The Town Council's Ambitions for a better Berkhamsted

The Council's Aims

• To promote and represent the community's views and aspirations at local, Borough, County, Regional and National level.
• To serve those who live in the town, work in the town and visit the town.
• To promote the area as a place to live, a place to work, a place to visit.
• To secure investment that will increase the number of jobs locally.
• To promote the town council as a deliverer of services, where these can be delivered most effectively and efficiently at the local level.
• To deliver the best possible town council services for the lowest possible cost. To strive to improve the quality of life for all residents of the town.
• To facilitate community participation in actions on local issues
• To improve the town's resilience and response to the impacts of the climate and ecological emergency

To achieve these aims the council's objectives are:

• To engage and consult with the community to establish its aspirations for the future and to provide support for good ideas and encourage local initiatives.
• Acknowledging the Climate Emergency, to promote policies that sustain or improve the environment to meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs.
• To help to create a socially inclusive and caring community which embraces all its residents irrespective of age, culture, wealth, race or religion and which seeks to develop their well-being, knowledge, understanding and mutual co-operation.
• To promote the vitality and viability of the town centre while safeguarding the town's Castle and Canal Heritage.
• To work for a cleaner, greener Berkhamsted including better bus services in the town that will help to reduce congestion and improve air quality in the town.
• To strive for a safer environment for the community.
• To continue to preserve and enhance the character of the town, oppose inappropriate development, defend the green belt and critically analyse the proposed Draft Revised Dacorum Local Plan to ensure the best possible outcome for Berkhamsted.

The town council has a number of powers in Berkhamsted, which include:

• Providing allotment gardens for hire to residents
• Managing Lagley Meadow Youth Centre
• Providing planters for the town
• Maintain Gardens at Durrants Lane/Coombe Gardens and at the Gateway Gardens, London Road
• Making grant awards support to local organisations and groups
• Working with local charities and groups to organise the annual Festival of Light event and other community events
• Maintaining the De Lisle Clock on the building on the corner of the High Street and Lower Kings Road

As the first tier of local government, the town council also plays a vital part in representing the interests of the local community, to the two higher tiers of local government.

This includes to Dacorum Borough Council on:

• Collecting Council tax and business rates
• Household recycling and waste disposal
• Planning applications and building regulations for the town
• Street cleaning and litter
• Maintenance of parks, green spaces and play areas
• Managing trees and planting
• Public car parks
• Licensing and environmental health

For more information visit the Dacorum Borough Council website.

And to Hertfordshire Country Council on issues such as:

• Highways
• Education and Libraries
• Social Services
• Trading standards
• Registrar of Birth, Deaths and Marriages
• Waste Disposal (Excluding Household Waste)

For more information visit the Herts County Council website

Our councillors are elected or co-opted, if you would like to become a councillor or find out more about what they do then please click here.

Our committees have specific tasks and can have delegated powers.

The town council's Standing Orders provide details of how the the council conducts it business and make decisions.

We have a small team of staff that work together to deliver the range of services we provide. They can be contacted through our office in the Civic Centre, by phone or email or in person at the Civic Centre.

Emails and phone calls are monitored 7 days a week.

Office Opening Hours:

Monday - Thursday - 9am - 4pm

Friday - by appointment only

The Town Clerk supports the town council by ensuring meetings are properly held in accordance with legislative requirements, takes forward actions agreed by the council and is the Responsible Finance Officer, ensuring that the town council's finances are effectively managed and properly brought to account.

The Deputy Town Clerk supports the Town Clerk in all aspects of administration of the town council's services and assists in ensuring that statutory and other provisions governing or affecting the running of the council are implemented. They manage the planning applications received for consideration by the Town Planning Committee and clerk its meetings.

The Project Officer supports the town council by managing and delivering projects identified by the Town Council Committees and Working Groups. Most of the projects are in response to the Climate Emergency declared by the council in June 2019.

The Town Warden keeps an eye out for problems across the town and responds to calls from the public daily.

His day-to-day tasks can range from having graffiti removed, rubbish cleared from public places, including glass from children's play areas, liaising closely with local police officers who consider responses as part of their commitment to a safer community.

The Town Warden also looks after the town council's website and social media. He also manages the day to day running of the Lagley Meadow Youth Centre.

The Town Warden reports other problems he comes across or which are reported by the public, to the appropriate authority for them to deal with as quickly as possible. These include reporting:

• abandoned vehicles
• incidents of fly-tipping
• faulty streetlights and bollards
• potholed roads
• winter salt bins needing refilling
• water leaks
• issues with paving slabs
• overgrown hedges
• graffiti
• tree issues on the highway
• damaged road signs
• litter

The Finance and Allotment Officer manages and monitors the town touncil's budgets, income and expenditure and administers the Town Council's 375 allotment plots on 3 different sites.