Hertsmere Borough Council
                              

A range of services for the communities.
Listed here are the main services but if you are looking for a service that does not appear to be listed, please ring the council’s Customer Service Team on 020 8207 2277 or visit the website on
www.hertsmere.gov.uk

Hertsmere Borough Council
Civic Offices
Elstree Way
Borehamwood
Herts
WD6 1WA
Phone: 020 8207 2277
Email:
customer.services@hertsmere.gov.uk

Opening hours:
Monday to Thursday, 8.30am to 5.15pm
Friday, 8.30am to 5pm

Bushey area office

The Bushey Centre
High Street
Bushey
WD23 1TT
Phone: 020 8386 4048

Area office opening hours
Monday to Friday, 9.30am to 2pm

A
Allotments 020 8207 7497

B
Benefits 020 8207 7404
Bus Passes 020 8207 7408
Business rates 020 8207 7406

C
CCTV 020 8207 7801
Conservation areas 020 8207 7583
Controlled parking zones 020 8207 7422
Council/Committee meetings 020 8207 7579
Council Tax 020 8207 7407

D
Dog warden 020 8207 7435
Domestic refuse 020 8207 7480
Drainage
Land drainage and private blockages 020 8207 7492

E
Electoral services 020 8207 7481
Emergency Planning 020 8207 7435

F
Fifty Plus activities 020 8207 7568
Fly tipping 020 8207 7480
Food hygiene 020 8207 7435

G
General enquiries/information 020 8207 2277
Grass cutting 020 8207 7519

H
Household waste - sites 0845 742 5000
Housing benefits 020 8207 7404
Homelessness 020 8207 7569
Housing Register 020 8207 7420

L
Leisure centres
Bushey Grove Leisure Centre 01923 470 140
The Venue, Borehamwood 020 8386 9886
Hertswood Centre, Borehamwood 020 8387 5600
Licences - vehicle 020 8207 7551/2; public entertainmen 020 8207 7533

M
Museums services 020 8207 7568

P
Parking services 020 8207 7422
Parks (events and maintenance) 020 8207 7519
Playschemes 020 8207 7568
Planning
Elstree & Borehamwood 020 8207 7517
Bushey, Aldenham and Radlett 020 8207 7465

R
Recycling/refuse collection 020 8207 7480

S
Sports development 020 8207 7568
Street cleaning 020 8207 7480

T
Trade waste collection 020 8207 7480
Tree advice 020 8207 7501

W
Waste sites 0845 7425000

Information supplied by Catherine Feast Corporate Communications Manager at Hertsmere Borough Council
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HERTSMERE INFORMATION 
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LAST UPDATE 2nd September 2010
                SAVING MONEY          

Councils across the country are looking at ways to save money and Hertsmere is leading the way in Hertfordshire.

The council is piloting a software system, similar to sat nav, which will identify the best routes to use when collecting household waste and recycling.  The idea is that the technology could highlight a better, more efficient way for crews to get around the borough and if successful, the software would be rolled out across the county and help save time and thousands of pounds.

Leader of Hertsmere Borough Council, Morris Bright, said: "We all know how councils are up against it financially but working smarter, as we are, can actually deliver a better service for less money. 

"We are delighted to be piloting this project for Hertfordshire and more than happy to share our experience with the other nine councils - it could secure significant savings across the county."

The council is currently ensuring every home in the borough is included on the Local Land and Property Gazetteer, a database of addresses maintained by each local authority in the UK.  The software will then be applied to find the best way for our crews to go from home to home, road to road and on to a waste transfer station or recycling plant.

The software will also be used to help facilitate the roll out of kerbside glass collections later this year as well as improving street cleansing routes.

Cllr Bright added: "Not only will this help save the council money, but it will also benefit the environment because if vehicles are on the road for a shorter amount of time, it means less fuel and fewer emissions." 

The project was showcased at the Local Government Association conference last week, in a DVD which highlighted how innovation and collaboration is helping councils become more efficient.

Cashing in on council grants

Children in Bushey will have a new place to play, thanks to Hertsmere Borough Council.

Cllr Anita Gamble (Bushey St James) supported a grant of £527.54 to Bushey Manor Junior School from her allocation of the Ward Improvement Initiatives Scheme (WIIS).

The money will be used to buy a picnic bench that is made from recycled plastic and will include a chess board in the middle for the children to use.

Cllr Gamble, said: "I was delighted to be able to help the school buy the bench. It will provide an alternative activity for the students at lunchtime, and will encourage them to take an interest in games such as chess."

Elsewhere in the borough, Age UK has benefited from a grant of £300 to buy a portable electronic Bingo machine for their drop-in sessions that are held in Borehamwood, Bushey and Potters Bar. Cllr Anita Gamble and Cllr Denise Kieran (Bushey St James) donated £150 each from their WIIS grants towards this project.

The 1st Radlett Scout Group will now be able to buy a catering urn and two double cast iron boiling rings to be used during organised events, after receiving a total grant of £400 from Cllr Charles Goldstein (Aldenham East) and Cllr John Graham (Aldenham East). 

And finally, District Headquarters Girlguiding, received £400 in total from Cllr Goldstein and Cllr Graham to fund a gas urn for camping and outdoor events.

Local people can make a bid for cash to improve the area they live in by using WIIS, which allows each Hertsmere councillor to spend £2,000 to support local projects and schemes.

If you would like to have a scheme considered, contact your local councillor. To find out who your local councillor is visit www.hertsmere.gov.uk/findmycllr or call 020 8207 7558.


Going green in Hertsmere

Summer is often the time we put our hard earned cash towards a holiday or maybe some new garden furniture. However, have you ever thought about putting your money towards installing a clean energy system in your home?

As part of the Herts Essex Energy Partnership (HEEP), Hertsmere Borough Council is offering residents the opportunity to get an interest-free loan of up to £3,000 to install a solar electricity system in their home. You would not have to repay this until you decided to sell your house. If you do not decide to sell your house, the money would be recovered after your death.  

Cllr Jean Heywood, Environment portfolio holder, said: "This is a great way for people to switch to cleaner greener energy. The prospect of getting a solar system installed can seem daunting at first, but if you can get help towards the cost and in the long-run save money, it really is a good idea."

It currently costs between £7,000 - £10,000 to install a solar energy system. Although, if you got a loan from the HEEP scheme, the money you received would be deducted from the total price of the energy system.

The installation of a solar electricity system is great for the environment, although to get the best results it is a good idea to have both your cavity wall insulation and loft insulation in place first. You can get help towards the cost of this through the HEEP scheme as well, and those on some benefits, or over 70 years old, may be entitled to get certain services for free. 

The government rolled out a national clean energy cashback scheme earlier this year called Feed in Tariffs (FITs). People who switch to solar will, under the scheme, be entitled to regular payments from the energy suppliers for 25 years.

If you would like to find out more about HEEP log onto: www.heepgrant.org and for information about the clean energy cashback scheme visit www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/generate-your-own-energy



Free conference for businesses

Do you run a local business? Want to know how to supply local authorities in Hertfordshire? Then why not go along to a free conference organised by Hertfordshire Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

The event is in Hatfield on 17 September and Hertsmere Borough Council is just one of the local authorities who will be represented.

The event will focus on the launch of a website where public sector contracts will be advertised and delegates will:
*Discover how your company can bid for contracts
*Meet procurement officers from public and private sectors in Hertfordshire
*Learn how to win, sustain and work in collaboration
*Network with other Hertfordshire businesses
*Take part in practical sessions to learn how to use the Supply Hertfordshire Portal
*Gain valuable advice

Hertsmere Borough Council is just one of a number of local authorities and public sector organisations who together spend more than £1 billion a year on a wide range of services and supplies.

Deadline for booking is 14 September and the event takes place at the Fielder Centre in Hatfield. For full details and to book visit www.hertschamber.com, call Jodie Reid, tel 01707 398400, or email jodiereid@hertschamber.com

Creative gardening in Hertsmere

Gardening itself is considered a green activity - but why not ‘push the boat out’ and try your hand at a range of creative gardening tips to make use of household items that may have otherwise gone to waste.

Hertsmere Borough Council and the Hertfordshire Waste Partnership are appealing to residents to reduce the amount of materials that are sent to landfill, and want to encourage people to stop throwing away items that could be reused.

Cllr Jean Heywood, Environment portfolio holder, said: "Reusing products is even better for the environment than recycling. If we all pull together and do our bit for the environment, we really can make a big impact on the amount of waste that is sent to landfill each year."

On average, households in Hertfordshire produce over a tonne of waste.

Have you ever considered what you could do to help the environment? How you could reuse household containers or materials in the garden? Or how you could grow your own vegetables?

Here are a few tips to get you started:

*   Used car tyres stacked up filled with soil can be used to grow potatoes, fruit or even flowers.
*   Old crockery such as tea pots can be used to plant herbs and flowers.
*   Old net curtains can be used to lay over plants to keep insects off your vegetables and fruit.
*   Scrap wood or even old signs could be used to make a bird box - to encourage wildlife into your garden.

If you are interested in turning your garden and kitchen waste into compost, it couldn't be easier. You can get a cut price compost bin delivered to your door through the Hertfordshire Waste Partnership. For more information on this visit www.herts.getcomposting.com. And remember you can also use your green bin to recycle your garden waste, food waste and cardboard. 

Takeaway fined for poor standards

Two businessmen who ran a sub-standard takeaway were fined a total of more than £5600 at Watford Magistrates Court, yesterday Monday.

Sinnan Kanagaraja and Vijayasingam Raathgiritharan, of Caledonia Chicken and Ribs at 32 Shenley Road Borehamwood were each fined £2815 for food hygiene offences following a routine inspection by Hertsmere Borough Council’s environmental health officers in January.

Offences included poor cleaning standards, fridges not working properly and potential risks of contamination from raw meats stored close to ready-to-eat foods.

The men had previously pleaded guilty and in their mitigating circumstances said they had had problems with builders running off with money for unfinished work, fridges not being repairable. In addition they sacked some staff following the council’s visit as they had not been doing their jobs properly.

Nevertheless, the magistrates, after hearing the evidence, fined each defendant £350 for each of the six offences and ordered them to pay the council’s costs of £1400.

Cllr Jean Heywood, portfolio holder for environmental health, said: "We would rather not have to take food businesses to court as we would much rather see restaurants and takeaways with exemplary hygiene standards. Poor standards of food preparation and handling can have a very serious effect on public health and we will take action. The level of fines issued by the magistrates shows how seriously this matter is taken by the courts."

The six offences, listed below, were all breaches of The Food Hygiene (England) Regulations 2006 made under The Food Safety Act 1990.

1. Failure to keep the premises clean and maintained in good repair and condition;

2. Failure to keep articles, fittings and equipment with which food comes into contact to be effectively clean and where necessary disinfected;

3. Failure to provide adequate provision for the storage and disposal of food waste, non-edible by-products and other refuse. Refuse storage was not designed or managed in such a way as to enable it to be kept clean and where necessary, free of animals and pests;

4. Failure to provide at wash hand basins, materials for cleaning hands and for hygienic drying;

5. Failure to permit good food hygiene practices including protection against contamination and where necessary, provide suitable temperature controlled storage conditions of sufficient capacity;

6. Fail to ensure that all food handlers were trained in food hygiene matters commensurate with their work activities.
this is a business we would certainly put in 
the ROGUE TRADERS section on T and T 
An energy efficiency and home improvement scheme has ‘come up trumps’ twice after entering two environmental competitions.

The Herts Essex Energy Partnership (HEEP) has won a national Green Apple Award, after being nominated in an environmental category. The Green Apple Awards take place each year, although this is the first time that HEEP has been nominated. The award will be collected at a ceremony at the House of Commons in November by a representative from Climate Energy who manage the scheme.

Cllr Jean Heywood, Environment portfolio holder, said: "The HEEP grant scheme is a great way for homeowners and private tenants to insulate their property and invest in heating systems by getting a grant from their local authority. We are delighted and proud that the scheme has been given the thumbs up in two separate award categories."

Closer to home, HEEP has been shortlisted as a finalist in the Environmental Project category at the Hertfordshire Green Awards, which are run by a local newspaper group.

This is also the first time the scheme has entered the Hertfordshire Green Awards, and the winners will be announced at an event at The Priory in Hitchin on 2 September.

HEEP consists of 15 local authorities, including Hertsmere Borough Council, that provide energy saving home improvement loans to residents. 

Through the HEEP scheme residents can receive discounted insulation. However, if the homeowner or private tenant is over 70 years old or on qualifying benefits they maybe entitled to free energy saving initiatives. The latest offers include loft insulation at £49 and cavity wall insulation for £49.

If you would like to find out more about the HEEP scheme visit www.heepgrant.org or for information about the Hertfordshire Green Awards go to www.hertsgreenawards.co.uk and for more on the Green Apple Awards visit www.thegreenorganisation.info


Other finalists shortlisted in the Environmental Project category for the 2010 Hertfordshire Green Awards are: Ickleford Burial Ground, Letchworth Garden City Heritage Foundation and Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust. 

Local authorities involved in the HEEP scheme are: Hertsmere Borough Council, Broxbourne Borough Council, Brentwood Borough Council. Chemsford Borough Council, Dacorum Borough Council, East Herts Council, Epping Forest District Council, Harlow Council, North Hertfordshire District Council, St Albans City and District Council, Stevenage Borough Council, Three Rivers District Council, Uttlesford District Council, Watford Borough Council and Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council. 



Scout hut gets a boost

A local scout group is to benefit from a cash injection to help improve its facilities.

The 1st Little Heath and Potters Bar Scout Group - who celebrated their Centenary in June this year - has been awarded £2,400 in order to improve its hut in Quakers Lane, Potters Bar.

Cllr Peter Knell pledged £2,000 towards general repairs and replacement toilets, washbasins and windows, while Cllr Tugay Sevincli has pledged £400 towards a water heater and gate to the back of the hut.

Cllr Knell, who is also the council’s deputy mayor, said: "Cub and scout groups provide a wonderful range of activities for young people and I was delighted to be able to support this application."

Nigel Hickson, the Group scout leader, explained: "The group has been going for 100 years and we have more than 45 boy and girl members. We work hard to raise our own funds and our leaders are all volunteers so the money is gratefully received and will make a big difference to our facilities."

The money has been awarded from the council’s Ward Improvement Initiative Scheme (WIIS). Local people and groups can make a bid for cash to improve the area they live in by using WIIS, which allows each Hertsmere councillor to spend £2,000 to support local projects and schemes.

If you would like to have a scheme considered, contact your local councillor. To find out who your local councillor is visit www.hertsmere.gov.uk