Harpenden. The future is here... The WINTER edition FEB. 2013

What do you want?More school places...improved

health facilities...better roads...a thriving High

Street...more Park amenities...plenty of Green Space...varied community

activities...enhanced council services...growth in the local economy...value for money

Harpenden’s future is literally in our own hands.Don’t just sit there..take an interest...get involved...support activity...buy local...use

local suppliers...join a society...make local councillors accountable...visit local amenities

06/02/2013 16:27HARPENDEN PEOPLE, CULTURE AND NEWS FEB. 2013

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Stop Press... 25th Jan.Luton Airport ExpansionOppose the expansion +++More news from Herts CC17th Jan.Harpenden Town Mayor respondsto Luton Expansion plans. Clickhere to read the letter and +++Vote to oppose+++London Luton Airport OperationsLimited (LLAOL), the airportoperator, have submitted aplanning application to LutonBorough Council. The Council’sDevelopment Control Division has todayconfirmed that the application is nowvalid and the consultation period cancommence on this planning application.The application documents can beviewed on the Council’s public accesswebpage at www.eplan.luton.gov.ukunder application number 12/01400.The consultation period for theapplication will run until 18 February2013. URGENT ACTION REQUIRED.Click here for all the latestinformation.

Stop Press... 20th Jan.Pedestrian area inHarpenden High Street?Proposals are underconsideration to trial thearea below soon.Click here for details andreader views.

Stop Press...Photography exhibition inHarpenden. Sat 16th Feb. Free entry.Click here for details

HARPENDEN PEOPLE, CULTURE AND NEWS FEB. 2013

From the Editor.Feb 7th 2013.

Reading this edition will give you an insight into what’s happening in Harpenden right now. It will show you how local businesses involve themselves with the local community. How they offer great service and value for money. There are articles to inspire you and articles to encourage you to become more active in local affairs. A big thank you to all the contributors and I hope you enjoy the read.

Ron Taylor.info@harpendia.com

Stay informed with Harpenden news... Check out the Harpendia web site below...

regular updates. www.harpendia.com

“Buy Local...Support Local...Buy British...Worry about Food Miles?Find out more in the Spring edition of Harpendia, publishing mid

April. I’d like to hear your views about this ongoing conversation.” Ron Taylor

House building booms whilst retailing struggles.

“Did you know that 2013 looks likely to be a boom year in Harpenden” Ron Taylor.The Glen Eagle Manor. A Care Home and luxury apartment proposal with 10+ units by Jarvis Homes.The Lea Industrial estate development with 80 units by Jarvis Homes. (Both of these are still in the consultation phase) Faulkners Place in Wood End with up to 200 houses by Taylor Wimpey (see above) PLUS lots of large house plots that are rebuilt into two or three new homes.

Demand is still high from families who live/work in London but want a rural style location with easy access to London + good schools + local amenities.Have you noticed that there have been no closures of estate agents in recent years--all still very busy. YETCompare that with the local independent retail businesses and witness closures in the last year: Woodys Toys, Bumpy Coffee shop, Challis Fashion, The Lemongrove Gallery, Flowers Flowers, Ethos Hair and Beauty, Legends, The Daisy Chain, Felicitations, Waterers Men’s Wear, Valentines Gifts and since the New Year, Baby Years (below) opposite Waitrose.

Many independents are reeling under the pressures of higher rents and business rates, higher overheads plus competition from supermarkets, the internet and shopping centres and the myriad of Charity shops.

New shops that have opened are generally part of large chain stores: Mint Velvet, East, Country Casuals, ViyellaThere are exceptions: Message, Rollings Wine and an expanded Bar Azita in Station Road. Hacketts, Godfrey’s Chip shop and Gallery Rouge on the High Street. Nikki Kaye opp Waitrose. Doggy Day Spa in Thompsons Close, Simply Sunbeds in The Leys. Purple now has two floors.Harpenden is still blessed with a High Street with more than the average number of Independent shops, but will it last?

Article continues...

DEALING WITH LANDLORDSRetailers are quick to accuse landlords of

being inflexible but a landlord can only fix a rent on the basis of what the market will pay and if, five years after a rent review values have gone up, then a landlord can hope to achieve an uplift. However the retailer does not have to accept it and can negotiate with the landlord. There is a mechanism in most

leases whereby if they cannot agree the new rent the matter gets referred to a third party. Local retailers particularly need to be aware

of this and seek the advice of a retail property professional who can fight it on their

behalf.

Andrew Reed . Reed Fitzpatrick Retail. www.rfretail.com

Article continues...Not enough Car Parking spaceFailure of local councils to provide enough car parking places at reasonable rates and enough places in total to meet local demand. Why are supermarkets so popular? Most offer FREE parking in large car parks. One stop shopping, low prices and convenience says it all.

Technology is shaping the futureToday’s savvy shoppers are using technology to their advantage. Viewing products on line and comparing prices...buying via their smart phones...next day delivery to their homes or pick up points at Waitrose & Sainsbury’s. This is a growing trend. Social media is also important in the buying decision process with users seeking advice and knowledge from their ‘friends’ and the many comparison sites.

05/02/2013 17:30Amazon.co.uk: Low Prices in Electronics, Books, Sports Equipment & more

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Changing the way retailers operateConsumers still love to shop, ‘touch’ the merchandise and be given advice. Shops need to have staff who can engage with customers in a relevant environment , give advice and ‘sell’. Visit an Apple, Nike or Selfridges outlet and you’ll understand the experience I’m talking about. It just needs scaling down. OK. Take a look in Breathing Space, Bar Azita, Godfrey’s (Recently opened Chip shop) and Brayleys. They have all turned existing formats on their head, changed perceptions and are delivering customer experiences second to none. If you haven’t been in I urge you to do so.

If you click on this link you can see what Breathing Space have done.www.pamelastoreyjohnson.com/exhibitions.html Pop up Shops for NEW businessWhat’s holding back local entrepreneurs? Lack of investment...high risk...inexperience. Why not make short term leases (3 months) available for local entrepreneurs to trial their ideas and learn what business is all about. Support from the local council and some pro bono legal advice could be the making of a thriving new enterprise.

Article continues...

Fabio Grasso, (left) the Manager of All Floors in Station Road makes the case to solve parking problems." I think all parking bays and car parks in Harpenden should be metered and offer the first 30 mins free. A reasonable hourly rate thereafter. This works well in Northwood. Parking wardens work will be reduced so staff levels can also be reduced"All Floors supports ‘Buy Local’

Article concludes.

PedestrianisationIntroducing potential pedestrian areas on suspect safety issue will not ‘help’ retailers when the retailers see no benefit. Witness over 1,000 signatures to a petition in the shops on Lower High Street. Local shoppers do not seem to be enamoured.

People in the ‘know’The former boss of Tesco Sir Terry Leahy has described the rise of supermarkets and closure of small shops as "part of progress".Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Desert Island Discs on Feb 3rd, Sir Terry also called some Streets "medieval", saying the way people lived their lives had changed.

Sir Terry said seeing boarded up local shops was sad, but this happened because consumers were choosing to shop at the bigger supermarkets.

He said he couldn't please everybody when it came to views on supermarkets over small High Street stores."If you talk to people, 95% of the population quite like supermarkets but 5% don't, but in Britain this (5%) is three million people so they have a right to say what they think.

The British Independent Retailers Association said 98% of the the UK's £150bn grocery industry was controlled by just nine store groups.But deputy chief executive Michael Weedon claimed there could be a silver lining for smaller businesses. He said as large chains such as HMV and Blockbuster closed, more retail premises would become available at cheaper rents.

“The thing is, people always say they love small, independent shops, and that they hate the big supermarkets.But, what do they do ? They neglect the small shops and buy in the supermarkets.What shoppers say, and what they actually do are not the same when it comes to the crunch ; What it actually costs them is more important.” Ron Taylor.

Where to look for advice.Harpendia produced a marketing guide for local business last year. It’s full of insightful ideas that are sure to help. Click on the link below.

http://issuu.com/exxy/docs/summer_marketing_guide_2012_pdf

Above left. Lara Wares of Threads with the petition signed by hundreds of her customers who are opposed to the County Council scheme to stop all vehicle access on the Lower High St in the top photo. Above right. Sonia Duffy, Perry Florist, another opponent of the scheme.

In the Chancellor’s Autumn Statement he extended UK Austerity until 2017/18 while providing no real strategy for fuelling economic growth, so here’s to a prosperous 2013!

So in these austere times how do you make sure you get value for money when seeking financial advice?

To quote from Alice in Wonderland “If I had a world of my own, everything would be nonsense. Nothing would be what it is because everything would be what it isn’t. And contrary-wise; what it is it wouldn’t be, and what it wouldn’t be, it would”

Increasingly, organising ones finances at retirement can be a bit like this. Let me explain. When you’re younger and buying life insurance to protect your family, being in good health is likely to mean lower premiums than if you have a medical condition. At retirement the world turns upside down. Suddenly, if you are suffering from a medical condition that might affect your life expectancy you could be financially better off!

You see, when you are buying life insurance designed to pay out if you die, the insurance company is naturally worried that you don’t die too soon. In contrast, if you transfer your savings to an insurance company to pay for an income for life or “annuity”, the insurance company recognises that ill health means that your life expectancy could be shorter, so they’ll end up paying your income for a shorter period

of time, as a result they may be able to offer you a higher income than someone who is fit and healthy. Maybe this is Alice’s world! Here are three reasons why you should consider taking expert financial advice at this point in your life:

Firstly, the stakes are too high. Remember, your retirement savings have to provide an income for each year for the rest of your life.Secondly, it’s easy to make mistakes. This is a complex area and very few people have much experience of what to do.

And finally, the cost of taking advice is extremely good value for money when compared with the cost of taking the wrong option.Let me now deal with life insurance first in terms of getting value for money. The cost of life insurance

has steadily decreased as we all live longer and with increased competition. Now here’s the thing, as from 21st December last year, insurance companies can no longer take account of the risk difference between men and women when they calculate the cost of a policy. The trade association for insurance companies believe male premiums have fallen by around 10% as a result. So for all you men out there now is a great time to speak to Lyndhurst Financial Management to get a competitive quote for your life insurance.

Going back to Alice’s world the reverse applies to pensions and now the cost to you ladies out there of taking out an annuity should also fall. Again, seeking expert financial advice is as important today as ever.

Article continues on next page...

Financial Services ‘Value for money in times of austerity’ By Geoff Newman. Director Lyndhurst Financial Management

Article concludes

Investing for the future.

Have you ever dreamt about owning an Aston Martin DB series as used by James Bond? At Lyndhurst we can’t make all your dreams come true, however, we can help you to identify the things that really matter most to you and put in place a financial plan to get the best possible outcome. That outcome may be paying school and university fees for your children or having a comfortable lifestyle in retirement. It may of course include owning a beautiful DB6 but whatever the outcome you desire one of our advisers will be available to discuss with you on 01582 715777.

www.lyndhurstfm.co.uk

Supporting the UK economy? Use Bar Codes to check country of origin

ALWAYS READ THE LABELS ON THE FOODS YOU BUY-- NO MATTER WHAT THE FRONT OF THE BOX OR PACKAGE SAYS, TURN IT OVER AND READ THE BACK---CAREFULLY!With so much food and pet products now coming from China , it is best to make sure you read label at the grocery store and especially Tesco / Asda when buying food products.Many products no longer show where they were made, only give where the distributor is  located.It is important to read the bar code to track it's origin.How to read Bar Codes .... Interesting!This may be useful to know when grocery shopping, if it's a concern to you. GREAT WAY TO "BUY BRITISH " AND NOT FROM  CHINA!!The whole world is concerned about China-made "black hearted goods".Can you differentiate which one is made in Taiwan or  China ?

If the first 3 digits of the barcode are 690 691 or 692, the product is MADE IN  CHINA.

471 is Made in Taiwan .

This is our right to know, but the government and related departments never educate the public, therefore, we have to RESCUE ourselves.

Nowadays, Chinese businessmen know that consumers do not prefer products "MADE IN CHINA ", so they don't show from which country it is made.  However, you may now refer to the barcode - remember if the first 3 digits are:

690-692 ... Then it is MADE IN  CHINA00 - 09 ...  USA     &  CANADA30 - 37   FRANCE40 - 44  GERMANY471 ....  Taiwan49 ... JAPAN50 ...  UK

BUY 'BRITISH' by watching for "50" at the beginning of the number.

Harpenden’s wedding of the yearDec. 2012.Over 12,000 hits on YouTube. Click below tosee it for yourself.http://youtu.be/hVknbZnGjxU

Brayley Kia’s ‘Tug-of-Rio’ in aid of Comic Relief

Comic Relief’s Red Nose Day 2013 is fast approaching and Brayley Kia is supporting this fundraising extravaganza in a big way in 2013!

We’re planning a unique event in partnership with St Albans based rugby club, Old Albanians and it promises to be quite an event.

With Kia being a major supporting partner of Comic Relief 2013, we are planning a Tug-of-War competition with a difference – a ‘Tug -of -Rio’. Teams will ‘pull’ with one of Brayleys’ new Kia Rio cars in the middle!

The event will be held on Saturday 16 March, 12 – 4pm. This will be followed by the screening in the excellent facilities of the Woollam Club House of the live RBS Six Nations match between England and Wales.

Teams representing Brayleys and the OAs will be competing for the honour of best local ‘Tug of War’ team for a very worthy cause and we are looking for up to 14 other teams to participate.

Teams of between 6-8 people (men and women of all ages) are welcome and donations from team members and supporters will be gratefully received on the day.

There will be fun for all the family and refreshments will be provided by Old Albanians RFC for those competing.

Bookings will be taken on a first come-first served basis and must be made before the cut-off deadline of Friday 22 February. If the event is oversubscribed, teams will be put on a reserve list.

Competing teams will be notified of their success by email week commencing Monday 25 February.

Prizes will be awarded to the overall winners AND also to the team wearing the best comedy fancy dress, which is MANDATORY for all participants, since the event is supporting Comic Relief.

Gloves will be provided but we advise the wearing of sturdy footwear, as the event will be held on a hard-standing area. Participants agree to sign a disclaimer on the day to acknowledge that they are taking part at their own risk.

To reserve a place for your team, simply email: rednoseday@brayleys.co.ukwith contact details of your team leader, number of ‘pullers’ and team name.

US Hedge Fund bets on local artist

Advent calendar creates impact both sides of the AtlanticLocal artist Pamela Storey Johnson was commissioned to create a 2012 Advent Calendar for a leading American Hedge Fund, showing a ‘Dickensian’ street scene set in front of the New York Stock Exchange. It featured Angela Merkel, handing out the fatted goose to Italian, Spanish and Greek street urchins in National colours, Ben Bernanke (Federal Reserve Chairman) as Father Christmas throwing dollar bills from a helicopter, Lloyd Blank-Fein of Goldman Sachs in down-at-

heel clothing, Uncle Sam offering hand-outs, market stall selling cut-price corn and gold, and much more. 

The Calendar attracted much interest in December and was taken up by Bloomberg News, with an interview of Pamela for their online site and plenty of Tweets from both UK and USA. 

Pam lives in Wheathamsted and was featured in the Spring 2011 edition of Harpendia Magazine. More details of her work can be found on her web site.www.pamelastoreyjohnson.com

Helping youngsters learn more about cars and be safe around roads was the theme of an educational visit to Brayley Kia and Mazda from a Harpenden cub scout pack.

10th  Harpenden Swift Pack, based at Crabtree Fields, was the first youth group to visit the dealership on Luton Road, which opened in June after a major four-month refurbishment.

A special automotive quiz kicked off the evening with each of the cub pack’s ‘sixes’ coming up with a motor related team name. The thirty cubs were asked to find the answers to questions about the range of Kia and Mazda models in the showroom, using materials placed in and around the cars.

A talk about road safety followed, including safe places to cross the road and the importance of wearing a seat belt when travelling. The cubs also learned about some of the technology found in new cars designed to improve occupant protection, such as airbags, traction control, anti-lock brakes, after which it was their turn to quiz the Brayley representatives about all things automotive.

Thanks to support from Kia and Mazda, all the cubs were presented with a number of goodies to commemorate their outing. As a special offer to mums and dads, the dealership offered a complimentary car wash and vacuum, plus a discount voucher for their next MOT.

Hosting the visit, James Darby, Aftersales Manager for Brayley Kia/Mazda, said:

“The cubs took a very keen interest in our cars and the new Mazda MX-5 sports car was particularly popular. It was a good chance to improve their knowledge on safety matters and they behaved impeccably too, so were very deserving of the presents which were kindly provided by Kia and Mazda.”

Thanking the dealership for its hospitality, Cub Scout Leader ‘Akela’, Chris Small, said:

“We were delighted to be the first pack to visit Harpenden’s impressive new dealership and the cubs thoroughly enjoyed their time in the showroom. They certainly learned a lot of new things and it was a great educational experience for them. We are very grateful to Brayleys for accommodating us.”             

Harpenden dealership quizzes cub scouts on road safety

Photo above: Winners of the quiz, team ‘Lamborghini’: Front row – Oliver Ferrier (left) and Adam Hodge (right)                  Back row – Henry Husbands (left), Emily Elgar and James Moffat (right)

Harpenden Building Society first opened its doors in 1953, sixty years ago this year, and has successfully navigated through the peaks and troughs of the financial landscape, building trust and experience along the way. Paul Marsden, Director & Chief Executive of HBS, shares what it means to have the benefit of such trust and experience, and how the Society feels about celebrating their 60th anniversary.

“Over the years we’ve seen so much change and progress in terms of technological advances as well as in the community, but one thing that’s remained consistent throughout has been Harpenden Building Society.

Sixty years is a key milestone, and we have so much planned for 2013 in all areas of the business, from fundraising and charitable support, through to investing in the acquisition of our HQ, Mardall House in Harpenden, which came on to the market last year.

With strong growth year on year, our sixtieth year is set to be the most exciting yet. 2012 saw HBS achieve tremendous results, with our capital & reserves showing a 10.4% increase. In addition our balance sheet increased by 5.5% and our liquidity by 4%, which has been helped by a 5.9%

Article continues on next page...

Sixty years strong – the benefits of age, trust and experience

Whatever you’resaving for, you

won’t find a betterway than with

Harpenden

www.harpendenbs.co.uk

HARPENDENB U I L D I N G S O C I E T Y

! ISA’s

! One Year Bond

! Childrens Savings

! Notice Accounts

! Instant Access

! Time Deposits

Local reputationNational recognition

Are you looking for competitive savings accounts from a security conscious society?Well, at Harpenden Building Society we offer both.

Combine this with our expanding network of local branches, conveniently locatedin Herts, Beds and Bucks and you can see why we have an enviable reputation forpersonalised, efficient and friendly local service.

Visit our branches or call our Savings Team today on 01582 765411.

...article concludesincrease in our mortgage asset balance and a 6.5% increase in our share balances.We’re a Society built on strong community foundations, and this is why we are always looking for ways to ‘give back’ to the community, so for our 60th Anniversary year we’ll be holding Branch celebration parties in the Spring, and a team of HBS staff will be taking part in a 1-day cycle tour around our six branches, to raise funds for local worthwhile causes.

I’m also pleased to announce that as Director & Chief Executive of HBS, I have been awarded the 2013 Leadership Award by the industry publication Mortgage Finance Gazette – further testament that our Society has developed a winning formula.

As a mutual building society we have a duty to our members to protect their money and

provide the best service possible. Financial security is paramount and tends to make our investment and lending decisions err on the side of caution. It also means that we have never sought or needed any government assistance. This has provided us with the opportunity to offer record levels of lending to well thought-out mortgage proposals.”

Harpenden Building Society has branches in Harpenden, Buckingham, Leighton Buzzard, Radlett, Tring and Wendover. They can be contacted on 01582 765411 or visit www.harpendenbs.co.uk

Our mortgagesare different

because you’redifferent

www.harpendenbs.co.uk

HARPENDENB U I L D I N G S O C I E T Y

Mortgages for:RESIDENTIAL! Complex Prime! Purchase! Remortgage! Interest Only – age related! IHT planning! Refurbishment! Additional Borrowing

HOLIDAY HOMES:! 2nd Homes! Pied a Terre

Local reputationNational recognition

YOUR HOME MAY BE REPOSSESSED IF YOU DO NOT KEEP UP REPAYMENTS ON YOUR MORTGAGE

Are you having difficulty finding the right mortgage provider to meet your complexneeds? Well, help is at hand. At Harpenden Building Society you’ll find our tailored andcaring approach a breath of fresh air.

We believe in looking at all the circumstances surrounding an application and willalways give careful consideration to well thought out proposals.

We offer a range of mortgages tailored to meet your specific needs, so for the rightmortgage try a different approach, the HBS approach.

Call our Mortgage Team today on 01582 463133.

If the current economic environment is affecting you and your business or you think it will, then the following tips may come in handy.

The quick wins that any business can focus upon has to be cashflow. As accountants we won't advise you on sales, we leave that to the sales and marketing experts, but we can help you look at the incoming and outgoing of money for your business.

There are a few elements to look at where cashflow is concerned:

Credit Control - If your customers are not paying you for the services or products you have provided them with then it's time to call in these outstanding payments. If you feel that the time period agreed has been exceeded and you have given them fair warning then it may be prudent to consider using a debt recovery service to give them a nudge in the right direction.  Most cases are usually resolved quickly with a letter alerting the customer to this outstanding payment.

Invoicing - Make sure you send your invoices out on time.  Poor organisation here can really affect your cashflow.  One way to increase cashflow and make your pricing more attractive is to offer payment by monthly Direct Debit.  Most banks will offer this service if your turnover is high enough however TaxAssist Accountants do offer this facility to small businesses. More information can be found here.

Factoring or Invoice discounting - Invoice discounting can be a way of drawing money against your invoices. Your business will still remain in control over the administration of your sales ledger but it could provide a cost-effective way for you to improve your cashflow.  Alternatively, a factoring package could provide you with the working capital and positive cash flow you need for your business to flourish.

Credit Review - Could you be on better credit terms with your suppliers? Adjustments here could help ease the cashflow should you be able to increase payment times with your suppliers, especially if you have a long standing relationship.

The next areas to look at would be cost cutting.  It's always important to ensure you are receiving the best value for money on the services you need as a small business.

Lets look at the costs that are necessary to your business but could do with a review:

Insurance - Most businesses need some form of insurance and it's important you are getting the best deal.  Significant savings can be made during these periods when companies are discounting their products and services.

Vehicle Leasing - Do you own your own business vehicle? Leasing a vehicle could make good business sense in the long term and there are some great deals to be had in the marketplace. If you already lease your business vehicle then make sure you have the best deal available. Some savings could be made here.

Other forms of leasing - If your business needs or has a great deal of machinery or equipment of some sort then leasing may be another important business move. We work with some companies to offer this service to clients and has helped many businesses progress to the next stage of their growth.

“We can help you with all of the areas mentioned in this article and more. If we don't offer the service directly then we have put in place a range companies that can certainly help you survive and grow.” Mike Melling (above) Principal. Harpenden TaxAssist Accountants

126 Southdown Rd  Harpenden, Hertfordshire AL5 1QQ. 01582 760154

Small business survival tips

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Accountancy Services 105 x 74mm MM 22-01-13.pdf 1 22/01/2013 14:31:52

TaxAssist Accountants are championing a Buy Local

campaign.

This is aimed at encouraging consumers and local businesses to come together and support each other during the economic downturn.

Mike Melling, (Principal of TaxAssist Accountant) explains "We feel strongly about supporting local small businesses who need the right levels of assistance. We are advising businesses to manage their cashflow correctly and giving further recession beating tips."

TaxAssist Accountants is also supplying small businesses that have visible premises with window stickers in order to send the message out to the general public.

Mike also comments "Whilst we are a network of accountants with national coverage, each TaxAssist Accountant is a small local business in their own right. They only trade with local businesses and are very much a part of the community. The small businesses we have spoken to are really pleased to support this campaign by placing the stickers in their shop or office windows which is very encouraging."

TaxAssist Accountants emphasis is to support small businesses in these difficult times by offering a proactive service that represents real value for money.

www.taxassist.co.uk/harpenden

“Harpenden Town Council is totally committed to helping local business and we use local traders, contractors and retailers whenever possible.  We work closely with all our partners to try and support businesses in the town or immediate area to directly benefit the local economy. It is a challenging time for all local businesses so our focus is on supporting them through initiatives such as The Retail Partnership, which is funded by the Town Council and charged with reaching out to local businesses to provide a forum to share best practice, promote the benefits of working together and drive promotional activities.  

We are also very keen to promote events in Harpenden that attract visitors so that local retailers and businesses can benefit.   The May Carnival, Highland Gathering,(above) Classics on the Common,(below) Christmas Carnival and our own Discovery Day are all vital and lively occasions when the focus is firmly on Harpenden.  

The monthly Farmers Market also brings significant numbers regularly to the High Street.

It is vital we work together to ensure Harpenden remains a vibrant place to live.”

“Harpenden Town Council is totally committed to helping local business” By Councillor Nicola Linacre, Harpenden Town Mayor (right)

Have you ever wondered what goes on behind the scenes at Harpenden Town Council offices and how they deliver the wide range of services to Harpenden?

It is all down to team work from the dedicated staff who work under the leadership of the Town Clerk John Bagshaw. The Clerk works to the elected Councillors through the Town Mayor and Committee Chairmen. As Head of Paid Services, with Council’s agreement, he appoints staff necessary to deliver expected functions and policies. He advises Councillors on legislation, Government policy, protocols and procedures. He is supported by 8 full time and 10 part-time staff. Two recent vacancies have provided the opportunity to restructure and make more efficient use of the staff hours. In this way the Council continues to protect services, but manage its costs carefully.

The Council employs a Business and Operations Manager, Paul Smith, as the next senior appointment. Amongst other duties Paul works on specific projects, such as the Jubilee Working Party in 2012 and currently an Airport Working Party. He is the principal link between the clerk and the staff.

A number of assets were transferred by the District Council to the Town Council last year. These are managed through the Commons and Greens Officer. Whilst there has been an increase in areas of responsibility, there has not been an increase in staffing levels or associated costs.

The Council have a Maintenance Officer and General Support Assistant to undertake many of the outdoor jobs that follow as a consequence of managing open spaces, parks and the Common. They are often seen around the town undertaking all manner of manual work in order to keep Harpenden a pleasant environment for residents and visitors.

Because of the large number of planning applications that have to be considered by the Town Council there are 2 Plans Committees which meet twice a month to discuss applications. The Town Council forward their recommendations to the District Council who are

the local planning authority. The Information Point at the Town Hall is a valuable link with local residents where they can come in and find information on issues relating to the County, District and Town Council. Staff here not only provide an essential link for the community, but also important back office support.

The Town Council’s community facility, Park Hall, can be booked by contacting the Town Council where a member of staff will be pleased to show a potential hirer around the room. Park Hall is also home to The Harpenden and District Local History Society. Like the staff, the facilities in Harpenden are multi-functional as well. www.harpendia.com

Harpenden has held Fairtrade Town status since February 2008. To achieve Fairtrade town status, community organisations, faith groups, businesses, schools and individuals all contribute by pledging to do what they can to support Fairtrade and promote the FAIRTRADE Mark. www.fairtrade.org.uk/.

It’s all about Town Hall team work

Heather Scott (Planning, Information and Facilities Officer, right. Checking proofs on the Spring edition) is a key ‘player’ at Harpenden Town Hall where she takes responsibility for the FORUM Newsletter and the Website.

The FORUM newsletter has been in existence since 1977 when the publication was only a four page black and white paper publication moving to a six page colour glossy publication in 2002. Since then the newsletter has added extra pages to become the 16 page publication we have today with additional adverts and more editorial.

The newsletter is produced quarterly (March, June, September and December) and is delivered by Royal Mail.

The content is made up of important Town Council information and content submitted from local groups and organisations in the community.

Heather has worked on the newsletter since 2005, compiling the content from both the Town Council and the local community, arranging for the advertising and working with the designers, printers and distribution to ensure the publication is produced to a high standard that meets the Town Council objectives and satisfies the needs of the local community.

13,000 newsletters are printed each quarter with 12,500 being delivered to residents and businesses in Harpenden and the remainder made available from the Town Hall and the Library.

WebsiteThe new and revitalised website was launched in December 2011 with a new look and clearer easier to navigate menus. Time was taken to carefully consider what new functions and features should be included in the new website to make it easier to use by members of the public to find information. In addition to these new user functions the updating of content on the website has been made easier, which means the website can be kept up to date on a daily basis, ensuring the public are fully appraised of current issues.

The pages on the website can be amended as necessary by Officers of the Town Council instantly ensuring that information is always up to date and correct. Click on the link below to see the extensive range of content, constantly being updated. www.harpenden.gov.uk/

Below: Linda Haynes. Central Services Officer and Mayor's Secretary. Updating website news

Keeping the community informed...daily via the web site and quarterly via the Forum

Rothamsted is the oldest agricultural research station in the world. Its foundation dates from 1843 when John Bennet Lawes, the owner of the Rothamsted Estate, began visionary experiments to understand plant nutrition with chemist Henry Gilbert. Lawes started a factory for the manufacture of artificial superphosphate fertiliser, the first of its kind in the world. The Harpendenite and entrepreneur Lawes was one of the great Victorian scientists.

Nearly 170 years later, Rothamsted Research continues to innovate and has built an enviable reputation as an international centre of excellence in agricultural science and environmental sustainability as we strive to develop eco-friendly farming methods that produce more, better quality crops whilst protecting the environment.

Harpenden can be very proud of Rothamsted’s achievements. It laid the foundations of modern agriculture and established the principles of crop nutrition. For example, it was responsible for inventing the flower-derived pyrethroid insecticides which make up around a quarter of pest control agents used worldwide, deriving modern mathematical statistics and developing

a ground-breaking technique for improving livelihoods of poor farmers in sub-Saharan Africa (www.push-pull.net). More recently, Rothamsted Research hit the national headlines with its experiment to examine if next-generation genetic modification (GM) could be used to develop future agricultural crops, eg wheat, that may be farmed without the need for pesticides. Rothamsted Research is described in Wikipedia as “Harpenden's most prestigious contribution to history” and the Local History Society has similarly recognised Rothamsted’s international significance. 

We have a strong, integrated approach to scientific research into plants and soils, from fundamental agronomy to precision biotechnology, but our added strength comes from being part of a strong, vibrant and diverse local community in Harpenden.

Rothamsted Research, a proud part of Harpenden for nearly 170 yearsBy Dr Darren Hughes, Head of Communications and External Affairs

BBC TV News May 27th 2012. The satellite uplink vehicles were on hand to send reports on the GM Wheat protest by ‘Take the Flour Back’. Full story on Breaking News. www.harpendia.comArticle continues on next page...

Article concludes.Rothamsted Research is a major local employer. We also aim to contract our services, from caterers to craftsmen, from the local community. Although we are a busy scientific organisation, where possible we work with local sports teams and stage local events, such as the Herts 10K race and fun run which is staged here every year. We also actively work with the local authorities, for example participating in the local Town Hall meetings as well as working with the local police through the neighbourhood watch scheme.

We host numerous public engagement events for local schools and residents throughout the year. This year we are celebrating a Summer of Ecology with a series of events and publications on our work to develop ecological farming methods and in 2014 we are having a big celebration to mark the 200th anniversary of the birth of Sir John Lawes.

Did you also know that Basil Kassanis, amateursculptor and a leading plant virologist at Rothamsted Researchand fellow of the Royal Society, carved the Hart on top of the official the Harpenden Town sign?

Below. Aerial views of the vast Rothamsted estate where trials are carried out.

Above. Wheat trials in laboratory conditions.The fact that Rothamsted Research has existed for nearly 170 years is a testament to Harpenden as a wonderful place to live and work. We believe in the importance of working with and supporting local business, the local council and our local neighbours.

Above. Grain seeds are stored for research. The wheat grains below were harvested in the 1890’s.

Be sure to check our website (www.rothamsted.ac.uk) and our Twitter feed (@rothamsted) for information on our work and the local events that we host throughout the year.

“From inception in 2009 the Harpenden Directory online and in print has gone from strength to strength. With over 130 pages of local shops and businesses and distributed to 20,000 homes and businesses throughout Harpenden, Wheathampstead and Redbourn this has become a reliable source for generating new business for many local companies.

 We have had countless comments on how effective the paper directory is from our advertisers and had comments from residents, expressing how useful it is when searching for local services and shops.

 Other publication and marketing activity also helps promote our mission statement of “Keep It Local” such as the Loyalty Card, Harpenden Parking Map and Trades Cards and we plan to continue beating the drum to protect the shops, trades and services that we are lucky to have locally.

 We have a great working relationship with Harpenden Town Council and together we will ensure the message gets out there effectively.”Tony McFarland (Above right) 01582 469117 www.harpendendirectory.co.uk

  

3 Years and still beating the drum!By Tony McFarland - Director

Cost of Living in UK is High...OfficialAccording to recent data from the OECD analysed by the CEBR the UK cost of living is 11% higher than the international average and 18% higher than the USA. The main culprits being the high cost of transport, housing and utilities. Believe it or not it these countries are cheaper than the UK. Spain -12%, Germany -8%, Italy -6% and France -2%.

www.oecd.org and www.cebr.com

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Securing the future of Harpenden’s Red House*

Find out more at8pm Thursday FEB 21ST

The Harpenden Society Public Meeting

News from the front line on the future of

*Harpenden’s Memorial Hospital.

The main players and how you can help.

FREE entry on the night at Harpendenʼs Park Hall FREE local parking

Refreshments at 7.30pm

Editor. Ron TaylorContact: info@harpendia.com

Daily news updates: www.harpendia.comVideo Channel: Type ‘harpendia’ in the Youtube

search boxEditorial consultant. Amanda Thomas

COMING SOONChristmas in Harpenden with Harpendia.

Coming soonHarpendia Spring 2013 Edition