Harlow Times Spring 2023

In this edition

pages 3-4

Council Tax freeze agreed

Council Leader sets out what our budget means for you.

pages 20-21

Funding secured for regeneration

Town Centre regeneration boosted with new funding.

page 22-23

What’s on this spring

Things to do and see this spring.

Cover photograph: Daffodils in Harlow Town Park, taken by Mr and Mrs Pitcher as part of the Chair’s 2022 photography competition.

Harlow Times is published quarterly by Harlow Council to keep you informed.

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Enquiries regarding this publication should be sent to Communications, Harlow Council, Civic Centre, The Water Gardens, Harlow, Essex CM20 1WG or email communications@harlow.gov.uk

Voter ID is coming

From 4 May 2023, you will need to show photo ID to vote in polling stations.

£1m secured to help improve lives

Harlow Council has secured £1 million from the government’s UK Shared Prosperity Fund to invest in a variety of projects over the next three years.

If you don’t have accepted photo ID you can apply for a free ID document, which is known as a Voter Authority Certificate.

If you need any help with applying for a Voter Authority Certificate, contact our Elections team at registration@harlow.gov.uk or call 01279 446042.

For more information on the changes visit www. electoralcommission.org. uk/voterID or call 0800 328 0280.

The funding will help deliver a range of community projects. These include crime prevention activities in the town centre, improvements to the Harlow Museum, and more funds to support the local Community Hub helping vulnerable residents. Funding has been awarded to projects focused on business support and the visitor economy too.

Provision for new skills and training opportunities has also been factored into the final year of the council’s investment plan.

Volunteers plant 87 trees in

seven days

Harlow Council staff and volunteers planted 87 trees in 7 days as another two tree planting schemes were completed in the town in December.

Trees have been planted along Abercrombie Way and as part of a new community orchard on the former Goldings playing field. A community orchard is a collection of fruit trees shared by communities in publicly accessible areas.

The volunteers helping to plant the trees were made up of Greenteam volunteers, GlaxoSmithKline employees and a volunteer group from Hertfordshire. All volunteers were supported by council staff.

Special tree is planted to honour The Queen

Harlow Council has received and planted a special tree as part of the Queen’s Green Canopy “Tree of Trees”.

The council joins over 300 organisations from across the UK who were recently announced as recipients of these special trees in the Queen’s name.

The tree was planted last December in the Harlow Museum Walled Gardens. The tree will be carefully looked after by the museum’s gardeners and garden volunteers.

The tree becomes part of the living legacy in honour of Her Majesty, joining over a million trees already planted across the UK as part of the Queen’s Green Canopy.

Advanced works for sustainable transport corridor begin

Advanced works on a new public travel route for Harlow and Gilston Garden Town have started between Burnt Mill Roundabout and Harlow town centre.

Known as a sustainable transport corridor, the route will connect the new homes at Gilston with the train station and town centre. The corridor is a key part of the transport infrastructure being delivered to make it easier for people to travel sustainably in the future.

The work will see the creation of segregated walking and cycleway infrastructure and a rapid transit bus lane, providing services into and from the town every few minutes.

What our budget means

A Council Tax freeze and hundreds of millions to keep restoring pride in our town

Dear resident,

In February we agreed our budget for 2023 to 2024. Despite it being one of the most challenging budgets ever due to the economic situation, we will freeze our share of the Council Tax bill. This delivers on a commitment we made to you last year when we set our historic budget.

While your overall Council Tax bill will go up, you won’t pay a penny more in Council Tax for the services Harlow Council provides you.

We also plan to keep freezing our share of Council Tax up to 2026. That is because we will do everything we can to help you and your family with the cost of living.

As well as a Council Tax freeze, we are also continuing to invest in Harlow’s regeneration to restore pride in our town. There’s now £39 million to build much-needed new council homes for Harlow families, £102 million over 5 years for improving existing council homes, £79 million over 5 years to improve council-owned facilities and another £170,000 for the Estate Renewal Fund to restore pride in our estates and neighbourhoods.

There will be over £25 million this year to improve the standard of council homes. I know many of our tenants have concerns about damp and mould, roofing and the energy efficiency of their homes. That’s why, along with fire safety, we will be prioritising these issues which will be funded through the income we receive from rent.

We are doing all this with no cuts to the essential and popular services you love and there will be no detrimental impact on the council’s future finances.

The money the council has is not our money. It is your money. Therefore, we are continuing to invest your money into your priorities and getting on with making Harlow the best town in Britain to raise your family, to live and to be.

Councillor Russell Perrin Leader of Harlow Council

means to you

£ £ £ 2023 Your money. Your priorities.

Your budget from Harlow Council this year will see:

A Council Tax freeze

A freeze in Harlow Council’s share of the Council Tax bill. A typical band C household will continue to pay just £4.93 per week for the range of services Harlow Council provides. See page 7 for your Council Tax explained.

No cuts to essential and popular services

No cuts and more funding for services like bin collections, street cleaning, landscape maintenance, housing repairs, supported housing, Pets’ Corner, Harlow Playhouse, Harlow Museum, the Leah Manning Centre, Sam’s Place, Town Park, paddling pools and splash parks.

Investment in existing council homes

A £102 million, 5-year housing repairs programme to improve existing council homes with priority given to fixing roofs, damp and mould works, fire safety and energy efficiency works. In 2023 to 2024, £25.5 million is set to be spent on works.

More council homes for Harlow families

More money to deliver the council’s housebuilding programme with £39 million to build new homes for Harlow families.

Improvements to the facilities you use

A £79 million, 5-year programme to improve councilowned facilities across the town with £13.5 million set to be spent in 2023 to 2024. Includes funding from government’s Towns Fund and Levelling Up Fund to build the new town centre bus interchange, new arts and cultural quarter in Playhouse Square and fund improvements to Broad Walk.

Keeping street lights on all night

There is funding to continue keeping Essex County Council street lights on all night every night as part of an agreement with the County Council.

Restoring pride

A further £170,000 added to the Estate Renewal Fund to make a difference to local areas and restore pride in our estates and neighbourhoods.

Support for local business

To help local businesses all car parking charges in council-owned car parks will be frozen.

£ £ £ 2023 Your money. Your priorities.

Your Council Tax explained

Although Harlow Council collects Council Tax it does not keep all the money. Your Council Tax bill is divided between Essex County Council, Harlow Council, Essex Police and Essex Fire & Rescue Service.

What your overall Council Tax bill is made up of from April 2023:

Help with paying your Council Tax bill

You can pay over 12 months between April and March rather than over 10 months. Email: council.tax@harlow.gov.uk before 1 May 2023.

Visit www.harlow.gov.uk/benefits if you are struggling to pay Council Tax or rent.

You can also manage your Council Tax online: https://selfserve.harlow.gov.uk/MyAccounts

For more information you can email council.tax@harlow.gov.uk, visit www.harlow.gov.uk/council-tax or call 01279 446688.

Where your Council Tax goes

Did you know that Harlow Council only keeps around £14 of every £100 collected in Council Tax?

How your bill is divided up:

Essex County Council £71

Harlow Council £14

Essex Police £11

Essex Fire and Rescue £4

Improving existing council homes is our priority

More than £100 million over the next 5 years is to be invested to maintain and improve houses and flats for council tenants.

A £102 million housing repairs programme will give priority to fixing roofs, damp and mould works, fire safety and energy efficiency works.

In 2023 to 2024, £25.5 million is set to be spent on repairs.

All of this comes on top of £39 million towards building new council homes as part of Harlow Council’s housebuilding programme.

The funding was agreed as part of the council’s budget in February.

This year there will be a below inflation increase for housing rents at 7% which is in line with government guidelines. This means the average weekly rent for council tenants increases by £6.82 per week to £104.18.

Councillor Russell Perrin, Leader of Harlow Council, said:

“There will be over £25 million this year to improve the standard of council homes. I know many of our tenants have concerns about damp and mould, roofing and the energy efficiency of their homes.

“That’s why, along with fire safety, we will be prioritising these issues which will be funded through the income we receive from rent.

“Our rent increase is below inflation and below the rising costs the council faces as a result of inflation and increasing energy costs.

“The rent increase means that the average rent for a council home in Harlow will be just over £104 a week, which is still considerably less that renting a private property.”

Taking action on damp and mould in council homes

Harlow Council has welcomed the government’s proposals to crackdown on damp and mould under new legislation in memory of Awaab Ishak from Rochdale who tragically died last year.

Under the changes social housing landlords will have to investigate and fix damp and mould in their properties within strict new time limits.

The announcement was made in February by Housing Secretary Michael Gove and follows the tragic death of Awaab Ishak back in December.

Since late last year the council has been reviewing how it deals with damp and mould in its homes and has taken action to improve how it carries out investigations.

Councillor Alastair Gunn, Cabinet Portfolio Holder for Housing, said:

“The tragic death of Awaab Ishak from Rochdale highlights the potentially devastating effects of damp and mould. Any case of damp and mould must be treated with absolute seriousness, therefore we welcome the recent announcements by the government.

“As the Housing Secretary Michael Gove has made clear, it is not acceptable to pass these problems as a ‘lifestyle issue’. No one in our town should have to live in a home plagued with damp and mould – that should not be a high bar to set – and that is why we have reviewed how we deal with damp and mould and have taken action to improve how we investigate cases.

“The investment in our budget shows how serious we are about tackling these issues and the root causes of damp and mould, so we can make our tenants’ homes safe, warm and decent places in which to live.”

“If you are a council tenant and you have damp and mould in your home, please report this directly to us so we can ensure it is prioritised for inspection.”

Council tenants can report damp and mould issues directly to the council on 01279 446655 or through the council’s website –https://selfserve.harlow.gov. uk/service/Damp_assessment

Worried about the cost of living?

Citizens Advice Harlow offer free, confidential, independent advice and information on a wide range of subjects, including cost of living advice. Get in touch in a way that works for you.

Telephone: If you live in Essex, please call our freephone Essex Adviceline: 0808 278 7856.

If you are a Harlow resident, you can call our enquiry or message line on 01279 770189 Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 10am to 1pm.

Webchat and Email advice: www.harlowcitizensadvice .org.uk/contact-us

Both telephone and face-toface appointments are available following an initial assessment.

New out-of-hours service: Across Essex, Citizens Advice has expanded services to evenings and weekends through a new out-of-hours telephone service. You can call 0808 250 5724 4pm to 8pm during the week and 9am to 1pm on Saturdays.

Citizens Advice Harlow also attend Community Hub pop ups and provide energy advice at the Harlow Holiday Lunch clubs.

For more information and opening times, please visit www.rainbowservices.org.uk and www.harlowlunch.org.uk

Housing Annual Report

to Tenants and Leaseholders 2021/22

Whilst 2020/21 was ever more challenging due to COVID-19, the Housing Service continues to confront the impact this had and adapt to ensure that the safety of residents and staff remains paramount, whilst following government guidance.

We continue to support residents, with councillors and council officers working together to deal with the impact COVID is having. With the cost of living/energy crisis at the top of everyone’s agenda, and with the guidance from government and support of residents, we continue to overcome the obstacles and challenges this brings, providing much-needed services, and assisting our NHS and residents in these difficult times.

Despite this, I am optimistic for the future as we continue to secure government funding to support regeneration, guide development and growth to secure jobs, new housing, further investment through Local Plans and the Corporate Strategy and challenges remain following the Grenfell Inquiry.

The review of the tenant/ leaseholder engagement/ involvement service and implementation of the landlord survey will continue to improve service delivery.

The council continues to take fire safety, compliance, and energy efficiency seriously as we invest more resources.

Welcome to your thirteenth Housing Annual Report from Harlow Council.

The council is also waiting to hear from government on how to move forward on the possible introduction of building regulation inspections, new tenant/leaseholder satisfaction measures, and a review of the consumer standards with emphasis on empowering residents/introduction of inspections.

The Housing Revenue Account Business Plan continues to outline the short, medium and long-term priorities within the resources available.

Feedback from tenants and leaseholders remains central to the service when improving service delivery, customer access/ contact, and assist in updating action plans and priorities.

In 2020/21, the council also:

• Continued to reduce empty property turnaround times

• Assisted tenants with financial difficulties through referral to available support services and agencies

• Celebrated the partnership with Essex County Council and Agincare, providing a positive environment for tenants maintaining their independence

• The Careline scheme continued to provide security to vulnerable residents and achieved national accreditation

Income recovery in 2021/22 was difficult due to COVID-19, however, the Housing Service has achieved a strong year-end position by exceeding in the top quartile for performance.

Work is ongoing due to uncertainties with the pandemic and the cost-of-living crisis.

The priorities for housing and what is important locally are:

• Making more housing available

• Tackling the growing need for supported housing

• Improving choices for those in housing need

• Improving housing standards, resident’s health and wellbeing with energy efficient, modern home facilities, tackling local priorities and statutory requirements

• Continue to use the Engagement and Involvement service to promote awareness and provide opportunities to empower residents

Councillor Alastair Gunn Portfolio Holder for Housing

How did we do in 2021/22?

The council continues to work with tenant and leaseholder representatives on crucial projects, gathering their feedback when making important decisions, like monitoring the progress of the internal part of the Modern Homes Programme.

After meeting the Decent Homes Standard in 2015, we aim to enhance and modernise homes for the future. We will monitor how money is spent on housing, help to improve working practices in line with government changes and inspect empty homes before they are re-let.

Work on the Rough Sleeper Initiative continues, as well as scrutiny of the leaseholder management fee and a review of Statement of Actuals, expenditures, invoices and estimate enclosers.

The Housing Service continues to strive to improve tenant and leaseholder satisfaction through these unprecedented and challenging times.

What is a Local Offer?

The Local Offers initiative was introduced as part of the regulations of Social Housing Standards. This helps housing providers tailor their services to meet local priorities and needs.

Local offers for involvement

• To continue to use the tenant and leaseholder engagement strategy, allowing tenants and leaseholders to examine the performance of Harlow Council. This will increase involvement in decision making and improve communication.

• To continue to consult and engage during these challenging and unprecedented times by adapting our methods of communication and engagement through social media channels.

• To continue to provide easy-to-understand information for tenants and leaseholders, promoting awareness of the Housing Service and providing opportunities to participate and give feedback on future services.

• To continue to increase the number of involved residents, especially people from hard-to-reach groups.

• To continue to improve performance and levels for involvement by establishing a successful tenant and leaseholder engagement model.

• To continue to include residents on the Housing Standards Board, a body linked to the council’s decision making structure.

• To continue to run annual training programmes for interested tenants and leaseholders to gain a good understanding of current and future challenges faced by the council.

Our plans for the future

• Further strengthen tenant and leaseholder engagement and awareness through the tenant and leaseholder engagement strategy, using social media to build stronger and more effective means of communication.

• Continue to publish performance information showing how well we get more people involved and promoting awareness of the Housing Service.

• To continue to implement initiatives to help promote how the council engages with all tenants and leaseholders.

• To conduct a biennial landlord survey to collect feedback from tenants of how satisfied they are with the Housing Service. The council eagerly awaits the outcomes and recommendations from the upcoming White Paper, following the Green Paper consultation document.

Level of complaints for 2021/22

In its role as a housing provider with over 9,000 properties, each year the council undertakes over 600,000 housing transactions.

Housing complaints

HTS Housing complaints

Tenancy

Local offers for involvement

• Provide tenants with options through the Choice-Based Lettings scheme.

• Make the best use of housing available through our allocations policy. Operate a clear housing application process including decisions and appeals.

• Offer financial incentives and other support to tenants wishing to move to a smaller home.

• Visit all new tenants within 21 days of the start of their tenancy.

• Assess the type of support needed by new tenants and provide relevant advice and information.

• Work within the regulatory framework when setting our rents.

• Write to all tenants and leaseholders before increases in rents and/or service charges.

• Assess all new supported housing tenants within 24 hours of an application.

• Offer and issue the most secure form of tenancy compatible with housing and the sustainability of the community.

• Meet all statutory requirements relating to the use of tenancy agreements. Ensuring antisocial behaviour and conditions of tenancy are managed and investigated in an efficient, effective and impartial manner.

• To treat everyone equally - the rights of secure and introductory tenants are made as similar as possible.

• Publish the rents of properties at point of advert so that any prospective tenants can budget responsibly.

• Provide support to help vulnerable tenants.

• Make sure the council has all the information about rent, service charges and any benefits residents may be entitled to when signing their tenancy agreement.

• Provide debt advice and make sure that any action the council takes is fair and reasonable. Where there is persistent non-payment the council will proceed with enforcement action through the courts, in line with the councils ‘can’t pay won’t pay’ policy.

Our plans for the future

• We will continue to let our homes in a fair, open and efficient manner.

• Maintain good performance in income recovery in line with the council’s ‘can’t pay won’t pay’ ethos, by providing support to those tenants suffering general financial difficulty, while taking

robust proportionate action to deal with those tenants that have the means to pay rent but choose not to.

• We will continue to provide help and support to tenants experiencing financial difficulties following the coronavirus pandemic and in dealing with cost of living increases.

• We will seek to collect customer insight information to assist in improving future housing services.

• We will continue to implement improvements in customer access via the digital tenancy service, allowing tenants to access their rent account details and report repairs.

• We will continue to implement the Rough Sleeper Initiative, through a raft of interventions and partnership working.

The percentage of rent collected for 2021/22 was 98.44%, lower than 98.69% for 2020/21

How did we do in 2021/22?

Between April 2021 and March 2022 the council housed a total of 696 households compared to 443 in 2020/21.

415 applicants were home seekers (more than the 286 from 2020/21), 191 were transfers (up from 98) and 90 were homeless (up from 59). 429 of these were placed in general needs properties (up from 235), 80 in supported housing (up from 61) and 187 in housing association properties up on 147).

Tenancy enforcement

During the year the council continued to seek to work with and provide advice and support to tenants experiencing genuine financial difficulties in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. As statutory restrictions introduced during the pandemic were lifted, enforcement action resumed through the courts, although this action was subject to increased timescales due to the impact of the pandemic. Housing obtained 23 possession orders for non-payment of rent, and 6 tenants were evicted for non-payment of rent.

Leaseholders

Local offers for involvement

• Maintain a focus on controlling costs to leaseholders, while achieving and maintaining high standards of service.

• Continue to ensure that the major works process meets the needs of leaseholders.

• Improve the standard of information supplied to leaseholders about major works and monitoring communal repairs.

• Continue and improve twoway communication with leaseholders through the standards panels, leaseholder forums, Harlow Times and other channels of communication.

• Continue to deal with leaseholder enquiries and act on their concerns.

• Carry out scrutiny on areas within the council and its subsidiary organisations that affect leaseholders.

How did we do in 2021/22?

75.65% of leaseholders paid by direct debit (compared to 75.72% in 2020/21).

59 leaseholders took advantage of the council’s prompt payment discount (compared to 85 in 2020/21).

16 complaints were received, 5 complaints were upheld and 2 partially upheld (there were 22 complaints, with 1 upheld and 1 partially upheld in 2020/21).

30 compliments were received (24 were recieved in 2020/21).

248 leaseholders have applied for a loan from Harlow Council since the introduction of improved payment options (234 in 2020/21).

503 Section 20 major works notices were served (1,475 in 2020/21), along with 18,292 consultation letters for Qualifying Long-Term Agreements.

Our plans for the future

• To continue to improve value for money by annually reviewing the management fee, making savings where possible.

• To encourage more leaseholders to pay by direct debit and increase the 75.65% that currently pay by this method.

• To scrutinise the service provided by HTS and continue to review customer satisfaction on repairs and communal cleaning.

• To review all leaseholder information to ensure any changes to current legislation is included.

• To examine the feasibility of working with HTS to provide a repair and gas service to leaseholders at the Leasehold Standards Panel meeting.

The total amount of annual service charge collected for 2021/22 98.63% compared to 98.27% in 2020/21.

How did we do in 2021/22?

The responses to this year’s satisfaction survey told us: 97% are satisfied with repairs.

99.96% are satisfied with gas services.

86% are satisfied with communal repairs.

92% are satisfied with street cleaning.

93% are satisfied with grounds maintenance. Satisfaction is higher than responses from 2020/21.

Local offers for involvement

• Continued investment in the Modern Homes Programme ensuring all properties remain decent in line with government guidance

• Continue to improve the energy efficiency and sustainability of council homes.

• Continue to provide an excellent repairs service by working closely with contractors and residents with the aim of improving overall customer satisfaction with the repairs service.

• Continue to offer a flexible appointment system for repairs.

• Meet all statutory and regulatory requirements for example gas, electricity, and water.

• Continue to develop and improve on Environmental Services, which include mobile cleaning, street scene, caretaking, and ground maintenance.

• Continue to ensure all the council’s high/low rise flat blocks remain safe and that changes to regulation requirements for fire safety are acted upon.

Our plans for the future

• Develop and deliver a sustainable programme of council house building.

• Continued council investment in the Modern Homes Programme which improves the quality of homes and ensures all council stock complies with government Decent Homes Standards.

• Ongoing investment and commitment to a programme of external works which continue to deliver a comprehensive range of improvement works to properties across Harlow.

• Continue to tackle fuel poverty with an ongoing commitment to the energy efficiency programme. Improving the thermal insulation of properties, installation of heat meters and refurbishment of all council owned communal and district heating systems.

• Refurbish and redevelop garage sites to improve parking and ease congestion within estates, redevelop redundant sites and creation of additional off-street parking.

• Continue to deliver a programme of extensive fire safety works to ensure properties remain safe and compliant.

Council home improvements

2021/22 2020/21

The amount of time taken to turn around void properties is 38 days, compared to 40 days in 2020/21

Finance and value for money

Local offers for involvement

• Continue to improve services and ensure value for money by learning from other housing providers and developing ways of comparing performance.

• Carry out a quarterly progress review on the council’s performance.

• Continue to provide an annual report to tenants and leaseholders.

• Continue to provide information for tenants and leaseholders in Harlow Times magazine.

HRA year-end figures

Our plans for the future

• Continue to monitor the quarterly performance and financial housing reports at the Housing Standards Board with tenant and leaseholder representatives.

• To continue monitoring the Housing Revenue Account Business Plan to ensure it is sustainable and fit for purpose.

Expenditure 2021/22

Give us your feedback...

Your feedback is always welcome. Please complete the form below and return it to Zulfi Kiani-Mackintosh, Community Engagement Co-ordinator, Harlow Council, Civic Centre, The Water Gardens, Harlow, Essex CM20 1WG.

Alternatively, you can call Zulfi on 01279 446330 or fill in an online feedback form at: www.harlow.gov.uk/housing-and-garages/tenant-and-leaseholder-engagement/annual-reporttenants-and-leaseholders. This document is also available in large print.

Did you find the information in this annual report useful?  Yes  No

Do you like the way it is presented?

 Yes  No

What would you like to see next year?

 More information about how the Housing Service is performing

 More comments from tenants and leaseholders

 Comparisons with other councils/housing associations

 Different layout

What did you find useful?

What would you like to see next year?

Where to get further help and support

Harlow Citizens Advice Bureau 13-15 East Gate, Harlow 0808 278 7856

www.harlowcitizensadvice.org.uk

Harlow Foodbank 01279 724515 www.mrct.org.uk

Help with council bills

Please contact us straight away on 01279 446655 if you are having genuine difficulty in paying any of your council bills.

Harlow Community Hub

National money and debt advice

Money Helper www.moneyhelper.org.uk

National Debtline 0800 808 4000 www.nationaldebtline.org

StepChange Debt Charity 0800 138 1111 www.stepchange.org.uk

Debt Advice Foundation 0800 622 6151 www.debtfoundation.org

Open Monday to Friday 10am to 2pm on 01279 927005 Email harlowcommunityhub@rainbowservices.org.uk or visit an outreach session. To find out where the next outreach session will be, scan this QR code.

Plans approved for redevelopment of bus station

The £15 million major regeneration of the town centre’s bus station and Terminus Street area took a major step forward in January as councillors approved redevelopment plans for the area.

The proposals, which form part of Harlow Council’s town centre regeneration plans, were approved by the council’s Development Management Committee. The overhaul will be made possible thanks to government support secured by the council as part of its successful £23.7 million Towns Fund bid.

The planning permission makes way to develop a new transport hub and interchange for Harlow bus services, as well as a cycle hub and dramatic improvements to the area’s public realm amenities and landscaping.

Works, which are due to start in the coming months, will deliver:

• The entire redevelopment of the bus station and Terminus Street

• A new single-storey transport hub to the north of the site, with green space and a canopy covered waiting area

• A cycle hub to the south with storage space for up to 80 cycles

• Flexible events space

• A new exit for buses from Terminus Street onto Crown Gate

• Transformation of Terminus Street

• The removal of the bridge connecting East Walk and Terminus House

• A new entry area to Terminus House, with a lift to serve the first and second floors

• Works to the existing Terminus House bin store

The development will support both existing public transport routes and proposed sustainable transport corridor routes, which will promote walking and cycling, as part of the development of Harlow and Gilston Garden Town.

The inclusion of green areas and an events space will also help to transform the overall character of the area and create a welcoming environment.

Government awards £20 million for town centre regeneration

Harlow Council has successfully secured £20 million of government funding to transform Playhouse Square and College Square.

The scheme has been backed with funding from the Government’s Levelling Up Fund which was announced on 18 January of this year.

The area will be transformed into an arts and cultural quarter as part of the regeneration of Harlow town centre, with live music, performance, studio and creative spaces for artists, upgrades to the Playhouse and a contemporary bar and café.

There will also be a new art gallery, a green pocket park with natural play installations, accessibility improvements to the area and upgrades to the Haydens Road underpass.

The scheme will bring together a diverse range of artistic, entertainment, cultural and heritage disciplines to establish a regional hub of innovative and engaging events and activities.

The iconic Playhouse Theatre and St Paul’s Church will remain at the heart of the area.

As part the scheme’s delivery the council purchased Occasio House in December, which will be demolished and replaced with new high-quality residential apartments. The council’s purchase of the Harvey Centre also presents the opportunity to integrate part of the centre into the regeneration scheme.

Ahead of the council submitting its bid back in July, extensive public consultation took place. There was strong support for the scheme with the new proposals receiving increased backing from the public. Comments included:

“This is a really exciting proposal and one that would revive part of the town centre that is currently underutilised.”

“Investing in opportunities in the Arts for young people and all ages can only have benefits for the local community and surrounding areas.”

“There is a clear need to enhance the economic and socio heart of Harlow and we consider this Levelling Up Fund application to be a critical catalyst to the next stage of the town’s investment.”

“Make this happen! The town is in desperate need of an injection of investment.”

“This proposal will give the Playhouse and its surroundings additional 21st century attractions in a friendly multipurpose style, increasing the appeal inclusively while benefiting all the town centre.”

What’s on in Harlow

Harlow Museum & Walled Gardens

Muskham Road, Harlow

www.harlowmuseum.com

01279 446222

Open 9.30am to 3.30pm (last entry 3pm) every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.

Harlow’s Heroes –Blue Plaque Competition

Tuesday 7 March 2023 until Tuesday 25 April 2023

Ages 4 to 14.

Take part in Harlow Museum’s competition to design a blue plaque. Create your own to celebrate individuals that live and work in Harlow who make a difference to you or the community. It could be someone from history, school, or your family.

The Coronation of His Majesty The King and Her Majesty

The Queen Consort will take place at Westminster Abbey on Saturday 6 May 2023. Across the Coronation Weekend, there will be further opportunities for people to come together in celebration of the historic occasion.

Harlow Council’s Civic Pride Community Fund will support events to mark this occasion during the month of May. Grants of £50 up to £500 can be applied for and used to fund events like street parties.

Applicants must also apply separately for a street party. Applications for Coronation street parties must be made online by 12 April 2023 and held over the Coronation Weekend. This gives us time to carry out the relevant consultation.

Street parties are a brilliant way to build a friendly community. We encourage street parties and want to make it as easy as possible for you to arrange them.

The Civic Pride Community Fund yearly budget is £10,000. For the rest of the year we will focus the fund on applications that aim to provide support to residents who are affected by the current cost of living crisis as well as those that bring people together to support mental and physical health and wellbeing.

For more information on the Civic Pride Community Fund and organising a street party visit www.harlow.gov.uk

There will be an awards ceremony on Saturday 20 May where you will be able to see the plaque entries displayed.

Download the template from our website and return it to Harlow Museum to enter.

Neurodiversity Celebration Week

Saturday 18 March

Drop-in activities from 10am to 3pm. During Neurodiversity Celebration Week is a time to challenge stereotypes and misconceptions about neurological differences.

We recognise the many talents and advantages of being neurodivergent, but sometimes it feels like we need to hide our true selves to fit in.

At the museum come make a mask that expresses your true self, or drop into our Walled Gardens for a seed sowing session, have a feel of the different types of seeds and soils.

Grow your own fruit and veg

Tuesday 4 April 2023

It’s the perfect time to start thinking about growing your own fruit and veg. Come along to the Walled Gardens to learn about planting and the different types of things you can grow. Sow a seed and taking it home! Book your place on the Harlow Museum website.

Paint a flower or plant

Thursday 6 April 2023

Drop-in activities from 10am to 3pm. Paint a flower or a plant that you can see in the Walled Gardens to add to a collage that will be displayed at the museum.

Easter Egg Hunt

Saturday 8 April 2023

Drop-in activities from 10am to 3pm. Harlow Museum & Walled Garden’s annual Easter Egg Hunt is back. Follow a trail to find something hidden around the museum and gardens, find them all to collect a prize.

Make a bug hotel for minibeasts and insects

Tuesday 11 April 2023

Make a bug hotel for minibeasts and insects in the garden. Take part in making a safe place for creepy crawlies to shelter and protect themselves from predators. Book your place on the Harlow Museum website.

The Wild Escape

Thursday 13 April 2023

Drop-in activities from 10am to 3pm

Come and make your own comic, imagine that one of our animal objects has become alive and is now loose in the museum, what will they get up to?

Let your imagination run wild. The Essex Book Bus will also be outside - pop in to discover the books you can get from your local library and listen to some storytelling.

A musical community –combatting isolation through music

Online workshops for parents

Courses to help parents improve their relationship with their child, understand what is driving your children’s challenging behaviour and help your child to express and manage their emotions.

Running over 6 weeks via zoom on various days and times throughout 2023. If you are a parent living in West Essex and would like to take part, please fill out an online form at www.yctsupport.com/refer or call 01279 414090

MUSICBOX

Katherines common room, Katherines, Harlow, CM19 5NP

Every Friday 10am

Adult music sessions. Come in, talk, and play music together.

Rock the Park

Sunday 28 May 2023

Harlow Rock School community music festival is back at Harlow Town Park Bandstand. Vendors, performers and sponsors can contact Rockthepark@ harlowrock.school

Gibberd Gallery

Civic Centre, The Water Gardens, Harlow, CM20 1WG

Seeing Things

Saturday 15 April to Saturday 24 June 2023. 11am to 4pm Mon-Sat (Closed Sun & Bank Holidays)

A major exhibition of work by Lee Grandjean. Lee spent his teenage years in Harlow between from 1962-68, living in a flat overlooking Barbara Hepworth’s ‘Contrapuntal Forms’.

His sculpture ‘Chorus’ is located in the grounds of St. John’s ARC. This is his first solo exhibition in Harlow, covering his work from the 1970s to date. For more information, visit: www.sculpturetown.uk or call 01279 446404.

The Wild Escape Family Arts

Afternoon

Harlow Town Park, near The Bandstand, Park Lane, Harlow

Saturday 22 April, 2pm to 4pm

Join artists Suman Gujral, Jordan Cook, Irena Posner and the Harlow Art Trust for fun family arts activities in celebration of International Earth Day. This is part of the Wild Escape, a major new project uniting hundreds of galleries, museums and schools in a celebration of UK wildlife and creativity.

For more information, visit: www.sculpturetown.uk or call 01279 446404

Razed Roof’s show: InForm’23 Harlow Playhouse, Playhouse Square, Harlow CM20 1LS

Thursday 18 May 2023 2pm matinee and 7.30pm evening

Razed Roof is an inclusive company of performers, resident at Harlow Playhouse. ‘InForm: 2023’ is an uplifting production sharing stories about Harlow New Town and its community, performed in conjunction with a celebration of our civic sculptures.

Tickets £15 (£12 concessions) available at www.harlowplayhouse.co.uk

Improve your balance and mobility

A strength and balance service is available for Harlow residents who would like to improve their mobility. Social.Active.Strong offers a free 12week programme of activity to help you build strength, improve mobility and help sustain your day to day activity levels.

For information and to register for free classes call 07510 383146 or email sas@harlow.gov.uk

Event and activity information is correct at time of going to press. Please always check first with the event organiser by calling their contact number or by visiting the relevant website.

Changes to bulky waste collections

We have recently had to make some changes to the way we collect items of bulky waste known as ‘Domestic Upholstered Seating’.

This is due to a change in regulations concerning the environmentally safe disposal of these items.

To comply with the new regulations, these items must be collected separately so they can be sent for specialised disposal.

You will be able to book these upholstered items for collection via the bulky waste service, but you will need to present these items separately to any non-upholstered items when you put them out for collection on your booked day.

Recycling centre bookings to be introduced

From Monday 13 March 2023, you will need to book a slot to visit the Essex County Council Recycling Centre at River Way.

We understand that sometimes space is limited, but please try to keep these items separated as best you can, otherwise this may affect your booking.

Please follow the guidance provided when you are making your booking.

If you are likely to have any difficulty presenting your items separately, please contact us on 01279 446655 before completing your booking online.

To book a collection visit www.harlow.gov.uk/binsand-recycling/special-wastecollections

Domestic Upholstered Seating items include:

Armchair

Baby car seat

Beanbag

Car Seat

Chair (dining)

Chair (office)

Chair (garden)

Chaise longue

Chair (wicker)

Cushion (and seat pads)

Cushion (sun lounger)

Futon

Garden sun lounger

Garden swing

Highchair

Ottoman Pouffe

Pram

Pushchair

Sofa (all sizes)

Sofa bed

Stool

Storage foot stool

The booking process has already been trialled at Rayleigh Recycling Centre, and for large vehicles using the nine van-friendly sites.

Both trials have been effective in smoothing demand across operating hours, and reducing queues and congestion both in and around the sites.

You will not need to book if you are a Blue Badge holder or if you are visiting the site as a pedestrian.

For more information, please visit www.loveessex.org/ bookings

The Essex Food Waste Pledge

The average Essex household wastes £60 every month by throwing away food that could have been eaten!

Sign the Essex Food Waste Pledge for tips to reduce your food waste and for a chance to win £60 supermarket vouchers every month in 2023! Visit: https://consultations. essex.gov.uk/waste-environment/essexfood-waste-pledge

Green Waste Subscription Service renewal

Don’t forget to renew your green waste subscription for collection from 1 April. If you are subscribed to the Green Waste Subscription service, you should have received a notification on how to renew your subscription.

It is quick and easy to renew your subscription online, visit: www.harlow.gov.uk/green-waste

Alternatively, you can renew over the phone by calling Contact Harlow on 01279 446655.

Bank holiday waste and recycling bin collections

You can also check your bin collection dates online at www.harlow.gov.uk

Local hospital focuses on how to #MakeMovementCount to improve patient outcomes and experience

Teams at The Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust (PAHT) are focusing on how to #MakeMovementCount by encouraging patients to get up, get dressed and get moving.

Staying in hospital, and the reduced physical movement caused by sitting in bed for prolonged periods of time, can lead to patients becoming less active, reducing their mobility and increasing other risk factors such as falls, fractures and pressure ulcers.

This is known in medical terms as ‘deconditioning’. It can also affect a person’s cognitive behaviour, impacting their ability to eat and drink, and lead to other outcomes such as dehydration and incontinence. It can affect anyone of any age, but an elderly person, particularly if they are already of reduced mobility and have a low appetite before admission to hospital, are at a very high risk.

Inpatients will be reminded to have fresh clothes, get dressed where able to, wear sensible footwear (or slippers); to sit out of bed, take regular short walks and keep their minds active by reading, listening to audiobooks or music and doing activities such as crosswords.

Visitors can help by bringing relevant items in and encouraging their loved ones to sit out of bed or to take a short walk, if they are able to, as part of the visit.

Teams on the wards at PAHT will support and encourage patients, make sure they get up and get dressed and are sat in a chair for mealtimes (subject to any medical restrictions); and to take regular short walks and keep their minds active.

They will also refer eligible patients to the new Virtual Hospital – a service that provides face-to-face nursing care, therapy and remote monitoring services for a range

of conditions from the comfort of patients’ homes that would otherwise require an acute hospital bed – enabling patients to be discharged from hospital but remain under the care and supervision of dedicated medical teams.

By making movement count, PAHT will support patients to help prevent deconditioning, reduce the risk of additional complications and support the mental health of patients by helping them to maintain a routine whilst in hospital.

For further information

https://www.pah.nhs.uk/ makemovementcount

Your Quality of Life

Preserving green space and better public transport are key priorities for people within Harlow & Gilston Garden Town and the surrounding area.

The feedback comes from the town’s Your Quality of Life consultation which ran for 12 weeks last summer.

First results and insight from the consultation feature in an independent community feedback report from the Quality of Life Foundation and global sustainable design and engineering firm, Stantec. You can read the report by visiting: www.tinyurl.com/YQOLCommunity

The Your Quality of Life Community Feedback Report notes that respondents also cited community as a priority in their feedback to the Garden Town, with more than half recording positive comments about their local area.

73% of people surveyed felt a strong sense of belonging to their neighbourhood, beating the national average of 65% from the government’s Community Life Survey in 2021.

With Harlow town centre regeneration already underway, Garden Town Director, Naisha Polaine, has welcomed the feedback: “We’re pleased to see that people are so passionate about community, green space and better transport.

“They are all huge priorities for the Garden Town and listening to what people want is integral to creating a great place for the future.

“It is exactly what our five-council partnership is committed to achieving for both existing residents and those that follow.”

Harlow & Gilston Garden Town’s (HGGT) vision for future transport across the local area, which includes a travel network accommodating cycling, walking and rapid bus services, has already won a 2022 Essex Housing Award.

Discussing green space, Naisha added: “Our stance on this has always been very clear. We want investment in public access, landscape and biodiversity enhancements while expanding areas of the existing green wedge network.

“And when I say investment, I mean it in a financial sense and in dedication to delivery. “Providing a home for wildlife and giving local people an opportunity to enjoy nature and green spaces, critical for mental and physical wellbeing, is something are all five of our council partners support.”

Next steps will see HGGT working with project partners to develop and action recommendations based on the feedback received.

Which council does what?

• Abandoned vehicles

• Antisocial behaviour

• Bus station

• CCTV

• Council car parks *

• Council Tax and business rates collection

• Elections and electoral register

• Environmental health - noise/air pollution, food safety inspections, health and safety at work

• Events – town centre and fireworks

• Graffiti, flytipping, broken glass and litter

• Grass cutting and landscape maintenance

• Housing benefits

• Housing register

• Housing repairs **

• Homelessness

• Licensing – taxi/private hire, alcohol and entertainment, animal establishments, street trading, gambling, houses in multiple occupation

• Parks, open spaces and allotments

• Picking up dead animals on the highway

• Planning and building control

• Playhouse, playgrounds and paddling pools

• Residential parking*

• Sports pitches and multi-use games areas

• Stray dogs

• Street cleaning and emptying bins

• Supported housing

• Waste and recycling collections

www.harlow.gov.uk

Phone 01279 446655

• Adoption and fostering

• Adult and children social care

• Births, ceremonies and deaths

• Blue badges

• Cycle tracks

• Disability support services

• Essex Outdoors

• Essex Record office

• Gritting of main roads

• Household Recycling Centre (the tip)

• Libraries

• Pavement repairs

• Potholes

• Road safety

• Schools and adult learning

• School transport

• Street lights

• Trading standards

• Traffic information

• Traffic lights, traffic signs and bollards

• Transport – buses and bus passes

• Underpasses

• Youth service

www.essex.gov.uk

www.essexhighways.org

Phone: 0345 743 0430

* Parking enforcement is carried out by the North Essex Parking Partnership. Please call 01206 282316

** Council housing repairs are carried out by HTS (Property & Environment) Limited. Please call 01279 446666

LEADER

Councillor Jodi Dunne

Labour

c/o Harlow Council, Civic Centre, CM20 1WG

Tel: 07378 879710

Email: jodi.dunne@harlow.gov.uk

Councillor Dan Swords

Conservative

c/o Harlow Council, Civic Centre, CM20 1WG

Tel: 07568 193081

Email: dan.swords@harlow.gov.uk

Councillor Kay Morrison

Labour

199A Hookfield, CM18 6QP

Tel: 07736 333105

Email: kay.morrison@harlow.gov.uk

Councillor Mark Wilkinson Labour

56 Sakins Croft, CM18 7BP

Tel: 07718 696429

Email: mark.wilkinson@harlow.gov.uk

Councillor James Leppard

Conservative

c/o Harlow Council, Civic Centre, CM20 1WG

Tel: 07454 686809

Email: james.leppard@harlow.gov.uk

Councillor Stacey Seales

Conservative

c/o Harlow Council, Civic Centre, CM20 1WG

Tel: 07541 141166

Email: stacey.seales@harlow.gov.uk

Councillor Nancy Watson

Labour

c/o Harlow Council, Civic Centre, CM20 1WG

Tel: 07908 518862

Email: nancy.watson@harlow.gov.uk

Councillor Colleen Morrison

Conservative

c/o Harlow Council, Civic Centre, CM20 1WG

Tel: 07445 390675 (Text only)

Email: colleen.morrison@harlow.gov.uk

Councillor James Griggs Labour

129 Broadfield, CM20 3PY

Tel: 07877 424834

Email: james.griggs@harlow.gov.uk

Councillor Clive Souter

Conservative

227 Longbanks, CM18 7PB

Tel: 07850 667900

Email: clive.souter@harlow.gov.uk

Councillor Russell Perrin

Conservative

c/o Harlow Council, Civic Centre, CM20 1WG

Email: russell.perrin@harlow.gov.uk

Councillor Nick Churchill

Conservative

c/o Harlow Council, Civic Centre, CM20 1WG

Tel: 621094

Email: nick.churchill@harlow.gov.uk

Church Langley

CHAIR

Portfolio Holder

Councillor Andrew Johnson Conservative

78 Mallards Rise, CM17 9PL

Tel: 865673

Email: andrew.johnson@harlow.gov.uk

Councillor Simon Carter Conservative

71 Mark Hall Moors, CM20 2NF

Tel: 429443

Email: simon.carter@harlow.gov.uk

Councillor Nicky Purse Conservative

98 Coalport Close, CM17 9QS

Tel: 07838 238573

Email: nicky.purse@harlow.gov.uk

Councillor Jean Clark Labour

4 Rushmead Villas, CM20 2QE

Tel: 423474

Email: jean.clark@harlow.gov.uk

Councillor Chris Vince Labour

c/o Harlow Council, Civic Centre, CM20 1WG

Tel: 07729 406011

Email: chris.vince@harlow.gov.uk

Councillor Tony Durcan Labour

329 Rundells, CM18 7HN

Tel: 414357

Email: anthony.durcan@harlow.gov.uk

Councillor Sue Livings

Conservative

15 Seeleys, CM17 0AD

Tel: 422339

Email: sue.livings@harlow.gov.uk

Councillor Michael Garnett

Conservative

Brook House, Wyldwood Close, CM17 0JD

Tel: 437401

Email: michael.garnett@harlow.gov.uk

Councillor Joel Charles Conservative

86 Jocelyns, CM17 0BU

Tel: 07752 096765

Portfolio Holder

Councillor David Carter Conservative

23 Greygoose Park, CM19 4JL

Tel: 420340

Email: david.carter@harlow.gov.uk

Councillor Eddie Johnson

Conservative

c/o Harlow Council, Civic Centre, CM20 1WG

Tel: 312195

Email: eddie.johnson@harlow.gov.uk

Councillor Stephen LeMay Conservative

21 The Drive, CM20 3QD

Tel: 07840 852349

Email: stephen.lemay@harlow.gov.uk

Councillor Bob Davis

Labour

c/o Harlow Council, Civic Centre, CM20 1WG

Tel: 07749 393037

Email: bob.davis@harlow.gov.uk

Councillor Matthew Saggers

Conservative

c/o Harlow Council, Civic Centre, CM20 1WG

Tel: 07305 777819

Email: matthew.saggers@harlow.gov.uk

Councillor Lanie Shears

Labour

c/o Harlow Council, Civic Centre, CM20 1WG

Tel: 07906 870935

Email: lanie.shears@harlow.gov.uk

Councillor John Strachan

Labour

c/o Harlow Council, Civic Centre, CM20 1WG

Tel: 323656 / 07941 829965

Email: john.strachan@harlow.gov.uk

Councillor Alastair Gunn

Conservative

11 Penshurst, CM17 0BP

Tel: 07850 261771

Email: alastair.gunn@harlow.gov.uk

Councillor Michael Hardware Conservative

12a Hart Road, Harlow, CM17 0HL

Tel: 07775 925274

Portfolio Holder

Email: joel.charles@harlow.gov.uk

Councillor Daniella Pritchard Labour

c/o Harlow Council, Civic Centre, CM20 1WG Tel: 07710 529374

Email: daniella.pritchard@harlow.gov.uk

Councillor Ash Malik

Conservative

c/o Harlow Council, Civic Centre, CM20 1WG

Tel: 07761 780856

Email: ash.malik@harlow.gov.uk

Councillor Tony Edwards Labour

c/o Harlow Council, Civic Centre, CM20 1WG

Tel: 07544 374168

Email: tony.edwards@harlow.gov.uk

Portfolio Holder

Email: michael.hardware@harlow.gov.uk

Essex County Councillors

County councillors can help with services like libraries, transport, roads and highways, social care for adults and children, education and schools.

Harlow North Councillor Michael Garnett

Conservative

Email: cllr.mike.garnett@essex.gov.uk

Harlow West Councillor Michael Hardware

Conservative

Cabinet Members

Councillor Russell Perrin - Leader of Harlow Council

Councillor Joel Charles - Portfolio Holder for Business and Community Resilience

Councillor Alastair Gunn - Portfolio Holder for Housing

Councillor Michael Hardware - Portfolio Holder for Regeneration and Strategic Growth

Councillor James Leppard - Portfolio Holder for Finance

Councillor Nicky Purse - Portfolio Holder For Environment

Councillor Stacy Seales - Portfolio Holder for Governance

Email: cllr.michael.hardware@essex.gov.uk

Harlow West Councillor Clive Souter

Conservative

Email: cllr.clive.souter@essex.gov.uk

Harlow South East Councillor Eddie Johnson

Conservative

Email: cllr.eddie.johnson@essex.gov.uk

Bush Fair

Great Parndon

Mark Hall

Staple

Tye

Harlow Common

Netteswell

Sumners & Kingsmoor

Toddbrook

Portfolio Holder

VICE CHAIR

Portfolio Holder

Your vote Your voice

How to vote at your local elections

Thursday 4 May 2023

Make sure you are registered to vote by Monday 17 April 2023. www.gov.uk/registertovote

Polling

Voting in person

To find out where your polling station is visit: www.harlow.gov.uk/elections

If you are registered you will receive your poll card, which will tell you how and where you can vote.

Voting by Post

If you can’t get to the polling station you can apply to receive your ballot paper in the post.

Apply for a postal vote by 5pm Tuesday 18 April 2023.

A full list of what ID you can use will be shown on your poll card and on our website. If you don’t have an accepted form of photo ID, you can apply for a free Voter Authority Certificate online by 5pm Tuesday 25 April 2023. www.gov.uk/applyforphotoidtovote

Voting by Proxy

If you need to you can choose someone to go to your polling station to vote on your behalf. Apply for a proxy vote by 5pm Tuesday 25 April 2023.

www.electoralcommission.org.uk/voter

www.harlow.gov.uk