OUTLOOK - SPRING IS KING IN NORTH HERTFORDSHIRE - North Hertfordshire District ...
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COMMUNITY NEWS FROM NORTH HERTFORDSHIRE DISTRICT COUNCIL
OUTLOOK
CORONAVIRUS SUPPORT RATCLIFFE PAINTING SHOP SAFE SHOP LOCAL CENSUS
SPRING
IS KING
IN NORTH HERTFORDSHIRE
Picture credit: Rob Adds
SPRING
SPRING 2021
2021 www.north-herts.gov.uk
OUTLOOK 1
FROM THE LEADER
I wanted to start by saying we know colleagues in the NHS and the
you are fed up with being told what voluntary sector in particular,
to do and how to live your lives, in running the vaccination
we understand… we sometimes programme has been phenomenal.
feel that way too. We all want to
But we also see the huge pressure
see our families, catch up with our
our local NHS services are still
friends and let grandparents hug
under, at the Lister Hospital and increasing the pressure on the NHS,
their grandchildren. We understand
in our other NHS settings. People as well as potentially putting their
you want to go back to the office,
catching COVID and becoming lives and those of others at risk.
go out for dinner, or catch up with
seriously ill or sadly dying is no longer
friends by means other than a
just something you hear about on If you do need help, please reach
video call.
the news, it is happening now in out to us or contact the Herts Help
The news of vaccinations means our communities to our mothers, service by calling 0300 123 4044 or
there is now real hope on the daughters, husbands, sons and email info@hertshelp.net. Stay safe
horizon and some of you will grandparents. So please don’t be and we can look forward to better
already have received your tempted to bend the rules, we need times ahead.
vaccinations - a truly fantastic to work together to get through
milestone in combating this this. Every person who flexes the Cllr Martin Stears-Handscomb,
dreadful virus. The effort by our rules risks spreading the virus and Leader of the Council
In this issue...
PAGE. 5 Easter recycling
PAGE. 7 Test and Trace support payments PAGE. 11 Shop Safe Shop local
PAGE. 9 North Herts Museum in lockdown PAGE. 12 Grant funding
CONTACTING NHDC NHDC is committed to equal opportunities and our aim is to
make our services easy for all residents to use. If English is not
Most NHDC services can be accessed online. your first language or you have difficulty reading this document
Find out the date of your next waste collection, please contact us to discuss how we may be able to assist you.
apply for a licence, report an issue, register
Please call: 01462 474000, or email service@north-herts.gov.uk
to vote or pay a bill, all through our website:
Textphone (for textphone users) on: 01462 474800
www.north-herts.gov.uk
OUTLOOK is published by the Communications Team,
North Hertfordshire District Council, Council Offices,
Gernon Road, Letchworth, SG6 3JF
email outlook@north-herts.gov.uk
© Unless otherwise stated, articles and photography are
copyright of North Hertfordshire District Council.
Every care is taken to ensure accuracy, but the publisher or
OTHER WAYS TO CONTACT US: manager cannot be held responsible for errors or omissions in
Phone: 01462 474000 editorial content.
www.facebook.com/northhertsDC
“ MAKING NORTH HERTFORDSHIRE
A VIBRANT PLACE TO LIVE,
“
@NorthHertsDC WORK AND PROSPER
2 OUTLOOK follow us on twitter @NorthHertsDC SPRING 2021
Shining a light on Holocaust Memorial Day
27 January marked Holocaust Individuals from different faiths spoke create a poster around the
Memorial Day, a day when the world about what the day means to their light in the darkness theme and
remembers those lost during the faith, reflecting on the importance of Imogen Prosser aged 10 was
Holocaust and other mass genocides. the day. the winner.
NHDC held a virtual online event Stories were shared from Jewish Holocaust Memorial Day is held
to commemorate the day, hosting families who settled in Letchworth annually on 27 January, a date
the event on the Council’s YouTube Garden City before and after the which marks the anniversary of the
channel. The theme of this year Second World War and a video liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau,
was ‘Be the light in the darkness’ interview of Ivor Perl, a Holocaust the largest Nazi death camp.
which encouraged people to not only survivor who was sent to the
reflect on what happened, but also Auschwitz death camp aged 12, was The service can be viewed on
to focus on the ways individuals and shown. the Council’s YouTube channel:
communities resisted that darkness www.youtube.com/user/northhertsdc
Secondary school pupils, including
before, during and after genocide.
Seren Prosser aged 12, won an
The event opened with a prayer NHDC competition asking pupils to
and sermon from Rabbi Alan Garber write about what being a light in the
of the Shenley United Synagogue, darkness means to them, and their
focusing on everyone’s ability and winning entries were read at the
responsibility to be a light in the service. A competition was also held
darkness during difficult times. inviting primary school children to
Have you got your
census letter?
Households across Hertfordshire Local census support centres
are being asked to take part in will be open while the census
Census 2021. is happening. Staff will offer
help for people who are not
Census day is on March 21,
confident online, who don’t
but households will now
have a computer or need help
be receiving letters with
completing on paper.
online codes explaining
how they can The census is a once-in-a-decade
complete their forms. survey that gives us the most
If you don’t get one accurate estimate of all the people
in the next couple of and households in England and
The census is a once- weeks, please get in Wales. It has been carried out
in-a-decade survey touch with the census every decade since 1801, with the
that gives us the most contact centre. You exception of 1941.
accurate estimate can also request a
For more information, and to find
of all the people paper questionnaire
out how to get help, visit census.
and households in if you’d prefer to
gov.uk or call the contact centre
England and Wales. complete your census
on 0800 141 2021.
that way.
SPRING 2021 like our Facebook page www.facebook.com/northhertsDC OUTLOOK 3
ADVERTISEMENT
WASTE & Help keep
RECYCLING your bin
crews safe
PPE litter a To help slow the spread of coronavirus
growing problem and keep you and our collection
workers safe, please remember to:
• Wash your hands before and after
PPE waste is sadly becoming an increasing problem putting your bins out
in North Herts, with masks and gloves in particular, • Disinfect your bin handles and lids
frequently found littered on our streets and in parks
• If you have coronavirus, double
and public spaces. bag and store any used tissues
and PPE for 72 hours before being
Not only does this blight local areas, but it also risks spreading infection.
put outside for collection.
Face masks, gloves and other forms of PPE are designed to protect
people from infection, but poor disposal risks doing the opposite. Thank you - together we can help
maintain a good waste and recycling
We would like to express our gratitude for the magnificent effort of
service for everyone during the
council waste collection teams during the hugely challenging times
COVID-19 crisis.
of the past year, and for the vast majority of residents working hard
to recycle waste and discard PPE responsibly.
Please be responsible and think carefully about how you manage
and dispose of your waste, to help our waste collection crews. Wash and
If you need to throw away used face coverings, or PPE you should:
squash your
• Dispose of them in your purple bin if at home
• Take them home if there is no litter bin, or if the litter bin is full
recycling waste!
• Do not put them in a recycling bin, as they cannot be recycled With people spending more time at
through conventional recycling facilities. home during the pandemic, our waste
volumes have also increased, with
extra home deliveries and more home
meals being prepared. To help deal with
extra recycling here are some top tips:
• Scrape out any food remains/
pour away excess liquid from your
recyclable items.
• Give your recyclable items a quick rinse.
• Squash your recyclable items safely,
either with your hands or under
your foot.
• Tear any cardboard boxes into
smaller pieces.
• Once you have put the items into your
grey bin, push down on it all to make
more space. Wash your hands after!
4 OUTLOOK follow us on twitter @NorthHertsDC SPRING 2021
RECYCLE EGGSTRA
WASTE THIS EASTER
Did you know cardboard, moulded plastic packaging
and foil from your chocolate Easter eggs and treats
can all be recycled in your grey recycling bin?
Chocolate
There are plenty of ideas to help you use up any leftovers from
your Easter meals, just take a look at www.lovefoodhatewaste.
fridge cake
com or freeze items for another day. If you still have leftover food Why not have a go at this chocolate
to dispose of, make sure it goes into your food waste caddy for fridge cake, which is a great way to
composting, to avoid unnecessary waste going to landfill. use up leftover chocolate Easter
eggs, and makes a wonderful
afternoon treat! You can use any
plain type of biscuit, and use up
any mixture of nuts or dried
fruit you might have sitting in
your kitchen cupboards. Visit:
www.lovefoodhatewaste.com/recipe/
leftover-chocolate-fridge-cake
Did you know that
your fridge should
be below 5°C?
The average UK fridge temperature is set
at 7°C, which is bad news for milk and
other food items kept in the fridge,
Normal Revised as they can perish quickly when not
Collection Collection stored at the right temperature.
Friday 2 April Saturday 3 April
Did you know the equivalent of 3.1 million
Changes to Monday 5 April
Tuesday 6 April
Tuesday 6 April
Wednesday 7 April
glasses of milk are poured down our
bin collections Wednesday 7 April Thursday 8 April
kitchen sinks every day in the UK? And
that a family of four wastes £70 every
over Easter Thursday 8 April Friday 9 April month by chucking food away? What’s
more, the average UK household could
and May Bank Friday 9 April Saturday 10 April
make seven extra meals every week if it
Holidays 2021 All collections will be one day later said goodbye to unnecessary food waste.
than usual following the early and The good news is that putting a stop
A reminder that bin collection late May Bank Holidays. to this is easy. Set your fridge to the
dates will change over the
To check your collection day visit: right temperature so that your milk
Easter break and after the
www.north-herts.gov.uk/home/ and other food items can last three
May Bank Holidays.
waste-and-recycling days longer. Use Love Food Hate
Easter bin collections will Waste’s simple tool to find out how:
change as follows: www.lovefoodhatewaste.com/article/
chill-fridge-out
SPRING 2021 like our Facebook page www.facebook.com/northhertsDC OUTLOOK 5
Council
supports
NHS Test
and Trace
service
In recent weeks, NHDC staff and
Councillors have been assisting the
NHS and County Test and Trace
services. Six members of staff and four
Councillors have volunteered to contact
residents confirmed as being COVID
positive, but who have not been reached
by the national NHS or County Test
and Trace systems.
Known as ‘Contact Door Knockers’, the
Healthy Start Vouchers
team will carry out at least two home
visits for each referral within 24 hours
– don’t miss out
if necessary. Once contacted, our team Are you pregnant or do you The vouchers can be
advises the resident of the essential have a child under four? redeemed at local retailers.
need to self-isolate, checks their welfare, Did you know you could be If you are entitled to Healthy
making sure they have access to food, missing out on free fruit and Start Vouchers you will also get
medicine or any other essential items vegetables or milk? free vitamins designed to help
and provides contact details for HertsHelp pregnant and breastfeeding
If you are at least 10 weeks
- a network of community organisations women and growing children.
pregnant or have a child
for access to essential items, if assistance
under four years old you To be eligible you should be in
is needed.
could be entitled to Healthy receipt of certain means-tested
If the team are unable to reach the Start Vouchers worth £4.25 benefits. Check your eligibility
resident, a letter informing them that per child per week, to spend on www.gov.uk/healthy-start
they need to self-isolate and a HertsHelp on milk, plain fresh and frozen
You can pick up an application
information leaflet is left, along with a fruit and vegetables, and
leaflet at your GP’s or baby
request that they contact the County instant formula milk. You
clinic. Alternatively you
Test and Trace call centre. can also use them to buy
can phone for a form on
pulses and canned fruit and 0345 607 6823 or download
All door knocking visits are carried
vegetable as long as they and print one from
out safely, adhering to social distance
have no fat, salt, sugar or www.healthystart.nhs.uk/healthy-
requirements, and the team wear
other flavouring added. start-vouchers/how-to-apply/.
personal protective equipment. They do
not enter people’s homes.
Committee meetings
Contacting people who are confirmed as
COVID positive is critical, as is requiring
them to completely self-isolate for the full
We are currently live streaming If you wish to contribute on
duration of the time they are contagious.
all of our committee meetings the items which are tabled for
It is with the help of these and other
on the Council’s YouTube discussion, you can do so via Zoom.
committed colleagues that we can help
channel.
reduce the spread of the virus. Please check our website for
We welcome public participation dates and more information:
For more information on NHS Test and
and hope that our meetings www.north-herts.gov.uk/home/
Trace go to: www.nhs.uk/conditions/
are now more accessible to council-and-democracy/council-
coronavirus-covid-19/testing-and-tracing/
residents. and-committee-meetings
6 OUTLOOK follow us on twitter @NorthHertsDC SPRING 2021
Citizens Advice North Hertfordshire
Concerned Wondering which Questions Need to apply for
about debts? benefits you may about furlough? settled status?
be entitled to claim?
Your local independent advice impact on your mental health and Later in the year they will be
charity, Citizens Advice North wellbeing so do get in touch and see conducting Community Financial
Hertfordshire can help you. They how they can help. Capability Workshops to enable you to:
provide free, confidential and
Their dedicated team are available to • Reduce your debts
impartial advice on a range of issues,
offer advice and information. You
including benefits, debts, housing, • Improve your mental and
can contact them on 01462 689801
relationships, employment and physical wellbeing
email them through the website
consumer problems. As well as a
www.northhertscab.org.uk. • Maximise your income
general advice service, they run a
number of specialist services including Calling all Letchworth residents • Support your family better
homelessness prevention, energy • Control your spending
Citizens Advice have just launched
switching, scams awareness, and
a Letchworth Financial Health Project, • Find the best deals
crisis intervention.
available to all Letchworth Garden
Life is even more complicated than City residents. For more information look out
usual at the moment, and many This local project aims to improve the for the Citizens Advice Gazebo in
of us are struggling with reduced current and future financial education, the Garden Square Shopping Centre
incomes, job insecurity, relationship support and wellbeing of our community, and at the Best Before Café, or
problems, and just how to stay on working with partners in Letchworth email letchworthfinancialhealth
top of things. In the last nine months and identifying new and innovative @nhdcab.org.uk
their team helped over 4,300 local ways of delivering money advice.
people with nearly 9,000 issues and If you would like to support any
gained financial outcomes for them They have a new team of specialist aspect of their work, you can find
worth £1.1 million. advisers ready to assist with individual details of volunteering opportunities
confidential advice. and/or make a donation by visiting
Over the past 12 months 92% of their www.northhertscab.org.uk.
clients said they would recommend If you need advice and support with
them to others and 83% said they debt or benefits now, call 01462 688014
resolved their problem. Sorting out or email letchworthdebtandbenefits
practical problems has a positive @nhdcab.org.uk for assistance.
Test and Trace Support Payment deadline extended
Residents who are financially The fund, which was originally self-isolate is also available.
struggling after being asked to due to close in January, will now This enables us to support
self-isolate by NHS Test and Trace, enable more eligible residents to people who are self-isolating
can now claim financial support self-isolate without the worry that but fall outside of the standard
from the Test and Trace Support they have no money coming in. scheme.
Payment fund until 31 March 2021. Applications must be made within
two weeks of the end of the
The Test and Trace Support To find out more including
isolation period.
Payments are a one-off lump sum eligibility criteria please go
of £500 per person if they have A Discretionary Fund for residents to: www.north-herts.gov.uk/
been asked to self-isolate, can who do not qualify for the Test testandtracesupport
prove they cannot work from home and Trace Support Payment
and are on a related benefit. but need financial support to
SPRING 2021 like our Facebook page www.facebook.com/northhertsDC OUTLOOK 7
Museum
bags
important
painting
North Hertfordshire Museum has added a new North Herts Museum
has the major collection
oil painting by William Ratcliffe to its collection, of Ratcliffe paintings in
after being the successful bidder at a London the country, because
auction last winter. he spent much of his
life in Letchworth, and
The painting, called The Red Curtain, in Baldock. Born in Norfolk, Ratcliffe later lived in Baldock.
shows a corner of the living room grew up in industrial Manchester,
in a house on the Wilbury Road, where he worked as a wallpaper
Letchworth Garden City, in 1916. designer. He moved to the new
Although Ratcliffe was penniless for Garden City of Letchworth as a graphic City architects. Stanley Parker and
most of his adult life, his oil paintings designer around 1906, but soon gave William Ratcliffe were lifelong friends,
now sell for tens of thousands of up his job to become a full-time artist. and Ratcliffe lived with the Parker
pounds. Thanks to exceptionally He never managed to sell much, and family on and off throughout his life.
generous grants from the from the 1920s was too poor to buy In the years before the First World
Hertfordshire Heritage Fund, the Arts much oil paint and canvas, so instead War the Garden City, with its promise
Council England/V & A Purchase Grant spent time painting watercolours. of a Utopian lifestyle, attracted many
Fund and the Art Fund, the museum artists, designers and craft workers.
The Red Curtain shows one end of the
was able to buy the work.
open-plan living room of the house When COVID restrictions allow, and
North Herts Museum has the major belonging to Stanley Parker, craftsman the museum reopens, The Red
collection of Ratcliffe paintings in the and art teacher at St Christopher Curtain painting is displayed upstairs in
country, because he spent much of School, whose brother Barry was one the museum’s Terrace Gallery and is
his life in Letchworth, and later lived of the original Letchworth Garden well worth a look.
Herts Careline - here for people when they need us most
The Council’s Herts Careline “Thank you for your care and up so much I actually cried after they
community alarm service is making attention in particular when I had to left. Loneliness and isolation are hell,
a huge difference to residents across call on your services after an accident but it was lifted briefly. Thank you.”
the county who rely on their 24/7 and the almost instant attention of The service has seen in the region of
community alarm and telecare a paramedic on the scene was most 150-200 new customers join the service
service to support them living efficiently done. All power to your every month during the pandemic
independently at home. wonderful organisation.” restriction period. The service is able
“I wish to express my thanks to the to offer contactless installations (if
The control room takes thousands two engineers who visited me this requested) – providing equipment to
of calls from elderly and vulnerable week to test the battery in my alarm. the doorstep then guiding the
people every week, providing They were the first people I have resident to set up the equipment via
emergency medical assistance for talked to in six months. They were the telephone from outside.
those in need. We have received kind, chatty and have made my For more information visit
many wonderful comments from Christmas. I am alone and isolated, www.care-line.co.uk or call
residents and their families: but the two gentlemen cheered me 0300 999 2 9999.
8 OUTLOOK follow us on twitter @NorthHertsDC SPRING 2021
North Herts Museum: busy during lockdown
The North Herts Museum may be especially for children and families. Finally, planning for our forthcoming
closed to the public, but staff are We’ve also been busy creating online exhibitions is well underway, including
busy behind the scenes, getting on resources on the museum website, The Tiger Who Came To Tea this
with projects to improve the service including quizzes and a scavenger summer, followed by an exhibition
we give you. hunt. Schools who subscribe to the of Brian Sawford’s superb natural
museum service now have their history photographs.
At the beginning of lockdown we own section of our website, with
uploaded a different photograph of presentations about the Greeks,
the district each day onto our social the Fire of London and Florence
media channels. This was hugely Nightingale, and more to come.
popular, with some images reaching
over 2,500 people. We have also During the last year, over 1,600
designated Friday as Football Friday, items have been added to our
when we’re uploading images from online catalogue, called eHive.
the football collection. This is available free for anyone
to look at from home and is well
As well as using Facebook, Twitter worth exploring. The web address
and Instagram to keep in touch, is www.ehive.com and if you type
we’ve created our own YouTube NHerts into the Search box you
channel with a range of videos will find information on over
about the museum and some videos 3,500 museum objects.
Search
northhertsmuseum northhertsmuseum @nhertsmuseum
‘North Herts Museum’
Follow North
Herts Museu m
Getting the health
help you need
With COVID-19 still dominating term condition is getting worse, if you
headlines, please remember that are worried about your child’s health
the NHS is still here for your other or have a symptom that might be
important health needs. Dr Tara cancer. If you’re concerned, please
Belcher, a Hitchin GP, explains how don’t put off seeking help.
to get the help you need this spring.
“When you contact your GP, the team
Tara says: “The NHS is busier than will ask questions to find out how
ever. GPs have already vaccinated urgent your health needs are and
symptoms assessed and an
many thousands of patients in the which clinician would be best placed
appointment made with a doctor or
priority groups against COVID-19, but to help. This might be a nurse, a
nurse if you need one. NHS 111 is also
we continue to be there for everyone pharmacist, a GP, or another member
a quick route to mental health help
who needs us for other reasons. of the team like a social prescriber or
24/7 – just choose option 2 when you
a physiotherapist. If you are calling for
“How you get in touch with our GP make a call.
a routine issue like a blood pressure
practices may have changed over the
check, we may ask you to wait a few “Remember that pharmacists are also
past year, but you should still phone
weeks before contacting us again. medicines experts and popping in for
or go to your practice website if you
a quick chat can be a convenient way
are concerned about your health and “Don’t forget that NHS 111 is there
to get help with minor illnesses.”
need help. This is important especially for you too. Visit www.111.nhs.uk or
if your problem is urgent, if your long call 111 at any time to have your For more information visit www.nhs.uk
SPRING 2021 like our Facebook page www.facebook.com/northhertsDC OUTLOOK 9
The coronavirus pandemic has
had a huge impact on shops,
Shop pubs and restaurants and NHDC
is hitting back with its Shop
safe, Safe, Shop Local campaign.
Shop
Local! Please support local businesses
during the pandemic by purchasing
8. When you’re making a purchase
use a card and don’t forget to
local goods and services online bring your own bag
Launched in January, the campaign where you can.
aims to encourage residents to 9. Avoid crowds and if there’s a
make a pledge to support local How to shop safely queue, call back later
businesses by shopping online 10. Remember if you have any
1. Make a pledge to support local
during lockdown. COVID-19 symptoms you must
businesses throughout 2021
self-isolate.
During the pandemic, towns across
2. Shop online from your local High
the region from Hitchin to Royston The Shop Safe, Shop Local campaign
Street retailer wherever possible
have worked tirelessly to offer is part of the North Herts Reopening
shoppers an online experience. 3. Give yourself a treat and order a the High Streets Safely Programme.
Many retailers now offer online takeaway The project is receiving funding from
shopping; whilst many cafes and the England European Regional
restaurants are offering takeaways. 4. When shopping for essential goods Development Fund as part of the
and services abide by the physical European Structural and Investment
The latest research* reveals that distancing signage Funds Growth Programme 2014-
for every £1 spent with a local,
5. In-store, wear a face covering at 2020. For more information visit:
independent business, between
all times www.gov.uk/european-growth-funding.
50p-70p circulates back into the
*
Independent Retailer Month.
local economy.
6. Wash your hands and use hand
By buying your meat from a local sanitisers if shopping for essential
butcher or ordering a takeaway goods
from a local café or restaurant, you We all love our high
7. Handle as few things as possible,
will provide much-needed support streets, and so we
only pick-up what you want
to your local community. all need to do our
to buy
bit to support local
businesses.
The Healthy Hub Helps out
Throughout the pandemic many of increase in individuals and families Food support networks have also
our local services have been working needing support. Local domestic seen a strain on resources, with many
hard to support residents with staying abuse support services have had people feeling the financial pressure
safe and well during a challenging their resources stretched and seen that this year has brought. The
year. The North Herts Healthy Hub an increase in people needing help Best Before Café have supported the
were keen to support a couple with emergency food supplies and residents of Letchworth and beyond
of these local services with some essential welfare items. The by continuing their food rescue
essential funding to allow them to Healthy Hub are working closely service, which allows individuals to
keep up their hard work. with local domestic abuse support rescue surplus food which otherwise
specialists Survivors Against Domestic would be going to landfill. The Healthy
A shocking rise in domestic abuse
Abuse (SADA), by supporting the Hub have been able to part fund the
has been a distressing outcome of
provision of essential fresh food and fitting of a kitchen, so the Best
the pandemic and in North Herts
welfare items such as nappies Before team can continue to
we have sadly seen a substantial
and sanitary products. develop their service.
10 OUTLOOK follow us on twitter @NorthHertsDC SPRING 2021Are you looking to
let your property?
Do you have property in North Herts that
you wish to rent out? If so, we would love
to hear from you!
Our new scheme for landlords, Lets4U, has
now been operating for several months and
Coronavirus - advice if many landlords have already successfully
let their properties through the scheme.
your home is a House The Lets4U scheme was introduced to
make the process of renting your property
in Multiple Occupation as easy as possible. As a housing team,
we routinely work with many customers
If you live in privately rented • Keep your room well-ventilated who are looking to rent privately. This
accommodation and share your means that we are ideally placed to help
• Wear a face covering in indoor identify suitable, long term tenants for
home with others, this is viewed
shared areas your property. We are able to provide a
as one household with regard
to COVID-19 regulations. When • Don’t go out to exercise. dedicated, personal service, including:
moving into a shared house you
If you don’t know the people you • Initial affordability assessments to
should self-isolate for 10 days
are living with, or don’t speak the ensure that prospective tenants are
before you move in, to prevent
same language, please contact able to manage the rent and other
the spread of COVID-19 to other
our Environmental Health team by outgoings
members of the household.
calling 01462 474000 and asking • Follow up tenant and property check
If there is a COVID-19 case, for Environmental Health, or email after three months to ensure the
all the household must follow Env.health@north-herts.gov.uk settling in process has gone well
the Stay at Home guidance
for households with possible Guidance for landlords and tenants • Ongoing tenancy support and housing
coronavirus COVID-19 infection, advice to both tenant and landlord
GOV.UK provides guidance for
to reduce the spread of infection.
landlords and tenants on the • Quick turnaround to minimise void periods.
Search ‘Stay at home Guidance’
Coronavirus Act 2020. This
on www.gov.uk for full details. Where appropriate, we may also be able to
law protects private tenants
If you develop symptoms of by ensuring landlords provide help prospective tenants with upfront costs,
COVID-19 or test positive, you at least six months’ notice of which will be paid directly to you.
must self-isolate immediately. intended eviction, except in cases
We provide this service free, at no cost to
You should: of anti-social behaviour, false
you. This is because you are helping us to
statement or at least six month’s
• Stay away from other help our customers find a home.
rent arrears. This applies until
members of your household, at least 31 March 2021. We also welcome interest from lettings
especially clinically extremely agents who would like to work with us.
vulnerable people If you are worried about paying
your rent, or if landlords are If you would like to find out more, please
• Wherever possible, stay in concerned for their tenants, contact Chloe Brazier on 01462 474288 or
your own room advice is available from: email chloe.brazier@north-herts.gov.uk
• Use kitchen / bathroom • Shelter
facilities after other members https://england.shelter.org.
of your household where uk/housing_advice/debt_
possible, then clean and_money_problems
• Citizens Advice
• Use separate towels / www.citizensadvice.org.uk/
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SPRING 2021 like our Facebook page www.facebook.com/northhertsDC OUTLOOK 11Local groups benefit
from grant funding
Our Area Committees have been busy granting funding to various local groups
and community projects. Here’s a roundup of some of the most recent recipients:
£800 to purchase a new set of of connectedness and balance.
metal goal posts to facilitate games Working together with the Art
of football. Department of Hitchin Boys School to
design the new sculpture, the Hitchin
Knebworth FC received £300 to
Quaker Group will commission Diane
purchase two temporary shelters
Maclean, Hertfordshire based sculptor
for use on match days, as they are
and environmental artist, to create the
currently unable to use the changing
Unity sculpture.
Letchworth Area Committee rooms at the pavilion on Knebworth
Recreation Ground due to social Royston Area Committee
Norton Green Care CIC is a Letchworth distancing restrictions
based project that supports vulnerable 1st Royston Scouts received £796
and socially excluded people by Offley Primary School purchased to help buy eight new tents that will
getting them involved in gardening. COVID safe furnishings such as wipe be used by more than 85 Scouts,
They recently received £400 for down large bean bags, pop up tents, Cubs and Beavers. The tents will be
the installation of a new shed and outdoor play equipment and a used for training experiences during
portaloo at the site of their gardening storage shed with a £1,250 grant. the pandemic, such as learning
project in Norton Road allotments. The school run an afterschool club how to pitch a tent and be used for
First launched in July 2019, the which welcomes children from the camping excursions when COVID
project gives ongoing long-term local area. restrictions allow.
support to local residents, helping
7th Barkway Scout Group received
them overcome social exclusion,
£795 to assist with purchasing tents,
loneliness, isolation and mental health
lightweight cookers, lanterns, storage
issues. They also support participants
containers, bush saws and water
in taking the first steps into paid
containers. The Scouts will be trained
employment through collaboration
in how to use the equipment ready
with partner organisations including
for camping excursions during 2021,
settle Housing Association Tenancy
when coronavirus guidelines allow.
Support, Job Centre Plus and Create
Community Networks ‘Foundations 4 Melbourn Area Youth Development
Work’ programme. (MAYD) received £902 to assist with
the costs of running a series of
workshops for young people from
Royston. The funding will enable
MAYD to run two six-week
workshops for young people
Hitchin Area Committee aged 13 – 19. Participants
will have the opportunity
The Hitchin Quaker Meeting Peace to vote on the workshop
Southern Rural Area Garden was granted £2,000 to themes, including music,
Committee put towards the cost of a specially dance, cookery, art,
commissioned stainless steel sculpture drama and sport.
FC Comets run youth football teams called ‘Unity’. The sculpture will
for ages 6 to 18. The well-established comprise of two intertwined loops
club is based in Ickleford and received that seek to encourage thoughts
12 OUTLOOK follow us on twitter @NorthHertsDC SPRING 2021You can also read
