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Notice of Vacancy – Parish Councillor

WHEATHAMPSTEAD PARISH COUNCIL

NOTICE OF VACANCY
in the office of
PARISH COUNCILLOR

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that a casual vacancy has arisen in the
Office of Parish Councillor for the Parish of Wheathampstead.

If by 13 January 2022 (14 days* after the date of this notice), a request for an election to fill the said vacancy is made in writing to:
The Proper Officer, St Albans City and District Council, Civic Centre, St Peters Street, St Albans AL1 3JE, signed by TEN electors for the said Parish, an election will be held to fill the said vacancy.

If an election is not requested, the vacancy will be filled by the Wheathampstead Parish Council by co-option in accordance with the
Local Elections (Parishes & Communities) Rules 2006. If an election is requested, the election will take place on a date
determined by the Returning Officer within 60 days* from the date of this notice.

Dated: 20 December 2021

Julia Warren
Parish Clerk
Wheathampstead Parish Council
The Memorial Hall
Marford Road
Wheathampstead
Herts
AL4 8AY

*In computing any period of time for this purpose, a Saturday, Sunday, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Good Friday, or bank or public holidays or any day appointed for public thanksgiving or mourning must be disregarded.

Please click here for a PDF version of this notice. 

Hollie Guard Personal Safety App recommended by Herts Police

Hollie Guard is a personal safety app that offers several features designed to protect you when travelling to and from home, exercising, socialising etc. 

If you feel unsafe, you are able to shake your phone, sending an alert to your chosen contacts. You can also use ‘deterrent mode’, which emits a high-pitched alarm and flashing light or ‘stealth mode’ to trigger a discreet alarm. Most features include audio and video recording, as well tracking your GPS location.

Visit the App Store (iPhone) or Google Play (Android) and search Hollie Guard to download the free app. Paid features are also available. 

Home Library Service

From Herts County Council

Home Library Service in Hertfordshire

Hertfordshire Libraries provides the Home Library Service delivering books to some of the most vulnerable and isolated people in the county. Many of our customers regard the service as a “lifeline,” and value the regular collections of books which are tailored to their interests and delivered to them in their own home by a friendly and familiar face.

Approximately three hundred people now receive the Home Library Service made possible with the support of over a hundred DBS checked, trained, and dedicated volunteers.

It is not just the selection and the delivery of books which our customers appreciate, but also the opportunity for important contact and a chat. This is something that customers look forward to and that volunteers find rewarding.

To help develop this service further, Hertfordshire Libraries have launched our Reading Friends scheme. This enables library staff or volunteers to have a telephone call with Home Library Service customers about their favourite books, television programme or any topic of interest. The initial response to these befriending telephone calls has been very positive and demonstrates the importance for this work to expand.

The Home Library Service supports people who are unable to get to the library, for example those who:

  • have a physical disability which prevents travelling to a library
  • have a learning disability or mental health condition that makes it difficult to leave home alone
  • are registered blind (severely sight impaired)
  • are frail or in poor health which means they can’t get to a library
  • are a carer looking after someone affected by any of the above, and their caring responsibilities prevent them from getting to the library.

If you know of anyone who is eligible and would like to receive the Home Library Service, please contact your library via the Customer Service Centre on 0300 123 4049 or share the link below to apply. When customers are enrolled to the service they will also be offered the opportunity to join the Reading Friends scheme.

To find out more, click here to visit the Home Library Service website. 

If you are aware of anyone who may be considering becoming a Home Library Service volunteer, click here for more information and how to apply.

Community Governance Review

During 2022, St Albans City and District Council will be conducting a community governance review of the whole district. The review will look at governance arrangements at parish council / town council level.  

What is community governance?

Community governance takes decision-making and community leadership executed by community members that have a vested interest in their community. By focusing on community instead of the non-profit, for-profit, and government sectors, community governance distinguishes itself from other forms of governance.

The purpose of the review is to ensure that community governance arrangements reflect local identities and interests and are effective and convenient for electors and elected representatives.  

Community governance reviews may consider a variety of topics, including:

  • whether to create a new parish / town council
  • whether to alter parish / town council electoral arrangements (e.g. number of wards / number of councillors)
  • whether to alter the boundary of an existing parish / town council
  • whether to group a number of parishes together in a grouped parish council

Further information about community governance reviews is available on The Local Government Boundary Commission for England’s website: www.lgbce.org.uk/how-reviews-work/other-types-of-review/about-community-governance-reviews

A public consultation will begin in early 2022. During the consultation period, information about the review will be available on a dedicated page of the council’s website and at the Civic Centre council offices. Please contact Electoral Services on elections@stalbans.gov.uk for further information about the review.

Error on page 2 of The Pump magazine, winter edition

The Thursday Club (no long referred to as a club for the disabled) is mentioned in The Pump magazine as being run by David Law – as of September this changed and it is now run by Wheathampstead Community Group.

For those who may not be aware of the Thursday Club, it is a weekly club that provides companionship and support for residents aged over 60 unable to access other activities without support or need day-to-day care either from a carer or family member. It meets every Thursday during term time from 10am to 2pm. Lunch and entertainment are provided. To find out about potential membership, call Val Hughes on 01582 629682 or Peter Woods on 01582 621944.

We apologise for any confusion.