In this issue: Splash Park summer fun Supporting our high streets News for our tenants and leaseholders - Residents' magazine Summer 2021
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In this issue:
Splash Park summer fun
Supporting our high streets
News for our tenants and leaseholders
Residents’ magazine Summer 2021
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 Pride in Dacorum
please get in touch.
Page 6
For even faster news and updates
The future’s looking bright for
why not follow us on social media?
Dacorum business
We’re on all the popular platforms,
including Facebook, Twitter and Page 8 P4
Instagram.
Keeping our communities connected
Find them all at Page 10
www.dacorum.gov.uk/social-media
Our teams keeping Dacorum clean,
Dacorum Life editorial safe and green
communications@dacorum.gov.uk
Page 12
General enquiries (Customer Your councillors
Services)
01442 228000
Page 14
Council offices
Council in strong position to
support COVID-19 recovery P7
The Forum
Marlowes Page 16
Hemel Hempstead Climate and Ecological Emergency
HP1 1DN is our priority
You can apply, pay, report and Page 18 P17
contact us on our website for
Building for the future
a range of services.
www.dacorum.gov.uk Page 20-23
All the latest information for our
Nice to know tenants and leaseholders including
how we can help you downsize
P21
• Dacorum Life is printed on paper
produced by well-managed (page 20) how to apply for a Tenant
forests. Improvement Grant (page 21) and
more about our supported
• It costs less than 19 pence per housing schemes (page 22)
copy to print and distribute.
Page 23
• Alternative formats are
available: audio and large print. Useful contacts
Front cover image: Keep connected
Berkhamsted High Street You can keep up to date with all the latest council news with
by Martin Rance. 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 your new-look We’ve also launched our Our priorities 2020-2025
residents’ magazine Dacorum Life LoyalFree place promotion app,
(previously Dacorum Digest). which offers discounts and Ensuring economic
other benefits at participating growth and prosperity
In this summer edition, you’ll find
businesses to encourage people
the latest news and events from
to shop local (more on page 7). Building strong and
around your borough as well as
more information on how our key Moving to the future, we are vibrant communities
priorities shape the work we do involved in exciting projects
as a council. regarding planning and A clean, safe and
development. enjoyable environment
In September 2019, we added the
Climate and Ecological Emergency We’re part of the pilot of a new
Ensuring efficient,
as our sixth priority. Find out local design guide for housing
development and are one of effective and modern
more about our pledge to make
14 councils across England service delivery
our services carbon neutral by
2030 and for our 10,250 council given £50,000 each to develop
Climate and
homes to reach net-zero by 2050 new design codes as part of a
ecological emergency
on page 16. nationwide testing programme.
The new codes will set out design
Dacorum Life now incorporates Providing good quality
principles for new development in
the latest news for our tenants affordable homes, in
Dacorum and will be expected to
and leaseholders, and combining particular for those
enhance the character of the local
the two publications has helped area and ensure future design most in need
us substantially reduce our carbon quality - meaning developments
footprint. are beautiful, well designed and
It’s been a time of immense locally led.
change for councils across And along with 10 other councils,
the country and we’ve been we’ve been awarded a share of
continuing to support our a £1.1 million Government grant
community through difficult times fund to digitally transform the
while delivering essential front planning process. The new system
line services. will use the latest technology
This edition of Dacorum Life through online maps and data to
highlights the many projects and make planning proposals more
plans we as a council are involved accessible and interactive.
in for our residents, communities Although the impact of
and businesses. coronavirus is still with us, there
We’re fully committed to are great opportunities ahead
supporting our high streets and for our borough this year. We
local businesses to recover and are implementing our road to
our teams have been supporting recovery, and are looking forward
the business community to the rest of the year with
throughout the pandemic renewed vigour and hope.
administering grants and offering Wishing all our residents and Cllr Andrew Williams
vital advice and support. businesses a good summer ahead. Leader of the Council
Summer 2021 - Dacorum Life 3
News
New Tap and
Give scheme
As with many other areas, when
you’re out shopping in our town
centres you may be asked for
money by people who appear
to be rough sleepers. While most
are polite, we know that some
people can find being approached
intimidating. There’s also a risk that some donations could be used to
buy items that are harmful to the individual, such as alcohol or drugs.
By giving directly to recognised homeless charities instead, you can
help ensure that your money goes towards providing long-term help
and support to those most in need.
We’re introducing a new Tap and Give scheme, in partnership with
Hemel Hempstead BID Management, which enables shoppers to
Pride in Dacorum donate money safely to local homeless charities, using a contactless
Throughout the month of June, payment card. Donation points are being installed in several locations
the LGBTQI+ inclusive Pride flag around Hemel Hempstead town centre, including the Marlowes Centre.
was proudly flown above our The scheme will start as a pilot in Hemel Hempstead town centre, if
offices in Hemel Hempstead. successful it will be expanded to include other town centres or local
shopping areas in Dacorum.
June is chosen as the month
for national Pride celebrations We commission and work in partnership with Dacorum Outreach
because it marks the anniversary Service to actively support and help find suitable accommodation for
rough sleepers in Dacorum. If you’re concerned about a rough sleeper
of the Stonewall protests in New
please email db.outreach@hightownha.org.uk or call 07393 466730.
York City in 1969, a key turning
point for LGBTQI+ rights around For further information on support for rough sleepers visit our
the world. website www.dacorum.gov.uk/roughsleepers
Support for businesses Dacorum
impacted by COVID-19 appoints
The Government has provided a package of new Mayor
measures to support businesses impacted
Cllr Stewart Riddick was
by the COVID-19 pandemic. For the latest
appointed the Mayor of
information please visit the Government’s
Dacorum at the mayor
website www.gov.uk/coronavirus/
making ceremony in May.
business-support
Cllr Riddick has lived in
It has also implemented several grant Dacorum for 43 years
schemes during the pandemic to support and has served as a
businesses, which have been administered councillor since 2015,
by local councils. For further information representing Bovingdon,
on grants see our website Flaunden and Chipperfield, including sitting on
www.dacorum.gov.uk/ a number of committees within the council.
covid-19-business-support
The Mayor’s chosen charity is DENS.
4 Dacorum Life - Summer 2021
Splash Park
Our Splash Park reopened in June
ready to welcome children for the
The show must go on summer. Due to current COVID-19
restrictions, sessions are
The Old Town Hall is preparing to leave lockdown we’re confident limited and need to be booked
reopen its doors in September (if that with your support the Old online. The booking system
able to do so safely and in line Town Hall can once again be a will be reviewed alongside
with Government advice). thriving small venue in the the Government’s decision on
community. whether to ease restrictions
Our Hemel theatre has been the
further on 19 July.
home of exceptional, exciting Visit www.oldtownhall.co.uk to
and challenging work for over find out what’s on and sign up For current information and to
40 years; intended to inspire to the mailing list to be the first book, visit www.dacorum.gov.
and develop the way you enjoy to hear about events and other uk/splash or follow Gadebridge
and participate in the arts. As we offers. Splash Park on Facebook.
Playgrounds
Let the adventures begin
Our four Hemel Hempstead adventure playgrounds, Adeyfield, Bennetts End,
Chaulden and Grovehill, are available to hire - ideal for birthday parties, family
gatherings or school events.
Our facilities in Adeyfield and Grovehill have had a makeover and now have
multi-play structures including climbing walls, double tubular slides, water play
and sand pits as well as floodlit 3G artificial turf pitches and basketball areas.
To find the latest information on adventure playground openings in line with
Government guidelines, or to hire the playgrounds or sports areas visit:
www.dacorum.gov.uk/adventureplaygrounds
Summer 2021 - Dacorum Life 5
Ensuring economic growth and prosperity
The future is looking bright for
Dacorum’s businesses
Focusing on promoting economic growth and prosperity throughout the borough, making Dacorum
a destination for business and supporting our local businesses and high streets
which our Economic Development businesses appeared in our video
team have supported our local to promote the reopening of our
businesses, both in terms of high streets, and talk about the
advice and the administration of measures that have been put in
grants to help keep them afloat. place to ensure that visitors can
For further details about the shop safely. It was wonderful to
current range of support available see the enthusiasm of business
for businesses see page 4. owners and showcase the
variety of great places to visit in
It was great to see so many of
Hemel Hempstead, Berkhamsted
our businesses, including non-
and Tring.
essential shops and hospitality
venues with outdoor spaces, Hemel Hempstead Old Town will
Cllr Alan Anderson welcome back customers on also once again feature in the
Portfolio Holder for Planning 12 April. Our residents responded Netflix series, After Life, which
and Infrastructure fantastically, returning to our has recently started filming its
high streets to support local third series, using many locations
The last year or so has been
businesses and take a break around the High Street.
extremely challenging for our
from online shopping.
local businesses. COVID-19 On 17 May, a further lifting of
restrictions and associated In April, we also launched our new restrictions meant our hospitality
lockdowns have resulted in many LoyalFree place promotion app, venues could serve customers
businesses having to close for which offers discounts and inside, and larger groups could
sustained periods of time, or other benefits at participating get together outside for a
having to make significant businesses for shopping local. long-awaited meal or drink.
changes in the way they operate, Sign up today to support your
As we cautiously progress into
to ensure they meet with local high street (find out more
the future, there are so many
Government safety guidance. on page 7).
reasons for optimism for our local
I am very pleased with the way in Some familiar faces from local businesses and our borough.
6 Dacorum Life - Summer 2021
New ways of
working
Due to the increase in employees
working from home, Maylands
Business Centre is offering free
workspace, providing a number
of desks that can be booked by
the hour, day or week.
Flexidesx is available for those
who may not have enough
Love local with LoyalFree
space to work from home, or We have recently partnered So far, more than 100 local
are looking for a relaxed and with LoyalFree to launch its free businesses, including shops
professional environment. loyalty scheme app in Dacorum. and restaurants, have shared
Parking and catering options promotions through the scheme.
The LoyalFree app is free to It’s free for businesses to join and
are available on site. As part download to your smartphone
of the pilot, the facility is new offers are added all the time.
on Google Play or Apple, and
currently free of charge. provides access to offers, deals, Love local and help support your
To learn more email business@ competitions, event listings high streets.
dacorum.gov.uk or call 01442 and more at participating local Download the LoyalFree app here
531002. businesses in the borough. www.loyalfree.co.uk/download
Save the high Dacorum’s back
street in the spotlight
Are you a high street business Hemel Hempstead welcomed
in Dacorum? We have a unique, back film crews in May, for the
fully funded programme of filming of the popular Netflix
business support to help you to series After Life, written by and
reopen safely and successfully. starring Ricky Gervais.
We have a limited number of Fans of the series will recognise lots of familiar locations, including the
places available for one-to-one Old Town High Street and Gadebridge Park.
support, plus access to the Filming has also recently started around Dacorum on the latest series of
platform on a first-come BBC series Ladhood.
first-served basis. To find out
Dacorum has become increasingly popular as a location for filming,
more please email business@
due to our diverse range of urban and stunning rural areas, and our
dacorum.gov.uk or visit www.
proximity to London. This has great benefits for our borough, attracting
savethehighstreet.org/dacorum new business, tourism and star-spotting opportunities.
Summer 2021 - Dacorum Life 7
Building strong and vibrant communities
Keeping our communities connected
Our Communities teams are committed to ensuring our residents have opportunities to thrive,
improve their mental and physical wellbeing and come together to build resilience.
up local contact tracing, isolation Our Healthy Hub Dacorum is a
checks, investigating workplace one-stop shop for residents
outbreaks, as well as dealing with providing guidance on services
business as usual activities such that support health and wellbeing
as inspections of enviromental needs. It has been a fantastic
crime, high-risk food business, support to residents, open
accident investigation, animal virtually since June 2020 and now
welfare and noise complaints, to offering physical drop-in sessions.
name but a few. They’ve also been www.healthyhubs.org.uk
supporting the Council to ensure In the coming months, we’ve
that departments, buildings and events planned including Your
staff are operating in a COVID- Town run and Fun Palaces, in
Cllr Julie Banks secure way. They’ve worked with October. I’m delighted with the
Portfolio Holder for Community increased workloads and ever- refurbishment of two of our
and Regulatory Services changing environments, and I am Adventure Playgrounds, which
extremely proud of the way they have new multi-play structures
Our community is at the heart of have adapted and played such and sports pitches – all our
the work we do as a council, and an important role in steering us playgrounds are available to
the pandemic has shown how through this very difficult time. hire and have proved a lifeline
vital it is to continue to build to parents holding toddler and
strong and vibrant communities The pandemic has shown
youth groups.
across the borough. how essential our health and
wellbeing is, and our Community And shows will go on, with the
Our teams have been at the Partnerships Team has continued planned reopening of our Old
forefront of the work to support its important focus on creating Town Theatre in September.
residents during this time. physical activity and wellbeing www.oldtownhall.co.uk
The Environmental and activities across the borough, It’s been a difficult period for so
Community Protection Team has adapting to virtual online events many people, but we’re positive
been absolutely key in the work such as our Wellness Festivals, the we can move forward together
against COVID-19 in Dacorum. Wake up and Dance sessions and with our strong and vibrant
Their role has included heading the Chatty Café scheme. communities.
8 Dacorum Life - Summer 2021
Celebrating our
community champions
We recognised the borough’s most equipment that their grant helped
inspirational community projects to pay for, to make over 900 face
at our annual community grant shields for key workers and front-
awards ceremony – held virtually line staff (pictured).
due to COVID-19 restrictions.
The awards were open to all
From providing PPE for COVID-19 groups which received funding in
key workers, to encouraging us to 2019-20. Community grants are
get up and move, all the winning for not-for-profit organisations
projects have had a positive which are based in Dacorum, Community and voluntary groups
impact on the community. or working with our residents, can apply for a grant of up to
Among the winners, were D-Lab, and are designed to support £3,000.
based in Berkhamsted, who were community activities and improve
the health and wellbeing of Find out more and apply:
able to adapt their focus during
people in the borough. www.dacorum.gov.uk/grants
lockdown. They used the
Supporting the
Armed Forces
To mark Armed Forces Day on
Saturday 26 June we awarded
£500 grants to projects which
support the Armed Forces
community.
Among the community projects
supported were Tring Together to organise a concert
in the town Memorial Gardens and the Hemel
Hempstead Rotary Club to organise a visit to the
Looking for an
National Memorial Arboretum.
Age UK Dacorum were awarded a grant to organise
adventure? reminiscence sessions; Dacorum Radio organised
music and podcasts and Viking Community Fitness
Our four Hemel Hempstead adventure playgrounds organised sports activities aimed at supporting
are available to hire for private parties and group mental health in Hemel Hempstead.
bookings.
As part of the Armed Forces Day event, book-lovers
Our Adeyfield and Grovehill playgrounds also have were treated to a question and answer session with
new floodlit 3G artificial turf pitches and a multi- two popular authors.
play basketball area which can be hired for football
Author Michael Morpurgo linked up with schools as
and sporting needs.
part of Tring Book Festival, to talk about his new
There’s a range of activities held regularly at the book Farm Boy, a sequel to War Horse, and answer
playgrounds including toddler and youth groups. children’s questions.
To find out more about facilities at each And former RAF Officer John Nichol held a virtual
playground or to hire, visit www.dacorum.gov.uk/ event talking and answering questions about his new
adventureplaygrounds book Tornado: In the eye of the storm.
Summer 2021 - Dacorum Life 9
A clean, safe and enjoyable environment
Our teams keeping Dacorum
clean, safe and green
Making the borough a pleasant, more sustainable environment for our residents.
disruption COVID-19 has caused tonnes of garden waste from
all of our lives. landfill, so that it could be
recycled into compost instead.
Sustainability is a key priority,
highlighted by a number of Late last year, we completed a
successful projects. We’ve planted renovation project to restore
1,300 trees to help create a the Grade II-listed White Bridge
home for wildlife and preserve in Gadebridge Park. The historic
biodiversity and we’ve also been landmark was restored back to its
busy installing bee houses across former glory after a three-month
the borough. There are 10 new project which involved restoring
nesting sites including in Hemel’s and repainting the cast iron work.
Walled Garden and Heath Park,
In the coming months, we’ll be
Cllr Graham Barrett the Memorial Gardens in Tring
working with the Environment
Portfolio Holder for and Canal Fields in Berkhamsted.
Agency and Affinity Water on
Environmental Services We’re providing these sites
plans to improve the River Gade
to encourage biodiversity for
Each day, we work to keep through Gadebridge Park. We
solitary bees that don’t live in
Dacorum clean, safe and green. want to improve the river for
hives or produce honey but are
Our dedicated teams clean the wildlife and protect water
excellent pollinators, such as the
streets, cut the grass, look after resources, as well as making it
red mason or leaf cutter bee.
our open spaces and work with easier for local residents and
our Enforcement Officers and the To mark International Compost visitors to get closer to the river
Police to tackle problems such as Awareness Week, we gave away and enjoy nature.
fly-tipping and graffiti. free compost thanks to our
I am truly thrilled with my new
residents recycling their garden
Thanks to the commitment of our role as Portfolio Holder for
waste including grass cuttings,
workforce we’ve been able to Environmental Services and am
leaves, twigs, flowers and weeds
maintain bin collections across the in their green-lidded bins. We looking forward to the
borough despite the massive were able to divert over 10,500 opportunities ahead.
10 Dacorum Life - Summer 2021The food recycling is taken to an
anaerobic digestion facility in St
Albans, where it’s automatically
separated from the caddy liners
for processing. It’s turned into
an extremely effective fertiliser
used by local farmers. It also gives
off biogas generating heat and
electricity which is sold off to the
What happens to my recycling? National Grid to provide power
for local homes.
When your mixed recycling and Back at the depot, the mixed
food waste goes into the back of recycling is separated and then Turning our food waste into
our vehicles, it may look like it’s taken to the MRF in St Albans, electricity is amazing but the best
all going in the same place but the where materials are efficiently thing to do with our food is eat
lorry is divided; 70 per cent for separated using methods such as it. Reducing food waste helps the
recycling and 30 per cent for food. magnets, air jets, light refraction, environment and saves you time
rotating drums and hand sorting. and money. Find out more here
If non-recyclable materials are
The materials are checked again www.dacorum.gov.uk/lovefood
present, we can’t collect it
as contaminated loads at the and compacted into bales for ease Some food waste is unavoidable
Materials Recycling Facility (MRF) of transportation. The majority is so please put yours in your caddy,
could be rejected and sent to sold to UK markets including 100 removing all packaging first.
landfill. per cent of our plastics.
Litter heroes
Litter has a huge impact on the
environment – it pollutes and
harms wildlife. To tackle this
issue, we backed the Great British
Spring Clean throughout May and
June with hundreds of volunteers
participating in litter picks.
Discounts on We support one-off litter picking events by loaning equipment. Nearly
reusable nappies 3,000 volunteers have taken part since we began eight years ago.
We also run the Street Champions scheme for residents who want to
Environmentally friendly reusable
participate. The scheme now boasts over 250 volunteers. Join up here
nappies can be washed and reused
www.dacorum.gov.uk/street-champions
over and over again. They are as
easy to use as disposables, plus
they come in exciting patterns,
fabrics and colours.
Would you like an extra green bin?
If you regularly create more garden waste than you can fit in your
HERTS Reusable Nappies, which green bin, our Additional Garden Waste Subscription Service is just
launched last year, teamed up what you need.
with a host of nappy suppliers to
offer Hertfordshire residents an Our 2021 subscription gives you the opportunity to buy additional
exclusive 15 per cent discount 240-litre green-lidded bins for £25 each and have them collected on
off a huge range of reusable your normal garden waste collection day for a seasonal subscription
nappies. To find out more and fee of £55.
to get started, visit For more information, to subscribe or to purchase additional bins visit
www.dacorum.gov.uk/realnappy www.dacorum.gov.uk/extragreenbin
Summer 2021 - Dacorum Life 11Your Councillors Tring West
Cabinet Members
and Rural
Watling
Tring
It is the Cabinet’s responsibility to take day-to-day decisions to
Central Ashridge
meet the Council’s priorities. Each of the six members of the Cabinet Aldbury and
is responsible for a specific area of our work, called a portfolio: Wigginton
Councillor Andrew Williams Councillor Alan Anderson Northchurch Woodhall
Tring Farm
Leader of the Council Portfolio Holder for Planning 6
East
and Infrastructure Berkhamsted Chaulden
Portfolio Holder for Community 5 8 Adeyfield
Castle and
Councillor Julie Banks 7 East
Leadership Berkhamsted
Warners 1
Portfolio Holder for Community West Berkhamsted 4 Leverstock
Portfolio Holder for Corporate End
Green
and Contracted Services and Regulatory Services 1. Adeyfield West East 3
2
2. Apsley and Corner Hall Nash
Councillor Graham Barrett 3. Bennetts End
Councillor Margaret Griffiths Portfolio Holder for Bovingdon,
Mills
4. Boxmoor
Deputy Leader of the Council Environmental Services 5. Gadebridge Flaunden
Kings
6. Grovehill and Chipperfield
Portfolio Holder for Housing Langley
Councillor Graeme Elliot 7. Hemel Hempstead Town
Portfolio Holder for Finance 8. Highfield
and Resources
Email address format: Berkhamsted Castle
firstname.lastname@dacorum.gov.uk Stephen Claughton
The Forum
Conservatives Liberal Democrats Independent Marlowes
Hemel Hempstead Bovingdon, Flaunden
Hertfordshire
Adeyfield East Apsley and Corner Hall HP1 1DN and Chipperfield
John Birnie Suqlain Mahmood 07763 043419 Gbola Adeleke
The Forum 65A Seaton Road Rick Freedman The Forum
Marlowes Hemel Hempstead Marlowes
10 Princes Close
Hemel Hempstead HP3 9HT Hemel Hempstead
Berkhamsted
HP1 1DN 07801 649293 HP1 1DN
HP4 1JS
07738 398165 01442 240916
Colin Peter 01442 731130
Andrew Williams 2 The Melings Graham Barrett
57 Perry Green Hunters Oak The Forum
Hemel Hempstead Hemel Hempstead Berkhamsted East Marlowes
HP2 7ND HP2 7SF Garrick Stevens Hemel Hempstead
01442 408457 HP1 1DN
07879 662924 The Forum
Marlowes 01442 833400
Babita Sinha
Hemel Hempstead Stewart Riddick
7 Minoan Drive
Adeyfield West Hemel Hempstead
HP1 1DN
The Forum
Adrian England HP3 9WA 01442 873196 Marlowes
32 Windmill Road 07809 440793 07973 828051 Hemel Hempstead
Adeyfield HP1 1DN
Nigel Taylor
Hemel Hempstead 07710 132985
2 The Pines
HP2 4BN Ashridge Box Lane
07809 679744 Terry Douris Hemel Hempstead
HP3 0DJ
Boxmoor
Ron Tindall 21 Hunting Gate
Hemel Hempstead 01442 731783 William Allen
2 Slippers Hill
HP2 6NX 65 St Johns Road
Hemel Hempstead
01442 402273 Hemel Hempstead
HP2 5XT
Berkhamsted West HP1 1QQ
07818 580088 01442 254420
Sally Symington
Bennetts End The Forum Claire Hobson
Aldbury and Wigginton Sobaan Mahmood Marlowes 4 Sheridan Close
61 Hobbs Hill Road Hemel Hempstead Hemel Hempstead
Phil McDowell
Hemel Hempstead HP1 1DN HP1 1XS
2 New Canal
HP3 9QB 07816 655500 07593 005213
Cottages
Bulbourne 07495 174488 Nicky Woolner Liz Uttley
Tring Mark Rogers The Forum The Forum
HP23 4NG Marlowes Marlowes
The Forum
01442 603346 Marlowes Hemel Hempstead Hemel Hempstead
Hemel Hempstead HP1 1DN HP1 1DN
HP1 1DN 07941 224815 07908 509654
12 Dacorum Life - Summer 2021Chaulden and Hemel Hempstead Leverstock Green Tring East
Warners End Town Hazel Bassadone Penny Hearn
Nigel Durrant Frances Arslan 18 Bartel Close 31 Chiltern Way
10 Brownlow 59 Ninian Road Leverstock Green Tring
Farm Barns Grovehill West Hemel Hempstead HP23 5LD
Pouchen End Lane Hemel Hempstead HP3 8LX 01442 824949
Hemel Hempstead HP2 6LZ 01442 259544
HP1 2SN
Rob Beauchamp Margaret Griffiths
Graeme Elliot
Tring West and Rural
32 Codicote Row The Forum
29 St Nicholas Woodhall Farm Marlowes Nick Hollinghurst
Mount Hemel Hempstead Hemel Hempstead Farlands
Hemel Hempstead HP2 7JE HP1 1DN Tinkers Lane
HP1 2BB 01442 260901 01442 402275 Wigginton
01442 240138 Tring
Neil Harden HP23 6JB
Fiona Guest
Highfield The Forum 01442 866650
102 Spring Lane Marlowes
Hemel Hempstead Sammy Barry-Mears Hemel Hempstead Christopher Townsend
HP1 3QJ 169 Cleves Road HP1 1DN 8 Aylesbury Road
01442 249381 Hemel Hempstead 01442 236659 Tring
HP2 7PL HP23 4DJ
07707 573506
Gadebridge 07754 443083
Nash Mills
Isy Imarni Brenda Link
Jan Maddern
The Forum 200 Jupiter Drive
Marlowes Hemel Hempstead 29 Swan Mead Watling
Hemel Hempstead HP2 5NQ Hemel Hempstead
HP3 9DQ Herbert Chapman
HP1 1DN 01442 394922
07711 066696 3 High View
07961 984182 Markyate
Pearl Oguchi Near St Albans
Kings Langley AL3 8NE
The Forum Northchurch
Marlowes Alan Anderson
Lara Pringle Jane Timmis
Hemel Hempstead Leaside
Rucklers Lane The Granary
HP1 1DN 1 Alma Road
Kings Langley Cheverells Green
Northchurch
07912 014850 Markyate
WD4 9NQ Berkhamsted
AL3 8AA
01923 262884 HP4 3RF
Grovehill Alan Johnson 07977 386541
07712 050363
Julie Banks 75 Hempstead Road
53 Wootton Drive Kings Langley
Tring Central Woodhall Farm
Hemel Hempstead WD4 8BS
Rosie Sutton
HP2 6LA 01923 400104 Sheron Wilkie
01442 398436 52 Wingrave Road 67 Northend
Tring Hemel Hempstead
Alex Bhinder HP3 8TL
HP23 5HE
53 Wootton Drive 07841 128839
01442 384767
Hemel Hempstead
Colette
HP2 6LA Roxanne Ransley
Wyatt-Lowe
01442 398436 28 Nathaniel Walk
Tring 7 East Street
Goverdhan Silwal Hemel Hempstead
HP23 5DG
19 Washington 01442 824871 HP2 5BN
Avenue 07812 837396
Hemel Hempstead
HP2 6AA
Summer 2021 - Dacorum Life 13Ensuring efficient, effective and modern service delivery
Council in a strong position to
support COVID-19 recovery
Our annual budget and transformation programme supports the delivery of quality services,
investment in making Dacorum the best place to live work and visit, and drives our response to
COVID-19 recovery. Through innovation and the use of technology, we can create services that are
more effective and tailored to the needs of residents. We will continue to reduce costs and improve
standards by ensuring our approach is always underpinned by the latest research and evidence.
page 15, including how to sign up. our estates, building services
and bereavement teams have
Over the same period our
continued to deliver effective
Customer Contact Centre received
45,471 calls and responded to services to customers, our
10,583 emails and 3,921 social operational sites and commercial
media enquiries. We further buildings. We have also worked
developed the Council’s Customer with our commercial partners
Relationship Management solution to navigate the difficulties for
to ensure customer demand commercial tenants during this
continues to be met. difficult period.
During March, we were able We will continue to implement
to complete on the sale of the technologies that provide
Cllr Graeme Elliot Maylands Gateway site, which has efficiency gains, including Robotic
Portfolio Holder for Finance resulted in the Council receiving Process Automation and more
and Resources its largest capital receipt. In a agile and remote working for
period of uncertainty, to complete staff. This will ensure that we
I am very pleased to announce
on this sale at a price agreed spend money in the most effective
that over the last six months our
prior to pandemic levels is a great way possible, and ensure that
residents’ portal (MyDacorum) we get a good return from our
has almost doubled in size to over achievement, and these funds
will assist in financing the wider public assets. This will reduce
7,000 users. MyDacorum is the bureaucracy and free up staff time
secure, flexible and personalised council strategies.
to focus on what matters most to
way to access your council Despite the unprecedented our residents.
services. You can find out more on challenges of the pandemic,
14 Dacorum Life - Summer 2021Dacorum Borough Council
Committee Meetings
Full Council Health in Dacorum
Wednesday 29 September
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 14 July
This committee makes decisions on
planning applications.
Wednesday 15 September
MyDacorum is the secure, flexible Thursday 8 July
Wednesday 17 November
and personalised way to access Thursday 5 August
your council services. The Cabinet Meetings Thursday 2 September
residents’ portal is a user-friendly Thursday 23 September
The Council’s Cabinet has six senior
site that lets you do anything from Thursday 21 October
Councillors who make key decisions. The
setting up bin collection reminders Thursday 11 November
Cabinet’s decisions can be ‘called in’ to be
to checking or paying your Council Other committee meetings
looked at in more detail by an Overview
Tax to Rent Statements and
balances for Housing Tenants (and and Scrutiny Committee, or may need to Licensing (Health and Safety
much more). be approved by Full Council. and Enforcement)
Tuesday 20 July Tuesday 27 July
To sign up go to: www.dacorum. Tuesday 21 September Tuesday 21 September
gov.uk/home/mydacorum Tuesday 19 October Tuesday 26 October
Tuesday 23 November Tuesday 30 November
Overview and Scrutiny Committees Dacorum Community Safety
Partnership
These meet regularly to discuss service
See website below for future dates
engage
performance and improvements and to
check the decisions made by the Cabinet. Standards Committee
They are made up of Council Members from
Thursday 16 September
Have your say
across the political parties and encourage
views from local people, community groups Audit Committee
and our partner organisations. Wednesday 28 July
Want to give us your views on a
Wednesday 8 September
range of council issues? Strategic Planning and Environment
Tuesday 9 November
Join our online consultation group and Wednesday 7 July
Meeting times and agendas are correct
let us have your views via the internet. Wednesday 22 September
at the time of printing but can change.
The email group is designed to be Wednesday 20 October
Meeting agendas are published a week
flexible and convenient to you. Once you Wednesday 24 November before the meeting date. You can find
join, you will be invited to take part in
Housing and Community the most up to date details, agendas,
online consultations. You won’t have to
minutes and meeting dates on our
participate in every consultation – only Wednesday 21 July
website at
the ones that you feel relevant to you or Wednesday 1 September
www.dacorum.gov.uk/councilmeetings
would like to give us your opinion about. Wednesday 13 October
To join you must be aged 16 or over, live Wednesday 10 November
in Dacorum and be able to complete our Finance and Resources
surveys online.
Tuesday 6 July
Register at www.dacorum.gov.uk/
Tuesday 7 September
consultation where you’ll also find more
Tuesday 5 October
information, or email communications@
Tuesday 2 November
dacorum.gov.uk with any questions.
Summer 2021 - Dacorum Life 15Climate and ecological emergency
Climate and Ecological
Emergency is our priority
We declared a Climate Emergency in 2019 - pledging to make our services carbon neutral by 2030
and for our 10,250 council homes to reach net-zero by 2050.
to become carbon neutral by 2030 fridges and bike projects.
and to support the wider borough Applications will reopen for
to become net-zero by 2050. grants later this year.
An extensive tree planting I’m proud that we are the first
programme has already begun borough council in the UK to
and wildflower areas created to achieve a Silver level ‘Carbon
encourage diverse wildlife in our Literate Organisation’
borough. Wildflower meadows accreditation. By training over
can contain up to 40 different 60 members of staff – to learn
species per square metre – so about the science and causes of
it’s really important for our local climate change, the effect it’s
ecology that we restore areas like having and the predicted future
this. We’ve been helping you join impact, as well as exploring the
us in this action by giving away solutions we can take - we’ve
Cllr Andrew Williams
more than 1,000 free wildflower demonstrated our substantial
Portfolio Holder for Corporate
seed packets to plant in your commitment to, and awareness
and Contracted Services and
own gardens, as well as running of, the impacts of our everyday
Community Leadership giveaways to schools and local actions on climate change.
We have added a sixth priority groups.
We’ll be hosting a conference and
to our corporate plan – The We also launched our new Green networking event on Wednesday
Climate and Ecological Emergency. Community Grants, encouraging 3 November at the Forum in
We have calculated both the local groups to ‘think global, Hemel Hempstead. Please save
Council and the borough’s carbon act local’ for the chance to be the date if you want to learn
emissions, the effects of climate awarded a pot of up to £2,000. more about how you can get
change on Dacorum and, more We funded the seven projects involved in local projects. More
importantly, are planning what we with the greatest impacts, which details will soon be available on
need to do over the next 10 years included community gardens, www.dacorum.gov.uk/sustainability
16 Dacorum Life - Summer 2021Changing the way we travel
in lowering our emissions to driveways but over a third of
net-zero. Dacorum’s households will not
have this option. To support the
From 2030, the sale of new
transition to electric vehicles
petrol and diesel vehicles will
please visit www.dacorum.gov.uk/
be banned. We are seeing the
sustainability and take our quick
number of electric vehicle drivers
survey to help us plan where to
growing and it’s a trend that’s
install charging points.
Transport is responsible for a set to continue. Electric vehicles
massive 43 per cent of Dacorum’s have zero tailpipe emissions, so Homecharge scheme
greenhouse gas emissions so they will drastically reduce our If you have your own driveway,
we need to make changes to the emissions and make the air we you can get up to 75 per cent off
way we travel to help tackle the breathe cleaner too. charge point installation from
climate emergency. the Electric Vehicle Homecharge
Electric Vehicle Residents’
Scheme. Find out more on www.
Reducing car use, walking and Survey
gov.uk/government/publications/
cycling more, and using greener Many residents will be able to customer-guidance-electric-
public transport, will be crucial charge electric vehicles on their vehicle-homecharge-scheme
Understanding our carbon
footprint
We (the council)
are directly
The carbon footprint of responsible
the entire borough is for less than
933,408 0.5% of
Home energy tonnes of greenhouse
gas emissions1
the boroughs’ greenhouse
gas emissions2
efficiency
grants
The borough has
reduced 64% of all
emissions homes in Dacorum
Qualifying homeowners, private by have an Energy
renters and landlords can apply Performance
for low-cost or free home
improvements through the
0.6% rating of D or
since 20171 below3
Government’s Energy Company
Obligation (ECO).
The borough’s greenhouse gas emissions:
To find out where to access your
home’s EPC rating, how to use
less energy and more about the
32.7% from cars, 30% from homes,
different home improvement
grants available, visit
27.3% other emissions 1
www.dacorum.gov.uk/homeenergy Sources based on 2018 data: 1SCATTER, 2APSE and SCATTER, 3Energy Savings Trust.
Summer 2021 - Dacorum Life 17Providing good quality affordable homes,
in particular for those most in need
Building for the future
Our vision is to provide good quality affordable housing, across the borough, particularly for those
most in need
development team in place ones that were replaced.
who’ve delivered over 300 new
Our Strategic Housing Team
council homes at 10 sites across have continued to provide
the borough. We’re planning to advice and assistance to those
build a further 400 new council in housing difficulty throughout
homes between 2020 and 2025. the crisis, providing help and
We’ve built with our tenants in support including access to
mind, following principles of good accommodation. We urge
design and meeting local housing people not to suffer in silence.
need. The properties range from If you or someone you care
one-bedroom flats to three- about is homeless of at risk of
bedroom houses and provide a homelessness and needs advice
Cllr Margaret Griffiths range of different housing - from or support, we can help.
Portfolio Holder for Housing a homeless hostel and temporary We have two dedicated Street
We’ve nearly 6,000 applicants living accommodation to an Outreach Support workers who
currently waiting for a home or to apartment development, Magenta provide support to rough sleepers
be moved on our housing register Court in Apsley, which has just in the area. We carry out bi-
and we are building all types of been shortlisted for a national monthly rough sleeper counts
homes, houses and flats in a range development award. and provide anyone in need with
of bedroom sizes to accommodate As well as building for the future, ongoing support by Dacorum’s
their needs. Around 88 per cent we are investing in our current Homeless Prevention Team, the
of applicants (over 5,000) on our housing stock to make homes Outreach team and other local
housing register require either more energy efficient. We have services such as DENS.
a one or two bedroom property, delivered window replacements, I am proud of our dedicated
so many of the new homes we’re with thermally efficient double Housing team who have continued
building are designed to meet that glazed units, new composite to provide essential services
demand. doors, which have an insulated during exceptionally difficult
Over the past seven years core and condensing boilers which circumstances finding new and
we’ve put an award-winning are much more efficient than the innovative ways of working.
18 Dacorum Life - Summer 2021Green homes for Hemel Hempstead
We’ve received full planning
approval to build 58 new homes
in Hemel Hempstead. Called
Mountbatten View, the one and
two bedroom apartments will
be located in three buildings
overlooking Paradise Fields,
just off St Albans Road, near
the town centre.
Apartments will have generous
private balconies, underfloor
heating, high levels of thermal
insulation and heating will be
provided by communal air source
heat pumps.
There will also be a communal
central garden, play area for
families, secure cycle stores,
parking with electric vehicle
charging and courtyards planted
with trees.
homes will be available for social To find out more about the new
The construction work will start rent to those on our housing homes we are building, visit
in early 2022 and all the new register. www.dacorum.gov.uk/newhomes
New energy-efficient homes
At the start of the year, we let
new homes at Bingham Mews
for the first time – a small
development of three, two-
bedroom energy-efficient houses,
for social rent in the rural area of
Gaddesden Row.
The site is designed to
complement the adjacent housing
association site, bringing much-
needed homes for local residents.
Through these properties, we’re
looking to the future, designing
modern energy-efficient homes
that use the latest low-carbon
technology. The houses have through an air source heat pump radiators. Each house also has
modern renewable energy system providing domestic hot four photovoltaic solar panels
heating and electric systems. water, heat to the underfloor fitted to the roof, which generate
Central heating is provided heating system and first floor electricity.
Summer 2021 - Dacorum Life 19News for tenants and leaseholders
Housing team
is here to help
Our Housing Income Officers are
on hand to give advice about
keeping up to date with your rent
payments.
If you’re struggling financially and
concerned about debt, let your
Housing Income Officer know as
soon as possible. They’re here to
give you useful advice and can
help you manage your rent.
Catherine Blandford, is one of
our Housing Income Officers, who
has supported tenants through
difficult times when they’ve got
Here to help you move into rent arrears.
She said: “It’s so important to
keep talking to us and not avoid
You could qualify for a £1,000 payment if you move to another
the issue. We’re here to help if
council home.
you’re facing financial difficulties
Perhaps you’re living in a family- no longer needed, we’ll pay an and we can support you.”
sized home that’s now too large extra £1,000 for a move to any We can also help with Universal
for your needs, or maybe you unadapted housing, so you could Credit applications. Universal
need a little support to help you receive £2,000 altogether. Credit Officer Anne Perera said:
to continue living independently? “If you’re experiencing any
A smaller home usually means
Our Help to Move payments are lower rent and reduced bills. We’ll problems with Universal Credit,
here to help. We pay £500 for always deduct any rent arrears please contact me and I can make
anyone giving up bedrooms, plus before making a Help to Move sure you’re receiving the correct
£500 for any move from a general payment, so if you’re struggling housing costs.”
needs home to supported housing to pay your rent, you can start Call 01442 228000 and say the
(more about this on page 22). If afresh with a clear rent account. name of the person you would
you have two or more bedrooms like to speak to, or ask for
To find out more visit
and you move to supported Housing Rent.
www.dacorum.gov.uk/downsizing
housing, this means we’d pay
or speak to your Tenancy
you £1,000.
Management Officer. You can call
If your current home has major 01442 228000 and ask for them
disabled adaptations that are by name, or ask for Housing.
Breathing Space
The Government has introduced a new debt management scheme called
Breathing Space, which will give those facing financial difficulties
space to receive debt advice, or mental health crisis treatment, without
pressure from creditors or mounting debts. You can find advice and
help on dealing with debt on the Citizens Advice website
www.citizensadvice.org.uk/debt-and-money/help-with-debt Catherine Blandford
20 Dacorum Life - Summer 2021develop a rooftop vegetable garden thanks to the
£700 grant.
Natalie McCalman, our Improvement and
Engagement Officer who worked with the residents
Top of the crops
to apply for the grant, said: “It’s a fantastic project
and we’ve had lovely comments from members in
the society who said that the project has helped
The Kylna Veg Growers Society was grown out of their wellbeing and improved their moods especially
the Tenant Improvement Grant, which is awarded during these very uncertain times. It has also been a
to projects that will make a real difference to our great project for children to be involved as they can
tenants and leaseholders and help create strong, plant their seeds and watch them grow.”
vibrant communities.
Find out how to apply for a grant on our website
Kylna Court residents have worked together to www.dacorum.gov.uk/tenant-improvement-grant
How you Get involved –
helped improve become a block
our housing champion
service If you live in one of our blocks
of flats, maisonettes or sheltered
Our Housing team is committed housing schemes you could become
to providing excellent services a block champion.
to residents. As part of this, As a volunteer block champion, we
we encourage our tenants and ask you to let us know of any issues
leaseholders to get involved with or repairs in your communal areas.
us to give their views and work You’ll also be asked to complete an
with us to improve our services. estate inspection survey every four
Our recent impact assessment to eight weeks and send it through
showcases the impact residents to us.
have had over 2019-2020. For more information email
You can view the impact talk-to-us@dacorum.gov.uk or call
assessment here 01442 228000 and ask for Tenant
www.dacorum.gov.uk/get- Involvement.
involved Or register an interest at www.dacorum.gov.uk/get-involved
Summer 2021 - Dacorum Life 21News for tenants and leaseholders
Supporting your housing needs
If you are 60 or over and are thinking about your current housing situation, have you ever
considered supported housing?
We have a range of properties received an invitation to view someone to talk to is something to
across the borough - from a flat on a certain day at noon, look forward to.
individual flats and bungalows signed at 2pm and accepted the
“If anyone is thinking about
to designated schemes with a keys at 4pm.
Supported Housing, do contact
number of different communal
“Sadly in early 2016, my dear Dacorum Borough Council. They
facilities. No matter where you
wife passed away leaving me are very supportive and will guide
choose to live, you will have the
alone in what should’ve been you through the process. And if
opportunity to receive support
our golden years. This however you’re really lucky, you could end
from one of our dedicated
highlighted for me one of the up sitting on a bench in our lovely
officers.
many good reasons for living in gardens with a glass of wine
The service has been rated as Supported Housing - the support whiling away a summer’s day.
outstanding for several years I received, not just from my
For more information call 01442
and we continually strive to help neighbours, but also from my
228000 and ask for Supported
people retain their independence Supported Housing Officer (SHO).
Housing, or visit our website
by offering choice and support. All schemes, of which there are
www.dacorum.gov.uk/supported-
33, have support in one form or
Tenant Andrew Roles talks of housing-options
another.
his experience at the Rice Close
scheme in Hemel Hempstead. “The gardens are tended by a
number of gardeners who keep
I moved to Hemel Hempstead
them looking beautiful and there
14 years ago and lived happily
are plenty of benches to sit, talk
in a small flat in Valley Green.
and put the world to rights.
We decided to apply for
Supported Housing and “A bonus for me came recently
subsequently received an by my SHO, who suggested to
application form. Because of an keep in contact by Zoom. This
applied points system we thought has quickly become an important
it would be a good few years part of my week, mainly because I
before we heard. It was therefore rarely have social visitors and am
much to our surprise, that we not in a social bubble, so having
Andrew Roles
22 Dacorum Life - Summer 2021Who to contact…
Useful local, county and national numbers, emails and websites.
Local DENS Hertfordshire Domestic
Providing support and advice Abuse Helpline
for people facing homelessness, 08 088 088 088 (If you are in
Dacorum Borough Council
poverty or social exclusion immediate danger always dial
Information and advice on council 01442 262274 999)
services and support available www.dens.org.uk
for residents. Hertfordshire Adult
01442 228000 Age UK Dacorum Social Services
(main switchboard) 0300 123 4042
customer.services@dacorum.gov.uk Working across Dacorum to
www.dacorum.gov.uk improve the quality of life for
older people. National
Housing repairs for council 01442 259049
tenants www.ageuk.org.uk/dacorum Visit the Government website for
0800 018 6050 all the latest national updates on
Community Action Dacorum coronavirus.
24-hour automated For information regarding www.gov.uk
payments service voluntary services in Dacorum.
0345 370 6070 01442 253935 Department for Work
www.communityactiondacorum.org and Pensions (DWP)
Business 0345 6060 265
For business support and Countywide www.gov.uk/government/
organisations/department-for-
advice from our Economic
Hertfordshire County Council work-pensions
Development Team
01442 531002 The latest information on services
NHS (non urgent medical
business@dacorum.gov.uk run by the county council,
need) 111
www.dacorum.gov.uk/business including highways, education/
www.111.nhs.uk
schools, buses, libraries,
Healthy Hub Dacorum recycling centres (tips) and
07929 861102 adult social care. Victim Support
healthyhub@dacorum.gov.uk 0300 123 4040 0808 168 9111
www.hertfordshire.gov.uk www.victimsupport.org.uk
Citizens Advice Dacorum
0800 144 8848 HertsHelp Mind
www.dacorumcab.org.uk For emotional support or For information and support
practical help. about mental health services.
Local food support helpline 0300 123 4044 0300 123 3393
(answering service) info@hertshelp.net info@mind.org.uk
01442 979464 www.hertshelp.net www.mind.org.uk
Streetlink
If you spot someone sleeping
Active Dacorum
rough or know of someone who For events and activities
is you can complete a referral focusing on physical activity,
on the Streetlink website wellbeing and arts and culture
www.streetlink.org.uk or in the borough.
contact the outreach team on
DB.Outreach@hightownha.org.uk Follow on @ActiveDacorum @Active_Dacorum
Summer 2021 - Dacorum Life 23You can also read
