2012/2013
Incorporating Key Targets for 2013/2014
Town Hall, Leyton Road, Harpenden, Hertfordshire AL5 2LX Tel: 01582 768278
E-mail: . DATED : SEPTEMBER 2013
CONTENTS
1.Overview Of The Annual Report2Pen Portrait of Harpenden Town Council
3.Annual Report of the Town Mayor
4.The Town Council’s Aims and Objectives
5.Partnerships
6.The Cost of Town Council Services
6.1Outturn – 2012/2013
6.2Budget – 2013/2014
7.Forward Plan
7.12013/2014 Medium Term Initiatives
7.2Key Initiatives / Work Programme 2013/2014
8.Town Council Services
8.1Key Achievements in 2012/2013
8.2Environment
8.2.1Harpenden Common and Greens
8.2.2Allotments
8.2.3LydekkerPark and Car Park
8.2.4Nickey Line
8.2.5Recreation and Play Areas
8.2.6Land Assets
8.3Community Services
8.3.1Town Hall Information Point
8.3.2ParkHallCommunityBuilding
8.3.3Harpenden in Bloom
8.3.4Farmers’ Market / 1
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22 / 8.3.5Community Safety
8.3.6Christmas Events
8.3.7Public Toilets
8.3.8Street Furniture
8.4Democratic Representation
8.4.1Committee and Member Support
8.4.2Civic Representation
8.4.3Planning and Development Management
8.4.4Town Twinning
8.4.5HarpendenYouthTown Council
8.4.6Community Grants
8.4.7Communications
8.5Corporate Management
8.5.1Administrative and Statutory Responsibilities
9.Audit and Inspection
10.Public Consultation
Appendices:
1HarpendenTown, District and County Councillors 2013/2014
2Committee and Working Party Structure and Membership 2013/2014
3Membership of Committees and Working Parties 2013/2014
4Programme of Meetings – 2013/2014
5Public Speaking at Meetings – Guideline 61
6Staff Organisational Structure
7Staff Contact Details and Responsibilities / 23
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Statement of Responsibilities
Harpenden Town Council is responsible for the preparationof an Annual Reportand for the information set out within it.
The Town Council is satisfied that theinformationincludedintheReportisin all materialrespectsaccurate and complete.
1.OVERVIEW OF THE ANNUAL REPORT
1.1The Annual Report for Harpenden Town Council is a statement of the performance and achievements during the preceding financial year 2012/2013. It also includes the key targets that the Town Council aims to achieve in 2013/2014.
1.2EFFICIENCY IMPROVEMENT
The Town Council is committed to identifying opportunities to improve services to drive efficiency gains, financial savings or attract additional income. It will focus on continuous improvement through ongoing consultation, regular reviewand effective change implementation. Opportunities will be sought to enhance a service or consider new, imaginative and innovative schemes to improve performance or provision for the benefit of the community.
2.PEN PORTRAIT OF HARPENDEN TOWN COUNCIL
2.1THE PARISH OF HARPENDEN
Harpenden is a bustling, thriving commuterTown comprising the Town Centre and smaller shopping centres at Batford, Kinsbourne Green and Southdown. Harpenden’s most significant asset and its key feature is the Common which is 96.32 hectares. This includes Hatching Green, Kinsbourne Green, BowersParadeSensoryGarden, Southdown Green and Southdown Ponds. There are several industrial sites within the parish boundary.
2.2THE TOWN COUNCIL
Harpenden Town Council was created in 1974 following local government re-organisation. Harpenden is the largest parish in the St Albans District with a population of approximately 30,000.
There are sixteen Town Councillors, representing four Wards – North, South, East and West,who are elected to serve a four-year term. The new four-year term commencedin May 2011. Each year, the Council elects from amongst its members the Town Mayor and Deputy Town Mayor. Details of the Town Councillors, District Councillors and CountyCouncillorsserving for 2013/2014areincluded atAPPENDIX 1.
The Town Mayor receives an allowance to cover Civic duties. TheTown Council agreed during 2008/2009 to provide an allowanceof £300 perCouncillor for a full year. This was in line with the basic allowance recommended by the St Albans District Council Independent Remuneration Panel which entitled Councillors to the payment of an allowance. No other form of allowance or expenses can be claimed other than approved travel and subsistence for attending functions on behalf of the Town Council outside of the Parish. The majority of Councillors declined to take an allowance for 2012/2013.
2.3COMMITTEE STRUCTUREAND MEETINGS
Council meetings are normally held five times per year, and all Councillors are involved in all policy decisions of the Council. In 2012/2013there were sixmeetings, including the Annual Council Meeting and one Extraordinary meeting. In addition, an Annual Town Meeting is held in April for all residents of Harpenden.
As part of the democratic decision-making process, the Town Council also comprises fourstanding committees; Policy and Finance, Environment, Human Resources and Planning, all with delegated responsibilities, plus a number of Working Parties which include community participation. The Committee and Working Party Structurefor2013/2014areincluded atAPPENDIX2and their Membership is includedatAPPENDIX3.
Town Council meetings are normally held in the Council Chamber, Town Hall, Leyton Road, HarpendenAL5 2LX, with the exception of the Annual Town Meeting and Annual Council Meeting which are held in Park Hall, Leyton Road, HarpendenAL5 2LX. All meetings are open to the public. Notices advertising meetings are posted on the Council’s website and notice boards which are situated around the Town. A programme of meetings for the 2013/2014 municipal year is also available and is includedatAPPENDIX4.
Copies of Agendas for Council, all Committees and Working Party meetings can be obtained from the Information Point and the Library prior to a meeting. Agendas and Reports can also be viewed on the Town Council’s website [/council-meetings]. Agendas for Councilare available ten days before a meeting and Committees three days. There is an opportunity for the public to speak at all meetings of the Council, in accordance with Standing Order 61, details areincludedat APPENDIX 5.
2.4STAFFING
The Town Clerk is supported bysixfull-timestaff and tenpart-time permanent staff (6.48 full-time equivalent) comprisingprofessional, administrativeand maintenance Officers and ancillary staff. This team delivers all the Town Council services, implements the Council’s policies and complies with government legislation. The Structurefor 2013/2014 isincluded atAPPENDIX 6.
2.5LOCAL GOVERNMENT STRUCTUREIN HERTFORDSHIRE
Harpenden Town Council is the largest of nine parish councils situated in St Albans District. In addition to the Town Council, two principal authorities serve Harpenden, St AlbansCity and District Council and Hertfordshire County Council.
- ANNUAL REPORT OF THE TOWN MAYOR, COUNCILLOR MRS NICOLA LINACRE
Report to the Annual Town Meeting held on Monday 08 April 2013:
The Mayor presented the Town Council’s annual report for 2012/13. She began by thanking Gemma Richardson of Community Meeting Point (CMP) and Bob Cherry for their extremely interesting and informative presentation. The Mayor added that she had been very impressed by the work that CMP did in the community and it was good to learn more on how to support this excellent organisation. Clearly the Town owed such a lot to their volunteers for their commitment to an outstanding charity working for people in and around Harpenden.
The Mayor congratulated the recipients of the Award of Merit; Ginny Cooper and Patrick Fisher; which were well deserved for their outstanding contributions to the life of the Town.
The Mayor was delighted to present the charity cheques to Harpenden Friends of Cancer Research UK and the Daylight Club (Harpenden) as extremely worthy charities. She thoroughly enjoyed working with her Charity Committee in organising the fund raising events for their benefit and thanked her fellow committee members and everyone, friends and businesses in the wider community for supporting these events. She also made a special thank you to Linda Haynes, the Mayor’s Secretary, who had worked so hard throughout the year and had given so much of her time, effort and enthusiasm to support these events.
The Mayor’s theme for the year had been Serving the Community. She had had an extremely interesting and positive experience meeting so many people who contributed so much to the Town. She added we are blessed to have so many people who live here prepared to work hard for their community. Whilst the Town Council had a prime role to play in looking after the interests of the Town and its residents, it was wonderful to realise just how many charitable and other organisations there were in Harpenden, seeking to help improve services and opportunities for everyone.
The Mayor felt there were often misconceptions about what responsibilities the Town Council had, for example maintenance of roads was that of the County Council whilst on-street parking was District Council. So as a Town Council it was suggested we faced many issues that required co-operation between the different tiers of government. She added it was our job to ensure the residents of Harpenden were well represented at every level.
The Mayor reported on some of the important issues that the Town Council was monitoring which included the proposal to expand LutonAirport, a Green Belt review and the effect of a new draft Strategic Local Plan on the Town. She was pleased to report that a robust and challenging response to Luton Borough Council had been submitted regarding the Airport planning application, which could be seen online. In addition, a working party to consider the implications of the new draft Strategic Local Plan, particularly in relation to the Green Belt, had been established. These were vital in order to protect the integrity of the Town. Many people felt resources were already stretched and it was part of the Town Council’s duty to identify where gaps were appearing in the infrastructure to support the Town. These gaps were becoming ever more apparent, and there was an important role to play in drawing attention to them.
The Mayor reported that Members of the Town Council had been working collaboratively with other organisations, such as the Harpenden Society, the Batford Community Action Group and the Seniors Forum to explore new initiatives and opportunities to help these groups achieve some of their ambitions. She added the Council was involved in talks with the County Commissioning Group regarding the future of the Red House, with local residents about the development of the Lea Valley Industrial Estate and with groups brought together by the Seniors Forum to discuss provision of better care and facilities for the elderly. It was recognised this was a very important part of the Council’s work. It was necessary to continue to work closely with various groups to achieve a shared purpose in serving the Town.
The Mayor felt extremely fortunate to hold this office during the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Year. 2012 would certainly be a year to remember and one celebrated by three new memorials throughout Harpenden; one in the SensoryGarden, one in Southdown and another in Batford created especially to commemorate the Jubilee. They were considered a wonderful addition to the Town and the Mayor was grateful to the Harpenden Society for their co-funding, which was another example of how working with different organisations and societies can enhance the environment for everyone’s benefit.
The Diamond Jubilee weekend was an opportunity to work with several local organisations and members of the community to plan a series of events which included; a family day on the Common, a Seniors tea party at Harpenden Public Halls, a special Festal Evensong in St Nicholas Church with one of the Queen’s chaplains and the lighting of a beacon organised by the Scouts. The Mayor was invited to a street party in Cornwall Road, which was great fun and residents kindly donated the money they raised to her two charities. Residents of East Common also held a street party over the Jubilee weekend and generously donated their collection too.
The Mayor stated 2012 saw other organisations working busily to provide a wide variety of interesting events and activities for all to enjoy, which included the Harpenden Carnival, Discovery Day on the Common, the Armed Forces Day celebrations organised by the Royal British Legion, Classics on the Common, organised by the Village Rotary, the Highland Gathering organised by the Lions in Rothamsted Park and the Teddy Bears Picnic in Lydekker Park.
The Mayor reported that last year the Reverend Christopher Futcher, from the ParishChurch, left to take up a position as Arch Deacon at Exeter. She was pleased to advise that Christopher had been succeeded by the Revd Dr Dennis Stamps. The Mayor was pleased to attend his inauguration and witness his instalment last November to welcome him to Harpenden in his new post.
The Town Council had taken back ownership of some assets from the District Council. The Mayor reported that complex negotiations had been concluded with the transfer of LydekkerPark and car park. This was a considerable achievement and one she believed could not have happened without the will and co-operation of the District and Town Councils working together. The District Council was interested in further opportunities for devolution.
The Mayor was delighted to announce that the Town Council had gained a 6th successive Green Flag Award which recognised the Common as one of the Country’s best green spaces. The Mayor was very grateful to the volunteers who worked with us on project days throughout the year on aspects of the Common, and thanked them for turning up, whatever the weather, for their commitment and willingness to work together with us and congratulated them for helping to achieve this accolade. She also made a special mention of the help received from the Harpenden Common Golf Club, who supported the project days and kindly provided valuable resources, which allowed us to achieve so much more as a consequence.
Following the transfer of the Batford Springs Local Nature Reserve the Town Council had worked closely with the Batford Springs volunteers. A working party had been established that had produced a management plan for the Springs. Funding had been provided through a service level agreement to help the volunteers resource their activities. It had been a really productive partnership and one that the Council fully intended to build upon.
Partnership working was part of the success of Lights Up and the Christmas Carnival, which was a highlight of the year for Harpenden. The Mayor commented that the seasonal lights looked splendid this year and made a real impact. Council Officers and Members were determined that the Town’s investment in the Christmas lights should not become a financial burden on local residents hence there was a staged approach to upgrading and increasing the lights. 2012 saw further investment to raise the standard of lighting, particularly in Southdown and Batford. The Mayor reported that Harpenden was the most attended Christmas lights switch on in the County, with Southdown not far behind meaning our retailers, businesses and residents could all enjoy the benefits of this festive time.
The Mayor was aware of the harsh economic constraints in which we now lived and was pleased to report that following on from the 2011/12 budget, where there was a reduction in the Town’s council tax of 2.25%, there was a standstill budget for the year 2012/13. The Mayor was further pleased to report that the 2013/14 budget for the Town Council, once again, had not increased the precept despite a backdrop of inflationary pressures. The Town Council was working hard to manage its finances through sound financial control and prudent service planning.
The Mayor reported that she had attended well over 100 Civic functions this year and had thoroughly enjoyed going to every single one. She thanked the Deputy Mayor, Councillor Rosemary Farmer for accompanying her at some events and for representing her on those occasions where there was a clash of commitments.
The Mayor congratulated and thanked all the organisations and societies that contributed so much to the sense of community that was enjoyed in Harpenden. There were so many, but she referred to groups such as the Harpenden Trust, the Seniors Club, the Seniors Forum, the Scouting movement, the Harpenden Society and the British Legion.
The Mayor said Harpenden was a wonderful place to live and was grateful to every group, society, organisation and school who contacted her and invited her to share in their events during year.
In conclusion, the Mayor thanked all those who attended and invited them to put questions or make observations. She would endeavour to answer any issues raised as best he could.
- THE TOWN COUNCIL’S AIMS AND OBJECTIVES – AVISION FOR THE FUTURE
Corporate Objectives:
To serve those who live in the Town, work in the Town or visit the Town.
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To strive to improve the quality of life for all residents of the Town.
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To promote and represent the community’s views and aspirations at local, county, regional and national level.
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To promote the devolution of services where they can be delivered more effectively and efficiently.
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To work in partnership at local, county, regional and national level to promote and provide for the well being of the Town’s community.
Mission Statement:
To promote the area as a place
to live, to work, to invest
and to visit.
To achieve these Aims, the Town Council’s Objectives are: