Consultations

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Planning consultations Hertfordshire County Council consultations

Open Consultations

St Albans Electoral Review – closing 29/07/2020 Toggle accordion

The Local Government Boundary Commission asked for views on proposed new electoral arrangements for St Albans City & District. They are re-opening reopening this consultation for six weeks, as a portion of the original draft recommendations consultation took place during ‘lockdown’.

The Local Government Boundary Commission wants to know:

Do the proposed wards reflect local communities?
How do you think the proposals can be improved?
Are the names of the proposed wards right?

The full recommendations and detailed interactive maps are available on the Commission’s website at consultation.lgbce.org.uk and www.lgbce.org.uk.

Have your say and respond online.

Completed Consultations

Grow Community - Sopwell Consultation - closed 03/07/2020 Toggle accordion

Local residents were asked to take part in a survey on a proposed community garden in Sopwell ward. They were invited to comment on their preferred location for the garden, and to share other views on the project.

The community garden will be created and maintained by a local volunteer gardening group, ‘Grow Community – Sopwell’. The proposed sites are on St Albans City and District (SADC) land. The Project is partly funded by SADC Community Grants Fund.

Find out more information on the consultation and the proposed locations.

The Council has shared the survey results with ‘Grow Community – Sopwell’ who will feed back to respondents.

COVID-19 Recovery Business Survey - closed 09/06/2020 Toggle accordion

Businesses in St Albans District were asked to take part in a survey about the impact of the COVID-19 emergency.

As a Council we are aware of the stress being put on business as a result of the pandemic and want to assist you to navigate through these difficult times. We asked all businesses in the district for their views and experience to ensure we understand how they have been affected by COVID-19 and what kind of support they needed.

Results:

64 businesses responded to the survey. Overall, 60% described themselves in crisis, 35% ticking over and 5% thriving.

77% of respondents have had to adapt their way of operating including moving online, offering deliveries or takeaways; and diversifying products.

11 respondents reported that they had staff (including themselves) who were ineligible for financial support. This included staff who had not been employed long enough to be eligible for the furlough scheme, freelancers and self-employed staff, and directors of Ltd. Companies.

On the question of what immediate support would be needed, most respondents asked for further financial support and clearer guidance on safe practice to reassure staff and customer.

In the longer term more businesses responded that they would like to continue accessing the government’s Job Retention Scheme and other financial support. They also asked for assistance in marketing, advice and pedestrianisation once out of lockdown.

Actions:

The Council will consider all the feedback alongside results from similar survey work held by partners including Herts Growth Hub. It will create an action plan that to support businesses across the District. To support this ongoing work, further survey work is planned for July.

Ongoing work and advice:

The £1.2 million Discretionary Business Grant scheme, to support businesses with property-related costs, has been promoted widely any received over 250 applications.
The Council has been allocated a portion of the Reopening High Streets Safely Fund to support safe opening of high streets and communal spaces in the district. Work is underway to use this funding effectively to support local businesses.
St Albans Business Improvement District (BID) and EnjoyStAlbans.com are promoting local businesses and advertising online. The Council is working with the BID and local businesses on a plan to increase pedestrianisation and open up high streets.
Businesses requiring advice on issues such as landlord or rent negotiations are signposted to St Albans Enterprise Agency (STANTA).
For businesses looking for clearer guidance advice around trading during the pandemic, Hertfordshire’s Better Business for All partnership has released a suite of resources, which you can access online.
The Council will continue to consider and act on all feedback it can, feeding into service changes and development, lobbying of government, advising other government bodies and partners where they can help, and signposting appropriate support.

Revised Housing Tenancy Strategy - closed 30/04/2020 Toggle accordion

The Council has reviewed its Tenancy Strategy and invited your views.

View the strategy online.

The strategy gives details of the Council’s policy on the letting of Council homes, including those let on “social rent and affordable rent” levels. This strategy applies to St Albans City and District Council housing.

The Council expects Housing Associations (Registered Providers) working in the district to consider this strategy when developing their own policies and plans for developing and managing affordable housing in the district.

The strategy

Outlines the different types of tenancies used by Council
Outlines the Council’s approach to social and affordable rents
Outlines the Council’s approach to working with local Registered Providers to help residents access affordable, safe housing

St Albans Electoral Review – closed 13/04/2020 Toggle accordion

The Local Government Boundary Commission asked for views on proposed new electoral arrangements for St Albans City & District.

The Local Government Boundary Commission wanted to know:

Do the proposed wards reflect local communities?
How do you think the proposals can be improved?
Are the names of the proposed wards right?

The Commission’s draft recommendations proposed that St Albans City & District Council should have 56 councillors in future: this is two fewer than now. The recommendations also outline how those councillors should represent 16 three-councillor wards and 4 two-councillor wards across the district.

The full recommendations and detailed interactive maps are available on the Commission’s website at consultation.lgbce.org.uk and www.lgbce.org.uk.

Community Safety Partnership Strategy 2020-21 – closed 15/03/2020 Toggle accordion

St Albans Community Safety Partnership (CSP) consulted on its plans to tackle crime, disorder and anti-social behaviour across the District in the next year. The survey asked for residents' views on whether the Partnership's priorities are correct and how they thought we should tackle these issues. Find out more about the Community Safety Partnership.

Westminster Lodge New Changing Places – closed 13/03/2020 Toggle accordion

At time of consulting, Westminster Lodge Leisure Centre currently had one Changing Places toilet facility situated near the swimming pool. The proposal to have a second facility was opened up to the public, who were asked for their views on where the second changing places should be located.

A Changing Places toilet is more than an accessible toilet. Some people with profound and multiple learning disabilities, as well other disabilities that severely limit mobility, cannot use standard accessible toilets. They may need equipment to help them or may need support from one or two carers to either get on the toilet or to be helped to get changed.

BT payphone removal – closing 28/02/2020 Toggle accordion

BT consulted on the removal of 2 payphones in the district. The 2 payphones (PCO PCO1 Abbots Avenue, St Albans and Junction of ringway Road O/S No.2 PCO1 How Wood, Park Street) had a sign placed in them asking residents with any comments to contact the planning department. Any feedback received has been sent to BT.

Survey on Council response times – closed 11/02/2020 Toggle accordion

St Albans City and District Council asked residents and businesses to complete a survey about how quickly their enquiries are dealt with. Feedback was analysed and reported to a meeting of the Council’s Planning, Resources, Housing and Commercial Scrutiny Committee on Thursday 13 February. View the webcast and minutes of this meeting.

BT payphone removal – closed 30/11/2019 Toggle accordion

The Planning team asked for comment on the removal of 3 BT payphones in the district.

Revenues and Benefits Customer Satisfaction Survey Toggle accordion

The Council asked for views on the MyStAlbans portal.

Yellow line parking restrictions – closed 18/09/2019 Toggle accordion

The Council proposed to introduce stopping and waiting restrictions in multiple parts of the district to improve road safety, reduce instances of inappropriate or inconsiderate parking and Improve visibility at road junctions and property entrances.

Residents were invited to make comments on these proposals.

Gustard Wood Conservation Area Character Statement consultation – closed 26/08/2019 Toggle accordion

The Council asked views on the Gustard Wood Conservation Area Character Statement.