Consultations

BT are carrying out a consultation exercise for the removal of 2 payphones in the district.  The payphones (Leyton Road Harpenden and Beech Road St Albans) now have a sign placed in them asking residents with any comments to contact the planning department.

The consultation is now open.  Should you have any comments please send them to Planning@stalbans.gov.uk by 30 June 2021.

Written comments should be sent to the Council addressed to BT Payphone Consultation, Planning and Building Control at the Civic Offices, St Peters Street, St Albans, Hertfordshire, AL1 3JE by 30 June 2021.  

Comments will be collated and returned to BT by 06 July 2021.

St Albans District (B) Annex
Street Payphone notice

In the process of reviewing its Charter Markets, the Council asked for views on the range and quality of goods that are normally available (thinking about those that were available before the COVID crisis).

Each year the Community Safety Partnership (CSP) consults with the public and local groups on its plans for the coming year to tackle crime and disorder across the District. The survey asked for residents' views on whether the Partnership's priorities are correct and ways to tackle them.  It gave residents an opportunity to share views on crime and anti-social behaviour in the District and to highlight problems that need to be addressed. This survey responses will support the development of action plans for the CSP in the coming year.

For more information, visit the Crime and anti-social behaviour webpage.

The Council is producing a new Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Strategy for 2021 to replace the current Inclusion Strategy which is now out of date. The Strategy will set out our vision and plan for the next three years to make our district an inclusive, welcoming place where everyone can thrive. We wanted to make sure the strategy reflects our diverse communities and that everyone got a chance to have a say on what our priorities should be.

Responses will be factored into the new strategy.

The Council reviewed its Customer Commitment and welcomed views on the 4 key values it proposed.  Feedback received will help to shape the Commitment so it meets the needs of all customers in the district.

The Council sought views on its new Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing Policy, which sets out its approach to regulating hackney carriage and private hire services in the district. The policy aims to both reduce potential risks associated with hackney carriage and private hire services and provide transparency and consistency for anyone with an interest.  It also adapted the Council's approach to match updated national guidance.

The Council sought views on changes to its Housing Allocation Policy. There were a number of minor and legislative changes that can be approved by the Head of Housing in agreement with the Portfolio Holder for Housing and Inclusion, but some major changes required public consultation.

A new five year Greenspace Action Plan (GAP) is being produced for Clarence Park in St Albans. This briefing document provided an overview of how the GAP will be produced and sets out how stakeholders could contribute to shaping the plan.

Residents were asked to share views on the Council's aspirations for the site. A further engagement period later in the year will provide an opportunity to assess the draft version of the GAP.

• Clarence Park Greenspace Action Plan 2021-2026 ( pdf - 1.60 MB )

A new five year Greenspace Action Plan (GAP) is being produced for the section of the Nickey Line within St Albans district. This briefing document provided an overview of how the GAP will be produced and sets out how stakeholders could contribute to shaping the plan.

Residents were asked to share views on the Council's aspirations for the site. A further engagement period later in the year will provide an opportunity to assess the draft version of the GAP.

• Nickey Line Greenspace Action Plan, 2021-2026 ( pdf - 7.02 MB )

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

Businesses in St Albans District were asked to take part in a survey about how they are coping with the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

This was a follow-up to a survey conducted in late May.  The Council wanted to check if the support being made available and signposted to, and the gradual easing of restrictions, had helped.  It also wanted to know and what further support businesses will need to recover over the next year.

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.  Council officers will be in contact respondents who requested information on training, apprenticeships and Green Business Grants.  The overall response will be fed back to the Council's Recovery Task and Finish Group to guide their work.

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. 

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

• Alban Way Greenspace Action Plan

• Bernards Heath Green Space Action Plan

• Bricket Wood Common Green Space Action Plan

• Brownfield Land Register

• BT payphone removal

• Business Rates Revaluation 2017 Discretionary Support

• Clarence Park Management Plan

• Colney Heath Neighbourhood Plan Area

• Busking Code of Practice

• Charitable Collections Policy

• Community Safety Partnership

• Council response times

• Council Tax Support Scheme

• Customer Services

• Draft Housing Strategy

• Car parking

• Gambling Policy

• Garage site developments

• Green Spaces management plan

• Gustard Wood Conservation Area character statement

• Bentsley Spinney Greenspace Action Plan

• Harpenden Leisure and Cultural Development

• Harpenden Neighbourhood Plan

• Hatfield Road Cemetery Management Plan

• How Wood Greenspace Action Plan

• Lea Valley Walk Greenspace Action Plan

• Leisure facilities

• Local Plan

• Napsbury Conservation Area Character statement

• Netherway Greenspace Action Plan

• Nickey Line Green Space Action Plan

• Night time economy

• Nomansland Common Green Space Action Plan

• Parva Close Green Space Action Plan

• Pavement Licensing Policy

• Portable youth shelter

• Public Space Protection Order

• Rail Timetable changes inquiry

• Polling districts and polling places

• Potters Crouch Conservation Area Character Statement

• Taxis

• Revenues and Benefits Customer Satisfaction

• River Ver and Verulamium Park Lakes Improvement Project

• Rothamsted Park Green Space Action Plan

• Sandridge Neighbourhood Plan Area

• Shafford Mill Conservation Area Character Statement

• Sopwell Nunnery Green Space Action Plan

• Street Trading Policy

• St Albans Green Ring

• The Wick Green Space Action Plan

• Verulamium Park

• Website redesign

• Yellow line parking restrictions