It is worth having a quick re-cap on the past twelve months. Ambition Broxbourne, our economic development strategy, continues to go from strength to strength. The vision to have a more thriving, vibrant and prosperous economy by 2030 is coming to life and we are continuing to collaborate with local and strategic partners to support innovation, enterprise and entrepreneurship. In October, Hoddesdon Town Centre welcomed the official opening of ‘Your Town’, an exciting new space at Fawkon Walk, created especially for the benefit of the local community. Our efforts were recognised in winning an Improvement and Efficiency Social Enterprise award for our collaborative working.
The Broxbourne Enterprise Centre is a priority project that drives the delivery of Ambition Broxbourne, which is at the heart of our economic plan. The centre has begun construction and will also support the delivery of the strategic economic priorities of both the Hertfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) and the London Stansted Cambridge Consortium. It will drive job creation and economic prosperity, provide a 21st century business offer and embed an enterprising culture - a hub of the eager and adventurous.
In August 2015 I unveiled the newly refurbished entertainments venue, the Spotlight.The venue has an excellent cinema and theatre offering and the transformation of the facility has attracted some big names to the area such as Michael Portillo, Brian Conley, Omid Djalili and Julian Clary.
The site is also licensed to carry out weddings and the picturesque gardens provide a beautiful setting for this. This project was a forerunner to our intention to designate 2016 as our Year of Culture, intended to celebrate the range of creative and cultural activities and organisations in the Borough.
In October 2015 there was a step change to waste and recycling services. We now operate a fortnightly collection of dry recycling from kerbside recycling boxes and non-recyclable waste from black wheeled bins, alternating with a fortnightly collection of food waste and garden waste from green wheeled bins. This service change has made it easier for residents to recycle, improved the Borough’s environmental credentials by reducing waste and increasing recycling, and reduced the annual cost of the service by over £200,000. In addition, the Council achieved a Clean Britain award for the cleanliness of its streets.
Our Rye Park plan in the north of the borough continues to develop with the recent opening of a £1.75m partnership development of thirteen new affordable homes. Commissioning work for a range of housing schemes for private rent in the area with work shortly starting at Rye Road and Walton Road and a new Community Centre built and associated work in Pound Close completed with the opening on 7th June.
Crossrail2 funding for the prep work has been agreed, Waltham Cross, Cheshunt and Broxbourne are safeguarded stations; another necessity for successfully delivering our economic development strategy in terms of providing improved connectivity to;
- Attract investors, businesses and workers
- Sustain the movement of the Borough’s residents to work in London
- Retain and help existing businesses grow
- Encourage new business start-ups
- Deliver significant numbers of new homes
By doing so, achieve the key points of deliveringvalue for money,ensuring the local benefits, unlocking more affordable homes and bring faster, better, more sustainable travel.
For Broxbourne, 2015, the Year of Heritage, was a time to celebrate the Borough’s rich and royal past. Community events took place over the course of the year and Lowewood Museum was a focal point, showcasing numerous events. In July we were honoured to host the Lord-Lieutenant, the Countess of Verulam, the Queen’s representative in Hertfordshire, who visited the Eleanor Cross in Waltham Cross and the award-winning Cedars Park, home of Theobalds Palace and former residence of King James I.
I thank all those were involved in the Year of Heritage and I firmly believe it has helped us to find out how the past has helped us today better understand our future.
The Royal Anglian Regiment has accepted receiving the Freedom of the Borough and will March through the borough in 2018 as part of our WWI centenary programme.
I was pleased to see the positive results from the latest Hertfordshire Residents’ Survey, carried out in October 2015. The survey showed that Broxbourne residents are more satisfied now with the area than they were a year ago. In a promising move in the right direction, 86 per cent of residents who were asked said they were satisfied with this area as a place to live, compared to 73 per cent in October 2014. This is four percent higher than the national average and Broxbourne registered the highest percentage increase of all ten Hertfordshire districts.
Over the last year the number of companies in the Borough has increased by 250 (7.1%) from 3,490 to 3,740. (County 7.4)
Council tax £118.24 and, remains the lowest council tax of all English shire district councils including parish precepts
Council tax collected last year was 98.0%; business rates 99.6%, exceeding our collection target for the fourth consecutive year of increased collection rates
The numbers of local people on job seekers allowance continues to fall and is now at 680 (1.1%). This is the same as the County figure and well below the national figure of 1.6%
Our investments, council portfolio (3.9m) and Badger (200k) earned in 2015/16 over £4.1m
Last year lettings are at 98% occupancy which is the highest since 2006
Realised a significant amount of external grant funding of nearly £1m, for improvements to Broxbourne railway station, road safety, cleaner buses, restoring the Pulhams works site and projects for health and well-being.
Looking forward -over the next 12 months we will continue our objectives of a strong local economy, health and well-being and a clean safe environment, but, a gear change will be made from a can do to a will do approach.
The Draft Local Plan is on course to be published for consultation in July and will run for 8 weeks; there will be 4 public meetings. It will propose how Broxbourne should grow and develop to become a more desirable place to live, work and visit. It will be a development strategy for the next 15 years for homes, jobs, shops, leisure, transport and infrastructure, including Crossrail2. It will also set out how we will provide for the long term protection and improvement of a redefined Green Belt and of our parks and open spaces, as well as increasing access to green spaces.
Through our planning brief we must advance the cause of the importance of good design in high quality development and the public realm. It must be a core Broxbourne value in terms of shaping places where residents want to live, businesses want to locate and people want to visit. Design plays an important role in creating those places that are enjoyable, safe and sustainable. Design is not just about appearance; it includes a range of social, economic and environmental considerations, which makes a major contribution to the quality of life.
During 2015 we all worked hard to identify efficiencies and opportunities for increased income to help offset the savings we needed to make because of reduced central government support. As a result, the Council’s budget for 2016/17 is balanced and proportionate, allowing us to continue for another year without significant adjustments to essential services and without relying on reserves. Simply doing nothing is not an option, to do nothing and continue to spend is the preserve of Labour, doing nothing is the preserve of UKIP. There is no balanced economy where there is no efficiency.
The squeeze on public spending will be challenging for all of us in the next few years but we will continue to do the best for all the residents of the Borough, continuing our guiding principles of achieving value for money and meeting the needs of residents within the resources available.
By prudent financial management, making efficiency savings and generating income we are going to ensure the services which matter most to our residents continue to be available, even if they are delivered in a different, more cost effective way.; we continue on our journey to self-sufficiency by 2020. An autumn statement on progress will be delivered at the November 1st council meeting.
In 2016/17 we will continue to be part of a business rates pool with the County Council and anticipated to generate an additional £406k for Broxbourne
During the next year we shall continue our focus on the local potential of ‘enjoy Broxbourne’, working with the Lee Valley Park Trust and Epping Forest Council,exploring how by working together we can increase the number of visitors to the area
To begin the process of achieving ‘purple flag’ status for Hoddesdon Town Centre. Displaying our best side and achieving a town of well-being, movement, appeal and sense of place
Purple Flag is an accreditation process similar to the Green Flag award for parks and the Blue Flag for beaches. It leads to Purple Flag status for Town and City Centre’s that meet or surpass the standards of excellence in managing the evening and night time economy
Complete the Broxbourne business centre, completion of the Crematorium, completion of the secondMausoleum and provide a business case for a third
We will continue to support young people through the youth council, create a Mayor’s Cadet and elected Youth Mayor, continue with the Youth awards, promote and profile young people through schools with a schools ambassador
Host a corporate reception for businesses and stakeholdersby the Planning and Community development team
Conduct a review of the town markets
Conduct a review of member training
Continue the work on health issues and continue engaging older people
Complete the Station Road project
Set up an internal group ‘Policy Unit’ to look at new policies and initiatives ready for a platform of our commitment to residents at the 2018 local elections
Seek out more external grant funding and profile good practice
Designate 2017 as Year of Environment – Physical and Natural
Continue with improvementsto deal with our waste, the challenge of litter and parking
Explore greater shared service with partners and local authorities
Improve the public realm at the Cheshunt, Old Pond district centre.
It is important we set the tone and approach in promoting our aims and objectives; showing we are a dynamic local authority willing to work in new ways and provide strong, strategic and community leadership, but, work in an open, meaningful and constructive way to deliver and provide for the opportunity of growth; building success, not chasing success; reform and build.
In all that we do I want the borough to be as one, energised and working hard for all; a recognition of place and being able to shape the future for those who live, work and play here; securing real prosperity with purpose that passes the test of improving the lives of all our residents.
Cllr. Mark Mills-Bishop – Leader
16th May 2016
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