Electoral Review of East Hertfordshire District Council

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The Local Government Boundary Commission for England (LGBCE) will be conducting an electoral review of East Hertfordshire District Council.

The review will decide on:

  • the number of elected district councillors
  • the number of wards
  • the name of wards
  • where the boundaries between wards should lie
  • the number of councillors for each ward

The LGBCE are keen that this information is disseminated to as many people as possible and to provide them with the opportunity to express their views.

Attached is a PowerPoint that provides an overview of the process, key dates and timelines and details for getting in touch.

REMINDER Census 2021

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The census gathers vital information to help plan services such as transport, education and healthcare. All households should complete the census on Sunday 21 March 2021 or as soon as possible after.

You must complete the census by law or you could be fined up to £1,000.

If you need help, go to www.census.gov.uk or phone us free on 0800 141 2021

East Herts Council’s grants programme – now open

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Call for projects that strengthen the community  (Up to £8,000 available)

East Herts Council is looking for projects that strengthen the community and lead to improved health and wellbeing of residents.  The next funding round opens today with a closing date of the 3 May 2021.  Our priorities this year are

  • Health for all
  • Community issues, including engaging and consulting
  • Arts and cultural activities that increase residents’ wellbeing
  • Environmentally sustainable and accessible community buildings and green spaces

We are especially interested in projects that benefit people in areas of disadvantage, from different backgrounds and those with protected characteristics.  Faith groups are welcome to apply for projects that benefit the wider community.   We are keen to fund a diverse range of projects all over East Herts.

Check eligibility and apply online Funding for Community Organisations   Past projects include a community garden, training for volunteers, Parkinsons Support Group, arts and crafts outreach, expansion of a lunch club, Men’s Shed projects, play and sports development projects and improvements to a bowls club and village hall.

Contact Grants Manager Claire on before applying.  You are also invited to attend an online Grants Advice and Information Workshop on 8 April at 10am.   Reserve a space by emailing Claire.

Councillors and residents clear mud off footpaths

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Following the Cottered & Throcking Parish Council meeting on Tuesday 9th March 2021 Cllr. John Harwood Bee, Cllr. Allen Chamberlain and Cllr. Murchie, along with a piece of his machinery with a very big ‘bucket’ cleared the mud from the footpath between Lower Farm drive and The Guide Centre. They were ably assisted by two nearby residents who helped to load the bucket and supply much needed tea.

When the weather is better the Cottered Village Appreciation Society will invite volunteers to once again clear the footpaths and trim back the edges in many areas around the village. The Cottered Village Appreciation Society works with Keep Britain Tidy so might be able to obtain some support material, bags and high viz tabards etc. for a general tidy up around the village.

Citizens Advice East Herts update

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Who and how are we helping?
We continue to operate a remote advice service which has enabled us to help over 7,269 people (as of end January) since the first lockdown in March, up 31% on 2019. We are seeing an increase in demand for our support with issues becoming more complex. Benefits and Housing are the biggest areas of need and we are fundraising to be able to offer more specialist casework support in these areas.
As an advice service our focus is on making sure people are able to access all the support they need, including financial. As part of this we are able to issue food and fuel vouchers where needed and to help clients access some grants, including the new (time limited) Winter Grant.

How people can contact us
People can contact us for advice and support in a number of ways: by email, phone, webchat and Facebook Messenger.  We can now also offer video advice appointments. The attached leaflet provides all the details.

Useful resources
We have a range of resources on our website which people can make use of, including:

We can also help people apply for Universal Credit via our Help to Claim service.

Finally, many thanks to all Parish Councils who have supported us with a financial donation (of which Cottered & Throcking Parish Council was one) in recent months. We really appreciate it.

Changes to the Brown Bin Service

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From 1 April 2021 East & North Hertfordshire District Councils Shared Waste Services will be changing the Brown Bin Service to a chargeable garden waste only collection service. Residents will receive an information leaflet though their door over the next few weeks. A leaflet is attached below for your information.

Residents are signposted to the East Herts website – www.eastherts.gov.uk/gardenwaste where there is a full list of FAQs and details of how to sign up, including a ‘how to’ video.

Residents are also encouraged to sign up to their news bulletin ‘Network’. www.eastherts.gov.uk/network-0 where they will receive regular information on Council services.

Contribute to Hertfordshire County Council’s budget decision-making process

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Hertfordshire parish and town councils, and all Hertfordshire residents, are being invited to have their say and contribute to Hertfordshire County Council’s budget decision-making process. An online survey is available at www.hertfordshire.gov.uk/budgetsurvey until 1 February 2021.

You can access the draft Integrated Plan 2021-22 (the proposed budget) and also summary highlights from www.hertfordshire.gov.uk/budgetsurvey – alongside the five survey questions.

We want to hear your views on how we should be spending your council tax money over the coming year. You will also be able to complete a question (number five) to say that you’re responding as a resident.

Tree Works in Cottered

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On the 12th January 2021 J.W. Salmon Ltd. Tree Care will be starting tree works on the trees in Cottered that were deemed to be of the highest risk in a recent tree survey carried out on all trees on land under the jurisdiction of the Parish Council and the Recreation Ground Trust (known as the Parish Trust).

Temporary Closing of Coopers Coppice, Cottered.

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NOTICE is given that Hertfordshire County Council intends to make an Order under Section 14(1) of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984, to prohibit all vehicular traffic from using that length of Coopers Coppice, Cottered from its junction with A507 Baldock Road south eastwards for a distance of approximately 75 metres (“the Road”).

An alternative route will be via A507 Baldock Road, B1037 (unnamed road) and Coopers Coppice.

The Order is needed because utility works are proposed to be executed on or near the Road.

If the Order is made, it shall come into force on 25 January 2021 for a period of up to 18 months. However, the restrictions specified shall only take effect at the times indicated by signs on or near the Road.

PLAY YOUR PART

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Important information about how you can stop the spread of coronovirus.