advice Bureau.

As a billing authority, Hertsmere Borough Council collects the council tax every year, but the money residents pay does not all go to the borough council. On average, Hertsmere gets 10 per cent, or 10p in every £1 residents pay, Hertfordshire County Council gets 77 per cent, Hertfordshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner gets 11 per cent and, if residents live in an area with a parish or town council, (Aldenham Parish Council, Elstree and Borehamwood Town Council, Shenley Parish Council and South Mimms Parish Council), those councils receive two per cent.

Please see our full news article for further information and comments on the budget from the Portfolio Holder for Finance, Councillor Abhishek Sachdev. 

Community comes together for planting event

Hertsmere Borough Council has lent its support to a community-planting day in Borehamwood.

More than 20 local people and community representatives gathered alongside councillors, council officers and John O’Conner Grounds Maintenance last week, to help rejuvenate the planters.

The planters have been reduced in height and reshaped to discourage anti-social behaviour in the area, as well as transform them into a colourful display in time for the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations in June. 

The scheme followed a successful bid to the Home Office Safer Streets Fund drawing on the clear links between a well-maintained area helping to promote communal awareness and pride. Match funding was also provided by Big Local. The funds have also enabled CCTV surveillance in the area to be upgraded.  

Local businesses and community groups – Aycliffe Road Day Centre, Herts Mind, the 1372 Squadron RAF Air Cadets and St Michaels Church and All Angels Church  – have each adopted a planter and suggested a range of plants along the themes of majesty, wellbeing, ecology and diversity, and memory.

Councillor Seamus Quilty, Portfolio Holder for Environment, said: “It was great to see the community work alongside the council, getting their hands dirty and making a difference to their local environment. I would like to thank everyone who came along to help and support the community-planting day.

“I am really proud of what we achieved and I am looking forward to when the flowers are in full bloom – that will make everything worthwhile. Our vision for the area is to be clean, green and safe for local people – I believe that we are setting down new roots, for new beginnings – a fresh start for the area.”

Reverend Louise Collins, Vicar of St Michael and All Angels Church and Chaplain of the 1372 Squadron RAF Air Cadets, both in Borehamwood, added: “It is wonderful to be part of this terrific community effort. The Queen’s Jubilee is a once-in-a-lifetime event and we want our corner of Borehamwood to look its absolute best by June. The four themed gardens – Majesty, Memory, Ecology & Diversity and Well-Being – exactly represent our times.

“Huge thanks to Hertsmere Borough Council, John O’Conner, Leecliffe The Big Local and all the groups who have taken part today. Now, what can we do next and how soon can we start?” 

Donna Inwood, Chair of Leecliffe Big Local, added: “It has been a pleasure to see the development of the planters on Aycliffe Road and working cohesively with organisations such as St Michaels Church and Hertsmere Borough Council. Leecliffe Big Local is looking forward to seeing the community enjoy new planters.

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Save Aldenham Reservoir

A commitment to continue to seek ways to address the ‘continuous, systemic neglect’ of a much-loved Hertsmere amenity and beauty spot has received all-party backing.

Hertsmere Borough Councillors agreed a motion condemning the actions of the current landowners of Aldenham Reservoir as a ‘dereliction of duty’ and calling on the council to ‘explore all possible actions’ to restore the site was approved at a full council meeting on Wednesday (26 January). The pledge highlighted the constructive cross party-work which has already taken place on this issue and welcomed the recent designation of the reservoir as an asset of community value. As an asset of community value, it means once the reservoir comes to be sold, the community have an opportunity to bid for the site for a period of five years. 

In its motion, the council also committed to exploring further actions to ‘restore the reservoir to its former glory’, including legal means to protect the site. A working group of councillors and officers will now be set up and a report setting out the potential next steps is due to be published within the next three months.

For more information on this please go to:

https://www.hertsmere.gov.uk/News/Articles/January-2022/All-party-motion-to-save-Aldenham-Reservoir.aspx

Further funding available to make homes in Hertsmere warmer, greener and cheaper to run

People across Hertsmere are being encouraged to check if they are eligible to receive help under the second phase of the Green Homes Grant scheme being launched to help local householders be warmer in their homes, lower their carbon emissions, and save money on their fuel bills this winter.

Under the Green Homes Grant Local Authority Delivery scheme, delivered by Warmworks on behalf of Hertsmere Borough Council and through funding from the UK Government, householders can apply to receive improvements to increase the comfort and warmth in their home.

The scheme offers a wide range of insulation measures and renewable heating technologies which are designed to support homes to reduce their impact on the environment, including air source, ground source, and hybrid heat pumps.

The Green Homes Grant scheme is open to homeowners, private tenants and people in social rented accommodation, where the home has a low energy rating and a low annual income.

Warmworks will arrange a survey in the homes of eligible householders to agree the work that will be carried out. An accredited and registered sub-contractor team then completes the installation of the agreed heating and energy-efficiency measures, before an independent inspection assesses the completed work against rigorous quality standards. Where required, Warmworks will also then arrange for a full annual service to be completed 12 months later.

Councillor Seamus Quilty, Portfolio Holder for Environment, said: “As the cold weather continues and we depend on our heating systems more, the Green Homes Grant scheme offers vital improvements that could help many people across Hertsmere. Residents who are on a low income and finding it hard to heat their home could benefit from measures that will help them have warmer homes, reduce their bills and decrease their home’s impact on the environment.

“Warmworks has a strong track record of delivering schemes that have helped more than 25,000 households across the UK to improve the heating in their homes, and be happier, healthier and more comfortable in them.

“I’d encourage everyone in Hertsmere to check if they are eligible to receive help from the Green Homes Grant scheme”.

Ross Armstrong, Warmworks Managing Director, said: “On the back of the COP26 conference in Glasgow, I’m delighted that Warmworks is working in partnership with Hertsmere Borough Council to deliver the Green Homes Grant scheme.

“Not only do the funded energy efficiency measures that the scheme provides give local people an opportunity to reduce their carbon emissions and support the transition to Net Zero, but as the colder weather hits, one of the most important benefits we can offer through the scheme is to help people feel warmer, healthier and happier in their homes during these winter months.

“A few minutes to complete our short application could help your home stay warmer for years ahead.”

You can find out if you are eligible for the scheme by completing the short application form at https://surveys.est.org.uk/s/GreenHomesGrantSchemeLAD/ or call 0808 196 8255.

Homes that signed up for the first phase of the scheme, being delivered in partnership with the National Energy Foundation, are now in the process of getting measures installed.

Cllr Quilty added: “Households in specific areas are also being contacted by letter, so we would urge you to consider if you qualify and then make contact with our respective partners on the number given in the letter.”

To find out more visit: www.hertsmere.gov.uk/greenhomesgrant

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