Event schedule p12 Royal beacons lighting up the skies for the Jubilee
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Event
schedule
p12
Residents’ magazine Summer 2022
Royal beacons lighting up
the skies for the Jubilee
Hello
Contents
Welcome to Dacorum Life, packed
full of news and updates from
Dacorum Borough Council. If you
have any feedback about the
magazine or any content you Page 4
would like to see in future issues Hemel Green Walk map
please get in touch.
Page 7
For even faster news and updates
After Life bench installed in Hemel
P4
why not follow us on social media?
We’re on all the popular platforms,
including Facebook, Twitter and Page 9
Instagram. Northridge Way Basketball Court
refurbished
Find them all at
www.dacorum.gov.uk/social-media Page 11
Dacorum Life editorial Litter-picking teams are champions
communications@dacorum.gov.uk
Page 12-13 P7
General enquiries (Customer Celebrate Her Majesty The Queen’s
Services) Platinum Jubilee
01442 228000
Council offices
Page 20-22
P7
The Forum All the latest news for our tenants
and leaseholders including how you
Marlowes
Hemel Hempstead can become a block champion and P12
HP1 1DN information on our STAR survey
You can apply, pay, report and Page 23
contact us on our website for
Armed Forces Day
a range of services.
www.dacorum.gov.uk
P20
Nice to know Waste calendars available online
• Dacorum Life is printed on paper Your personalised 2022 Waste Collection Calendars are
produced by well-managed available to download from our website
forests. www.dacorum.gov.uk/mybins From here you can check your
upcoming collections and download your calendar as a
• It costs less than 19 pence per PDF to keep on your digital device or print off a copy.
copy to print and distribute.
If you don’t have online access please email
• Alternative formats are recycle@dacorum.gov.uk or call 01442 228000 and ask for
available: audio and large print. Waste Services to request a copy.
Front cover: Her Majesty Keep connected
The Queen’s Jubilee
You can keep up to date with all the latest council news
beacon lighting.
with regular updates straight to your inbox. It’s quick and
easy to sign up to our residents’ email here
www.dacorum.gov.uk/dacorum-life
2 Dacorum Life Find us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube and Instagram.
Welcome
We’re committed to working in partnership to create a borough which enables the communities
of Dacorum to thrive and prosper, while funding regeneration to attract inward investors.
Welcome to the summer edition in Birmingham. This is the 16th Our priorities 2020-2025
of Dacorum Life magazine which official Queen’s Baton Relay
is filled with the latest news and – an epic journey across the Ensuring economic
events happening in the borough. Commonwealth, with The Queen’s growth and prosperity
Baton visiting all 72 nations and
As we enter the summer season,
territories. To celebrate, we will Building strong and
we’re getting use to restrictions
be hosting a wellness festival vibrant communities
being lifted and learning to live
in Gadebridge Park – for more
with COVID-19. I’m thrilled that
details on this event, please A clean, safe and
we have a jam-packed summer
check our website and enjoyable environment
events season that will enable
Facebook page.
us to come to together as a
community and celebrate some Our Splash Park is now open for Ensuring efficient,
fantastic events. the summer and our parks and effective and modern
green spaces are ready to service delivery
We will be kicking off the
welcome you now the warmer
summer with a packed Climate and
weather has arrived.
programme of events over ecological emergency
the bank holiday weekend to
If you are looking for new places
celebrate Her Majesty The Providing good quality
to explore make sure you take
Queen’s Platinum Jubilee. affordable homes, in
a look at our Hemel Green Walk
On Thursday 2 June we will be Map (page four) which highlights particular for those
hosting our Platinum Party in walking routes around the town. most in need
the Park – a free event in You can also get more active by
Gadebridge Park with live music visiting our newly renovated
and entertainment for all the Northridge Way basketball court
family to enjoy which will end which now provides players with
with the lighting of the Platinum a full-sized court.
Jubilee Beacon and a firework
Dacorum continues to be a
finale.
popular location choice for many
For full details of all the events film production companies which
taking place for the Jubilee is great for the local economy.
please see pages five and 12-13 Netflix has also donated a bench
of this edition. to us as part of our involvement
Later in June we will also be with the production of After Life
celebrating Armed Forces Day (page seven).
for the first time since 2019. It We are also focussing on local
will be fantastic to welcome this businesses with investment in
well-loved event back to our Dacorum’s Den grant scheme
Hemel Hempstead. for small businesses and driving
I am also delighted to announce inward investment with new
that the Queen’s Baton Relay will initiatives like the The Big Hoot
come through Hemel Hempstead Hemel owl statues.
on Friday 8 July in the lead up Cllr Andrew Williams
Wishing you a great summer.
to the Commonwealth Games Leader of the Council
Summer 2022 - Dacorum Life 3
News
Hemel Green Walk
Get fit and enjoy all that Hemel has to offer with our
Hemel Green Walk map.
By following the trail you can see how easy it is to get
around our neighbourhoods on foot and explore the many
amazing green spaces that Hemel Hempstead and the
surrounding areas has to offer including the Water Gardens,
Gadebridge Park and Boxmoor.
Download the map on the LoyalFree app www.loyalfree.co.uk
where you can vote for your favourite location. It can also be
downloaded here www.dacorum.gov.uk/thehemelgreenwalk
New strategy to protect
Ashridge Estate and
Tring Woodlands
We commissioned ecological
consultants, Footprint
Ecology to undertake
ecological and visitor
surveys for the Chilterns
Beechwoods Special Area
of Conservation (SAC). Their
report revealed that more
action is needed to help
protect Ashridge Estate and Berkhamsted Leisure Centre
Tring Woodlands, which
Over the last 12 months, we have been investigating the
are under increasing visitor
potential of replacing Berkhamsted Leisure Centre with a
pressure.
new, modern leisure facility on the existing site.
We are working with Natural
England, Hertfordshire The proposed leisure centre could deliver a range of new
County Council, neighbouring and improved facilities including a teaching pool, a larger
authorities and the National fitness suite and a spa with treatment zone.
Trust, who care for Ashridge In February we launched a six-week consultation to find
Estate, to develop an interim out your views on the proposals for the new leisure centre.
mitigation strategy.
Thank you to everyone who took the time to complete our
Until this mitigation strategy survey, or come along to one of the drop-in sessions.
is in place, additional checks will be applied
to all planning applications that involve the The decision on whether to proceed with the replacement
development of new homes (and some other leisure centre is dependent upon a number of factors,
types of development) within or close to the including the results of the consultation, final costings
affected areas. and planning consent.
Further information, including FAQs for Visit www.dacorum.gov.uk/berkhamstedleisurecentre
applicants is available on our website to find out more about our proposals for the new
www.dacorum.gov.uk/SAC leisure centre.
4 Dacorum Life - Summer 2022
Celebrating the
Queen’s Platinum Jubilee
To mark Her Majesty The Queen’s to host their own Big Jubilee
Platinum Jubilee we’re coming Lunch. Hemel Hempstead BID
together as a community with is organising a special event in
celebrations and events over the Hemel town centre which will
extended bank holiday weekend. include live acts on the Rainbow
Stage, children’s activities and
Thursday 2 June marks 70
games and a vintage double
years since the coronation of
decker bus which will be offering
Queen Elizabeth II - an historic
hop on rides around the town.
milestone no previous monarch
has achieved. Cllr Julie Banks, Portfolio Holder Royal visits to Dacorum
for Community and Regulatory We welcomed Her Majesty,
We’re hosting a number of events
Services said: “We are delighted The Queen, to the borough
including the Platinum Party in
to be able to mark this very in 2016 with a Royal visit to
the Park on Thursday 2 June,
special anniversary and to bring Berkhamsted. The Queen was
in Gadebridge Park with free
the community together to driven along Berkhamsted High
entertainment and performances
celebrate this unique occasion. Street as the cheering crowd
for all the family to enjoy. The
We are proud that as a borough waved flags, before arriving at
event ends with the lighting of the
we can honour the Queen for her St Peter’s Church.
Platinum Jubilee Beacon and
incredible 70-year reign and look
a firework finale. Previously, a young Queen
forward to commemorating this
On Saturday 4 June, in Gadebridge Elizabeth II came to Hemel
wonderful achievement.”
Park, we will be showing the live Hempstead in July 1952 visiting
See pages 12 and 13 for the families who had moved into new
broadcast of the Platinum concert
programme of events or council homes. The Square, in
from Buckingham Palace, bringing
visit www.dacorum.gov.uk/ Adeyfield was renamed The
together some of the world’s
platinum-jubilee Queen’s Square, after her visit.
biggest stars.
On Sunday 5 June, communities
are encouraged to come together
Summer 2022 - Dacorum Life 5
Ensuring economic growth and prosperity
Antilly (Brandy the dog from After Life)
with Dacorum’s Filming Officer Pippa
and Sara from Visit Herts on the
‘Hope is everything’ bench.
Working to support and grow
our local businesses
With the lifting of the final COVID-19 restrictions earlier in the year, it has been fantastic to resume
more community activities, and initiatives to help support our local businesses.
Our borough and its local Throughout the COVID-19
businesses have been back on pandemic we have provided a
screen in series three of hit Netflix range of support to our local
show After Life. The Old Town businesses, including advice,
doubles up as the fictional town training and the administration
of Tambury, with businesses such of government grants.
as the House of Elliott, The Tea For the last two years, COVID-19
Tree and The Old Town Artichoke restrictions have prevented us
featuring in the series. Gadebridge from hosting our Dacorum’s Den
Park was used for the filming of the initiative.
fayre scene in the final episode.
I’m thrilled that we have been
Filming in our borough has able to relaunch the initiative
Cllr Alan Anderson
become increasingly popular due this year, providing our
Portfolio Holder for Planning
to our proximity to London, its fledgling entrepreneurs with the
and Infrastructure opportunity to pitch for grant
diverse locations, historic charm
In February the Big Hoot made and the welcoming response funding of up to £1,000 to help
a very welcome visit to Hemel visiting productions receive from their businesses grow. Find out
Hempstead. The trail of 12 local residents and businesses. more on page seven.
brightly coloured owls proved to As spring comes to a close and
be a very popular attraction, with In March we were delighted to
install a new ‘hope is everything’ we head into the summer months,
many of you following the trail there is much to look forward to.
around the town centre and Old bench in St Mary’s Square in
Town. It was also a great boost for the Old Town, where part of the To find out more about the
our local businesses, with many After Life series was filmed, in business advice and support
people stopping to pop into shops recognition of the famous bench available please email our
or for a refreshment break on the featured in the series. You can economic development team
way around. read more about it on page seven. business@dacorum.gov.uk
6 Dacorum Life - Summer 2022
The Big Hoot
The Big Hoot free, family-
friendly art trail flew into Hemel
Hempstead in February - brought
to you by us and Hemel
Hempstead Business
Dacorum’s Den Improvement District (Hemel BID).
Budding entrepreneurs have Thousands of you visited the 12
the chance to get a head start in individually designed Big Hoot
business by pitching for a grant owls over the 10 weeks they
of up to £1,000. roosted in the town centre. Over
Dacorum’s Den - the local version 1,000 of you followed the
of the popular TV series Dragons’ exciting trail on the Loyal
Den – helps small businesses Free app with hundreds more
develop and grow. It has awarded collecting trail maps from local Regional Development Fund
£55,000 to local enterprises and businesses or downloading one (ERDF) - and Hemel Business
has created additional local jobs. from the Enjoy Dacorum or Improvement District.
Applications are open until Hemel BID websites. Thanks to everyone who visited
Monday 6 June. Visit www. The trail was hugely popular – we hope you had a hoot! The
dacorum.gov.uk/dacorumsden or with both families and walkers – winner of the Big Hoot Hemel trail
contact business@dacorum.gov.uk encouraging many people to visit competition will be announced on
This year’s sponsors are: Sopra the town centre and Old Town our social media channels.
Steria, Britvic, Abode Bed, Epson, high streets.
The Marlowes Shopping Centre, Heart Sign up to the LoyalFree app to
Hertfordshire, Hemel Hempstead BID The trail was funded through the support your local high streets
and Barnard & Webb Solicitors. Welcome Back Fund - a European www.loyalfree.co.uk
‘Hope is everything’ bench installed in
Hemel after filming of hit show After Life
To mark the final series of the Community Action Dacorum in the
much-loved series After Life, heart of Hemel’s Old Town High
Netflix has donated a bench to Street. Many local businesses in
Hemel Hempstead. the High Street were used in the
programme including the House
The series is renowned for its
of Elliott and The Artichoke.
scenes showing Ricky Gervais’s
leading character, Tony, on a The benches have been
bench at his local churchyard, as commissioned alongside suicide
Miserably (CALM) is by your side”,
he continues to grieve for his wife prevention charity Campaign
and online by visiting
Lisa, played by Kerry Godliman. Against Living Miserably (CALM)
www.thecalmzone.net/afterlife/
- who offer help, advice and
Hemel Hempstead was used for information to anyone who is Ricky Gervais said: “We hope
many locations in the village of struggling or in crisis. Those who the benches will create a lasting
Tambury and we have chosen visit a bench will be able to access legacy for After Life, as well as
to install the bench across the resources from CALM via a unique become a place for people to
road from the location used as QR code with the wording “Life visit, and we are thrilled to be
the newspaper office – used can be tough, but there’s always associated with CALM and the
in real life by voluntary group hope. Campaign Against Living great work they do.”
Summer 2022 - Dacorum Life 7
Building strong and vibrant communities
Celebrating our communities
This year marks a special year celebrating the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee and we are bringing a
packed programme of events over the long Bank Holiday weekend.
Whether you’re looking to walk, which makes finding out what’s
jog or run, we invite you to take on and booking even easier.
part on Sunday 17 July. Everyone We have so much to be proud of
who takes part will receive a in our borough and the many
medal and goodie bag. You can voluntary groups, sports clubs
sign up here www.ticketsource. and charities are a vital part of
co.uk/mayors-office-dacorum- our community. We run our
borough-council Community Grants scheme
to support these valuable
Making physical activity organisations - with grants of up
accessible to all in the borough to £3,000 to fund activities that
is a key priority and we are will benefit the wellbeing of our
pleased to have refurbished and residents.
Cllr Julie Banks extended our full-size basketball We’ve awarded funding to a
Portfolio Holder for Community court in Northridge Way. This wide range of projects including
and Regulatory Services great community project was Phoenix Entertainment who
sponsored by local company used their £500 grant to put on
The exciting long weekend Whitton Electrical and we thank circus skills workshops in Hemel
includes a local Trooping of the them for their support in helping Hempstead town centre.
Colour, the lighting of a beacon us provide great facilities to our
and a live screening of the events The summer round of our
residents (see page 9). Community Grants scheme will
taking place at Buckingham Palace
Our four adventure playgrounds open on Friday 1 July until
on Saturday 4 June.
in Hemel Hempstead are also a Wednesday 31 August. Find out
Find all the information to enjoy great facility for our young people more information and apply on
a memorable event on our special our website www.dacorum.gov.
offering free play and various
Jubilee centre spread on pages 12 uk/grants
activities during term time and
and 13. school holidays. I very much hope our residents
can make some special memories
As well as Jubilee events, we are Another key asset to our borough this summer, enjoying the Jubilee
pleased to bring activities back is The Old Town Hall Theatre. events and the many other
to our communities such as our Please take a look at the new aspects of our community that
fourth Your Town 5K Hemel Run. website www.oldtownhall.co.uk make Dacorum a great place to be.
8 Dacorum Life - Summer 2022
New basketball court
for Hemel Hempstead
We’ve refurbished and extended Northridge Way
basketball court in Hemel Hempstead.
The court, used by local residents, up and coming
youth basketball players along with players from
both local clubs Hemel Sharks and Hemel Storm, Thank you to Hemel Hempstead firm Whitton
has been resurfaced with new tarmac and has Electrical, based at Maylands, which sponsored the
new hoops, fencing and a small seating area. community project.
Healthy Hub Dacorum
The Healthy Hub runs on Tuesdays and
Fridays at the South Hill Centre, Hemel
Hempstead. From 10am - 4pm, you can drop
in if you are experiencing an issue affecting
your health and wellbeing.
We’ve supported residents with free advice
and support on issues such as
mental health, unemployment,
debt and weight management.
www.healthyhubs.org.uk/
Get ready for an
Playgrounds
Our Adventure Playgrounds are Keeping our borough clean
available for hall hire, venue hire,
We’ve taken action to target anti-social behaviour such
party hire and 3G pitch hire as littering by partnering with District Enforcement, a
All four sites are available to hire company that specialises in enviro-crime enforcement.
Monday-Friday 6:30pm to 10pm Since 1 November 2021, the company has been delegated
Saturday and Sunday 9am to 10pm the powers to issue Fixed Penalty Notices (FPNs) of £80
Pitch hire is available seven days a week should it witness people littering, failing to clean up after
Monday-Friday 6pm to 10pm their dog or breaching other Public Spaces Protection
Saturday and Sunday 8.30am to 10pm Orders.
Contact: Danny Taber This is in line with our commitment to a firmer approach
07854633317 or to making our borough a cleaner and safer place to live,
Mathew Stedman work and visit.
07568141854 More than 1,743 fines have been issued since enforcement
began with improvements being seen in high foot-fall areas.
www.dacorum.gov.uk/
adventureplaygrounds For more information visit
www.dacorum.gov.uk/district-enforcement
Summer 2022 - Dacorum Life 9
A clean, safe and enjoyable environment
Working together to keep
Dacorum green
I was delighted that so many people signed up to get involved in the Great British Spring Clean
which took place between March and April this year.
and individuals who litter pick residents and visitors can relax
regularly in their local area. We’re in, enjoy and be proud of.
committed to helping all residents
Back in November, more than
who volunteer by providing
170 residents from 87 households
necessary information and
participated in the sixth annual
support.
Dacorum Love Food, Hate Waste
If you would like to help keep your challenge.
local streets clean, safe and green
Annually, UK households waste
all year round, you can sign up to
4.5 million tonnes of edible food,
be a Street Champion here
which amounts to around £700
www.dacorum.gov.uk/street-
for an average family per year
champions
- the equivalent of almost £60 a
Cllr Graham Barrett It was great news that five of our month!
Portfolio Holder for parks achieved green flag status
So there’s really no downside
Environmental Services yet again.
when it comes to reducing food
Most of our residents take a We have retained Green Flag waste. It saves families money,
real pride in their area and they Awards at Bunkers Park, Hemel reduces the amount of food that
hate to see the irresponsible few Hempstead, Canal Fields, ends up in our bins to be disposed
spoiling things for most people by Berkhamsted, Chipperfield of and helps to slow down global
littering, fly-tipping and generally Common, Tring Memorial Garden warming and deforestation.
spoiling the environment. We have and the Water Gardens, Hemel
It’s important we all acknowledge
cracked down on offenders and Hempstead
that the small actions we each
will continue to take enforcement
The green flags flying across take at home add up to make a
action against those caught
Dacorum are a tribute to the huge collective difference. When
littering and fly-tipping.
efforts of both the staff and you waste food, you are wasting
We really appreciate the many volunteers, who work tirelessly the resources that went into
formal and informal groups to make these spaces somewhere growing or producing it.
10 Dacorum Life - Summer 2022Litter-picking teams
are champions
The Street Champions litter picking team continues
to grow, with more than 580 registered volunteers
from across the borough. The volunteers regularly
help to tidy their local areas, at a time and place
to suit them. Between August 2021 and February
2022, the team collected more than 320 bags of
litter. Every quarter the champions also have the
opportunity to enter into a prize draw to win prizes
or vouchers.
To join the team, register online at www.dacorum.
gov.uk/street-champions
Between March and April many community
groups, Scouts and Brownies, faith groups, schools,
families and individuals from across the borough
participated in Keep Britain Tidy’s Great British
Spring Clean 2022.
We can loan out litter-picking sticks all year round.
We’ll also arrange the collection of bags of litter
and clear bags for any recyclable litter, such as
plastic bottles and cans. To request litter-picking
equipment, email cleansafegreen@dacorum.gov.uk
with details of your event.
Nappy Get an extra green bin
Natter Our Additional Garden Waste Subscription Service
is becoming increasingly popular as we approach
Choosing reusable the warmer months. The service enables you to buy
nappies can reduce your as many additional green-lidded bins as you need
family’s carbon footprint for £25 each (if you do not already have a spare
by up to 40 per cent and green-lidded bin) and pay a seasonal fee of £60
reduce the amount of per bin to have these emptied alongside your
waste sent to landfill. In February, we regular green bin collection. For more information
co-hosted a ‘Nappy Natter’ with the Stork visit www.dacorum.gov.uk/extragreenbin
and the Bees nappy library to give Dacorum
residents an opportunity to find out about
reusable nappies. We also discussed the
HERTS Reusable Nappy Scheme which offers
Clear pavements
Hertfordshire residents a 15 per cent discount Bins left on pavements can cause mobility difficulties
on selected reusable nappy products and for residents in wheelchairs and those with pushchairs.
accessories. If you missed the event, you can Please ensure that you put your bins out for collection
find out more about the scheme at by 6:45am on the day of collection and take them off
www.hertfordshire.gov.uk/ReusableNappies your pavements as soon as possible.
Summer 2022 - Dacorum Life 11On Thursday 2 June 2022, we will celebrate another unique
milestone in our history, Her Majesty The Queen’s 70th year as
our Monarch and Head of the Commonwealth - her Platinum
Jubilee. It is a feat no previous monarch has achieved.
Event Schedule
Dacorum
Thursday 2 June 2022 Friday 3 June 2022
11.30am - 12.30pm We have no events planned
The Queen’s Green Canopy this day, but there may be
Planting other events hosted by local
Let’s celebrate We will be planting a tree at community groups.
Queen’s Square in Adeyfield,
Hemel Hempstead to
commemorate the Queen’s Green
Canopy Planting. The community
and local dignitaries are invited to Saturday 4 June 2022
attend. 2pm - 10pm
2pm - 2.20pm Live Broadcast from the BBC
Trooping the colour The BBC will stage and broadcast
As a community, we will be a special live concert from
coming together to host a Buckingham Palace, bringing
Trooping the Colour parade together some of the world’s
from the Old Town, in Hemel biggest stars. We will be screening
Hempstead into Gadebridge Park. the events in Gadebridge Park for
Uniformed groups are invited to the community to watch.
participate.
2.20pm - 10pm
Platinum Party in the Park
Head to our Jubilee live event in Sunday 5 June 2022
Gadebridge Park for a free family The Big Jubilee Lunch
day and evening of entertainment.
Starting at 2pm, there will be Whether it’s sharing a cuppa with
a stage with live music and a neighbour on the doorstep or
performances from Gobstoppers a bigger bash in the street, join
drama group and comedians millions of people across the UK
such as award winning Laura to share friendship, food and fun
Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Lexx. There will be free children’s with The Big Jubilee Lunch.
and Instagram for the latest updates. activities including face painting
Find out more:
and balloon modelling and a
www.edenprojectcommunities.
range of bars and food stalls. The
com/the-big-jubilee-lunch
party will end with the lighting
of the Platinum Jubilee Beacon
at 9.45pm and a firework finale.
www.dacorum.gov.uk/platinum-jubileePlanting trees for the Jubilee
As part of the Jubilee celebrations, there is a UK-wide
tree-planting initiative inviting people to take part to
increase the amount of trees across the country.
As part of the Queen’s Green Canopy, a tree will be
planted off Queen’s Square, Adeyfield, Hemel Hempstead
between 11.30am – 12.30pm on Thursday 2 June. The
site has been chosen in recognition of the Queen’s visit
in 1952.
The community and local dignitaries are invited to attend.
Throughout January and February, we’ve planted more
than 1,300 trees as part of our tree-planting strategy
and between now and 2025 another 1,000 native
whips will be planted in Gadebridge Park combined
with 30 more standard trees, and 2,000 whips in
Bunkers Park.
Find out more at www.queensgreencanopy.org
Royal beacons
to light up
Jubilee
On Thursday 2 June, over 1,500
beacons will be lit throughout the
United Kingdom, Channel Islands,
Isle of Man and UK Overseas
Territories.
For the first time, beacons will
also be lit in each of the capital
cities of the Commonwealth
countries to mark the historic
Jubilee.
As part of our live Jubilee
celebrations in Gadebridge Park,
we will be lighting a beacon
at 9.45pm with our towns and
parishes organising individual
beacon lighting events.Ensuring efficient, effective and modern service delivery
Image © www.stillcastphotography.com
Focus on council finances
As household budgets are squeezed so too is the council’s budget which is used to support the most
vulnerable in our community and provide essential services to all residents.
raise Council Tax by 2.37 per cent. This is a good indicator of
cent this year. This works out at how the local small independent
£5 increase a year for a Band businesses have progressed over
D property as we only keep 11 the course of the pandemic.
per cent of the Council Tax you
pay – with 78 per cent going to Our transformation programme
Hertfordshire County Council continues to ensure we can
and 11 per cent to the Police and deliver services fit for the future.
Crime Commissioner. We have welcomed staff back to
the office as COVID-19 restrictions
We have been processing the eased while continuing to
£150 Energy Bills Rebate. Most offer flexible working where
households in band A-D properties we can. Our Council meetings
will have received the payment have returned to the Forum but
Cllr Graeme Elliot
or information about how to
Portfolio Holder for Finance residents are now able to watch
claim it by the middle of May.
and Resources meetings online due to new
Further details are available on
technology adopted during the
At the end of last year we were our website. We have also been
pandemic.
the only council in Hertfordshire supporting businesses, paying
to have published the 2021 around £1m of Omicron grants, You can find the link to the
financial statements in line with and providing around £5m of live YouTube streaming on our
business rates relief to local retail, website, just go to www.dacorum.
statutory government timelines.
hospitality and leisure businesses. gov.uk/councilmeetings and then
This was a great achievement
and I want to thank the Council As we look to increase our select the Council meeting from
commercial activities to support the calendar. The link will be
officers involved in this work
the local community it’s good available 15 minutes before the
which assures our stakeholders
to report that income from meeting starts. This is just one
we are a well-managed
our commercial properties has of the ways we are continuing to
organisation.
remained strong. Income levels invest in technology to improve
As the money we receive from have exceeded expectations services and enable residents to
central government continues by around 15 per cent, and get more involved with their
to reduce, we in turn had to occupancy remains above 95 per local council.
14 Dacorum Life - Summer 2022Dacorum Borough Council
Committee Meetings
Full Council Health in Dacorum
Wednesday 8 June
Sign up to
All 51 Council Members attend full Council
meetings, held around seven or eight times Development Management
a year. They debate and agree decisions on Committee
MyDacorum behalf of local residents.
Wednesday 20 July
This committee makes decisions on
planning applications.
MyDacorum is the secure, flexible Wednesday 14 September Thursday 26 May
and personalised way to access Wednesday 23 November Thursday 23 June
your council services. The Thursday 14 July
residents’ portal is a user-friendly Cabinet Meetings
Thursday 11 August
site that lets you do anything from The Council’s Cabinet has six senior Thursday 1 September
setting up bin collection reminders Councillors who make key decisions. The Thursday 29 September
to checking or paying your Council Cabinet’s decisions can be ‘called in’ to be Thursday 20 October
Tax to Rent Statements and looked at in more detail by an Overview
Other committee meetings
balances for Housing Tenants (and and Scrutiny Committee, or may need to
much more). be approved by Full Council. Licensing (Health and Safety
Tuesday 12 July and Enforcement)
To sign up go to: www.dacorum.
Tuesday 27 September Tuesday 24 May
gov.uk/home/mydacorum
Tuesday 18 October Tuesday 28 June
Tuesday 26 July
Overview and Scrutiny Committees
Dacorum Community Safety
These meet regularly to discuss service Partnership
performance and improvements and to
engage
See website below for future dates
check the decisions made by the Cabinet.
They are made up of Council Members from Standards Committee
across the political parties and encourage Thursday 30 June
Have your say views from local people, community groups
and our partner organisations.
Audit Committee
Wednesday 22 June
Want to give us your views on a
range of council issues? Strategic Planning and Environment Wednesday 27 July
Tuesday 14 June Thursday 29 September
Join our online consultation group and
let us have your views via the internet. Wednesday 6 July Meeting times and agendas are correct
The email group is designed to be Wednesday 21 September at the time of printing but can change.
flexible and convenient to you. Once you Wednesday 12 October Meeting agendas are published a week
join, you will be invited to take part in before the meeting date. You can find
Housing and Community the most up to date details, agendas,
online consultations. You won’t have to
Wednesday 15 June minutes and meeting dates on our
participate in every consultation – only
Wednesday 13 July website at
the ones that you feel relevant to you or
Wednesday 7 September www.dacorum.gov.uk/councilmeetings
would like to give us your opinion about.
Wednesday 5 October
To join you must be aged 16 or over, live
in Dacorum and be able to complete our Finance and Resources
surveys online.
Tuesday 7 June
Register at www.dacorum.gov.uk/
Tuesday 5 July
consultation where you’ll also find more
Tuesday 6 September
information, or email communications@
Tuesday 4 October
dacorum.gov.uk with any questions.
Summer 2022 - Dacorum Life 15Climate and ecological emergency
How we are getting to net-zero
As a Council, we’re responsible for less than one per cent of direct carbon emissions within the
borough. We understand that our wider role in helping to address the climate and ecological
emergency will be supporting others in reducing and offsetting the remaining 99 per cent of
emissions.
1. Reach net-zero emissions as around 200 individuals and 40
an organisation by 2030 organisations have already joined
and many attended our first
2. Reach net-zero emissions for
annual event in November, to
our council housing stock, by
coincide with COP26 – the global
2050 at the latest
climate change conference. There
3. Support the borough in were a diverse range of speakers
reducing its emissions and and stall holders and attendees
reaching net-zero as quickly as were able to make pledges on
possible, by 2050 at the latest how they can cut their carbon
4. Support the borough in emissions. Make a positive change
improving biodiversity and sign up here
www.dacorum.gov.uk/dacorumcan
5. Support the borough in
Cllr Andrew Williams creating more sustainable As part of the Dacorum CAN
Portfolio Holder for Corporate communities work, we also support local
and Contracted Services and environmental action through our
The strategy provides an Green Community Grants. This
Community Leadership
overview of our proposed spring, we awarded £20,000 to
We have published a climate actions under the key themes of nine groups. There was a brilliant
and ecological emergency transport, energy use, biodiversity range of projects including
strategy to outline the steps and sustainable communities. rewilding and monitoring of
that we’re taking to reduce the
In autumn 2021, we set up the wildlife at various sites, tree
council’s and the wider borough’s
Dacorum Climate Action Network planting at multiple locations,
carbon emissions.
(Dacorum CAN) to help bring the creation and management of
This document outlines several together local individuals and several ponds and a community
key objectives and how we will organisations to think global ‘make and mend’ project
work to achieve these: and act local. I’m pleased that incorporating clothes swaps.
16 Dacorum Life - Summer 2022HEAT – helping you save energy at home
Download the Hertfordshire 30 degrees and 59 per cent
Energy Advice Tool (HEAT) app could save £30 a year on their
on your smartphone to get some electricity bills by switching all
quick hints and tips on how to their lights to LED bulbs.
save money on your energy bills.
You can download the app for
So far, 73 per cent of residents free from the App Store or Google
who downloaded the app Play to see how much you could
found out they can save energy save. Visit www.dacorum.gov.uk/
by washing their clothes at sustainability to find out more.
£10,000 worth
of free home
improvements
With energy prices rising, now is
the perfect time to make energy
improvements to your home to
reduce the amount of energy you
use and help save money on your
bills.
We’ve secured Government funding
Wildflower seed through the ‘Sustainable Warmth’
scheme, which can help you get up to £10,000 worth of free
giveaway improvements to your homes. To be eligible for the grant, home-
owners must meet two main criteria:
To celebrate Biodiversity Day on 22
May 2022, we’re giving away free 1. Your home must have a low energy efficiency rating, with an
wildflower seeds. Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) of D, E, F or G.
In the UK, a staggering 97 per cent of 2. Your total household income from employment must either be
wildflower meadows have disappeared less than £30,000 per year, or you must receive certain benefits.
since the 1930s.
The grant can pay for a wide range of energy-efficiency measures,
These meadows are incredibly valuable
such as insulation, more efficient doors and windows, renewable
wildlife habitats and can contain up to
40 different species per square metre. heating systems such as solar panels or air source heat pumps.
Wildflowers also help to absorb and We’ve partnered with Warmworks to manage the arrangements
store carbon and so can play an so that getting your improvements is as
important role in helping to mitigate straightforward as possible.
climate change. For this reason, we
want to encourage all of our residents To apply or discuss the grant further,
to grow wildflowers at home to help call Warmworks for free on
tackle the climate and ecological 0808 196 8255 or fill out the
emergency. online form at surveys.est.org.uk/s/
GreenHomesGrantSchemeLAD/ or
To apply for your free seeds, visit:
scan the QR code.
www.dacorum.gov.uk/biodiversity by
Sunday 29 May. Packs will be given For more energy saving advice visit
on a first come, first served basis. www.dacorum.gov.uk/homeenergy
Summer 2022 - Dacorum Life 17Providing good quality affordable homes,
in particular for those most in need
Providing quality new council
homes for our borough
also be a central garden, secure DENS as part of this development
cycle stores and electric vehicle so that we can continue working
charging. in partnership with them on the
delivery of essential community
• Eastwick Row - a new
services.
apartment block in Adeyfield
which will provide 34 new We have also partnered with
homes with improvements to the Hills Group to provide
parking and landscaping. modular homes in Aragon Close,
Hemel Hempstead. SoloHaus are
• Randalls Ride - 30 new homes
specially designed, furnished and
made up of 18 one-bedroom
fully equipped for a single person
apartments and 12 two-
to move straight into. We’re
bedroom apartments with
Cllr Margaret Griffiths delighted to be able to provide
Juliet balconies, parking and
these energy efficient homes for
Portfolio Holder for Housing cycle storage in Highfield.
people in the greatest housing
Over the past few months we As part of our ongoing need in Dacorum. The modular
gained planning approval on commitment to deliver much- homes provide an independent,
several new developments and needed affordable housing, safe environment for residents
over the summer we will be on we’re also working on plans to to take the next step into more
site building 173 new council redevelop the Paradise Depot permanent accommodation.
homes. We are due to start on site site, off St Albans Road in Hemel
or have just begun building at: I hope that all our new tenants
Hempstead. The current site -
will be proud to call these new
• Mountbatten View - 58 one which was the location of the food
developments home and maybe
and two-bedroom apartments bank, depot and offices - run by
some will go on to receive the
at Paradise Fields off St. Albans local homeless charity DENS - will
success of Magenta Court in
Road, Hemel Hempstead. The be redeveloped to accommodate
Apsley, which was announced
apartments have generous 56 apartments, with a mix of one-
as the winner of the Best Small
private balconies and under and two-bedroom homes, and a
Social Housing Development
floor heating which will be new centre for DENS.
Award at the National
provided by communal air We have decided to fund the Housebuilding Excellence Awards
source heat pumps. There will development of a new building for in February.
18 Dacorum Life - Summer 2022New homes completed in Kings Langley
Our village development of 10 Built by our contractor, Bugler an external power supply for
two and three bedroom houses, Developments Ltd, these energy- connection to electric vehicle wall
including a fully compliant efficient homes are highly- chargers.
wheelchair accessible house, all insulated (above current building
These homes will be let to
for social rent in Coniston Road regulation requirements), have
applicants on our housing register.
will soon welcome its first tenants. photovoltaic roof panels and
Making our homes
more energy efficient
We are carrying out work to fit energy-saving measures to
our homes across the borough as part of our commitment to
ensuring our housing stock is net zero by 2050 in line with
UK targets. St Margaret’s Way
We have been awarded We have received planning permission
£300,000 of Government for 46 new homes in St Margaret’s Way in
funding to carry out Leverstock Green. The development will
energy efficiency upgrades provide 13 three-bedroom houses and
to 24 council homes three two-bedroom houses as well as
in Northend, Hemel 16 one-bedroom and 14 two-bedroom
Hempstead. The grant will apartments all for social rent. Two of the
be used to fit external wall flats will be wheelchair adapted.
insulation, double glazing These new homes will be energy-efficient
and loft insulation to four with air source heat pumps and solar
blocks of flats this summer. roof panels. Apartments will have private
balconies or patio space on the ground
This will significantly increase the insulation performance
floor. The development will also provide
on these homes and in turn help our tenants tackle rising
parking and retain a central green space.
fuel bills. The grant covers approximately 40 per cent of the
project costs and we will covering the remaining 60 per cent. We are planning to start on site in 2023.
Summer 2022 - Dacorum Life 19News for tenants and leaseholders
Making best use
Become a Block Champion of council homes
The Housing Allocations Policy
If you live in a council-owned block of flats, maisonettes or sheltered
sets out how we prioritise
scheme you can become a ‘Block Champion’.
applications for council and
Block Champions are active voices in their community, helping us to housing association homes based
improve neighbourhoods by telling us about any problems they notice on applicants’ circumstances and
around their block. The number of Block Champions is growing all the level of housing need.
time, sending in useful reports of issues such as fly-tipping, graffiti and
damage in communal areas. We review this policy regularly
to make sure that we are acting
Find out more www.dacorum.gov.uk/get-involved fairly and keeping all our homes
occupied, so that we receive the
Tenancy
rental income that allows us to
deliver all our housing services.
Reviews
This summer, we’re changing our
local connection requirements
for village homes, reducing the
Our Tenancy Management Officers will length of time that applicants
now aim to visit every tenant at least must have lived or worked in our
once every three years. This allows us rural areas and changing the ages
to make sure all the information we children can share bedrooms.
have about your household is up to date,
We’re also planning some changes
assess the condition of your home and
that will allow some homeowners
give you the chance to ask questions
to apply for supported housing
about your home, your tenancy or your
to meet their needs. The new
neighbourhood. We will ask you for two
policy will be published on our
forms of identification as proof you are
website soon.
the legal tenant(s).
You can also view this policy
Knowing who lives at your home can help us in case of emergency. It
and other information about
also helps us protect against things like tenancy fraud and to identify
moving home on the Moving with
and help with any support needs or safeguarding issues.
Dacorum website
Find out more www.dacorum.gov.uk/tenancy-review www.movingwithdacorum.org.uk
20 Dacorum Life - Summer 2022Listening to you –
2022 STAR survey
Every two years we run STAR - the Survey of
Tenants and Residents – and use what you tell
us to improve housing services.
For 2022, we’ve introduced a new format – a
shorter survey, but with the option for you to
tell us in your own words why you are satisfied
or dissatisfied with different aspects of your
housing service.
As a thank you for your time, you can enter our
free prize draw for a chance of winning a £50
shopping voucher or £50 off your rent account.
Please go to www.dacorum.gov.uk/STAR to find out more and complete the survey by Sunday 31 July.
Peace of
mind with
Lifeline
Lifeline is an emergency
community alarm service that
allows you to have peace of mind
and an added level of security
in your own home. If you fall
or have an emergency, you can
contact the control centre quickly
and easily by pressing the button
on the main unit or pendant.
Apply on our website, email
lifeline@dacorum.gov.uk or call
on 01442 228347 and we will
send you an application pack.
If you currently use our Lifeline service:
We’re supporting our Lifeline users to prepare for the UK changes to switch over the technology we use to
make calls on landlines from ‘analogue’ to digital.
The changeover will happen by December 2025, when the old technology will stop working but phone
providers have already started work on switching over the network.
When your phone provider contacts you to let you know the changover is taking place, please let them know
you have a personal Lifeline unit in your property that uses your landline. You should also ask them for a free
of charge battery backup unit, which keeps your Lifeline personal alarm working if there is a short power cut.
The Supported Housing team will be in contact with all our Lifeline users to support you through the process.
Please call the Supported Housing team with any questions or concerns on 01442 228347.
Summer 2022 - Dacorum Life 21News for tenants and leaseholders
Save money on
water bills while
helping the
Online training portal environment
We’re encouraging residents to
launched for tenants take advantage of Affinity Water’s
Water Saving Service, which can
save you money on your water
We’ve launched an online training New housing applicants can be bill and help the planet.
portal to provide free training and referred for pre-tenancy training
wellbeing courses for tenants and where they can complete six The water we all use at
housing applicants. bite-size training courses and a home comes from our local
feedback page. There are five environment and unfortunately,
Dacorum Online Training (DOT) too much water is wasted.
extra housing points available if
aims to improve the wellbeing of
the course is completed (those on Two causes of this are hidden
residents while helping tenants
the transfer list are not eligible). leaky pipes and inefficient
with advice and information on
their tenancy. Anyone without internet access fittings, which many residents
will be able to complete the don’t realise are often wasting
Both existing tenants and housing huge amounts of water,
training face-to-face.
applicants can get involved. effectively flushing their hard-
Existing tenants can self-refer Find out more www.dacorum.gov. earned cash down the drain.
for a DOT course by visiting: uk/get-involved
www.dacorum.gov.uk/dot If you arrange a visit, Affinity
Water’s qualified technicians
will come round to your house
Supporting our to identify and repair small
leaks (where possible), offer to
residents health fit free water saving devices,
and give you some advice about
and wellbeing easy changes you could make to
reduce your water bills.
Dancing, digital skills and coffee
mornings are just some of the A home visit should only take
health and wellbeing activities around 40 minutes and Affinity
offered at our supported housing Water will cover 100 per cent of
schemes across the borough. the cost of your visit (normally
Let’s Dance Dacorum has been putting on dance sessions, there have worth £80), and there are no
been digital skills and arts and craft sessions with Community Action hidden charges.
Dacorum and coffee mornings with Age UK Dacorum. Sign up by calling 0808 175 0440
We’d like to hear from our tenants about other activities that you would (8:30am to 5pm, Monday
like to see taking place. Please contact your supported Housing officer or to Friday) or email
the Supported Housing team on 01442 228347. affinity.water@groundwork.org.uk
22 Dacorum Life - Summer 2022ARMED FORCES DAY
SHOW YOUR SUPPORT
Date: 25 June 2022
Location: Gadebridge Park
Confirmed acts:
RLC Silver Stars Army
Parachute Display Team
Misselchalke Gundogs
The Falconry Show
The Polka Dots (1940’s Duo)
Flying Act Stilt Walkers
Mini Tank Act
www.dacorum.gov.uk
Summer 2022 - Dacorum Life 23Wood Lane End, Hemel Hempstead
GET ON THE PROPERTY LADDER WITH
SHARED OWNERSHIP
PHASE ONE COMING SUMMER 2022
Brand new 1, 2 & 3 bedroom homes in
Hemel Hemspstead available for Shared Ownership
This collection of stylish new apartments and houses is
perfectly situated for commuters and within easy access to the
many amenities of Hemel Hempstead.
Register your interest
maylandsplaza.co.uk
Details correct at time of print. Interior images from a previous Hightown Homes development .You can also read
