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Queries, faults, services…..

We can guide you to the right place to report faults or find out information:

Fly tipping on highways is dealt with by Herts County Council, if off-road it needs to be reported to St Albans.

St Albans City & District Council Visit Website
Covers the City of St Albans and the surrounding villages. They are responsible for a range of services including:

  • Planning applications
  • Waste collection and recycling
  • Verge cutting
  • Housing
  • Council Tax
  • Benefits
  • Tourism
  • Leisure centres

Hertfordshire County Council Visit Website
Covers the whole of Hertfordshire and their responsibilities include:

  • Highways faults
  • Maintenance of the roads and footpaths, including winter salt spreading
  • Bus passes
  • Blue badges
  • Schools, including admissions, transport and school meals
  • Registration of births and deaths
  • Notices of marriage
  • Social care
  • Benefits advice

Parish Councillor Vacancy – May 2025 – UPDATE

The Elections Office at St Albans District Council have confirmed that no election has been requested. The vacancy will therefore be filled in due course by co-option, in accordance with the Local Elections (Parishes and Communities) Rules 2006. If you are interested in being considered, or would like to nominate someone you know (with their consent!) please do get in touch

Please note -all our Parish Councillors, including anybody appointed by co-option, will automatically retire at the county-wide parish council elections in May 2027. Some or all of them may choose to stand again at that election, along with any new candidates coming forward.

ST MICHAEL PARISH COUNCIL
ST MICHAEL SOUTH WARD
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 St Michael North ward of St Michael
Parish Council.

If by Tuesday 12 June 2025 (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 St
Michael North parish ward, an election will be held to fill the said
vacancy.

If an election is not requested, the vacancy will be filled by St Michael
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: Wednesday 22 May 2025
………………………………….
Vicki Wright
Clerk to the Council

*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.

Voter Registration Canvass 2025

St Albans City & District Council will be conducting the annual household voter
registration canvass from early July until the end of the year.
The canvass ensures that the electoral register is kept up to date. It is
important that residents make sure they can vote with District Council
elections taking place in May next year.


Every residential property in the district will be sent an email or letter during
July to check whether the details on the electoral register are correct.
Not all properties will be required to respond, and the email or letter will advise
whether a response is required. If you do need to respond, please respond
promptly. Reminders will be sent in the autumn to any properties which are
required to respond and have not done so.


During the canvass period (July onwards), information about the canvass will
be available at www.stalbans.gov.uk/household-voter-registration-canvass.

Read about our Annual Meetings

Our Clerk explains the difference between the Annual Parish Meeting and the Annual General Meeting of the Parish Council…

With our Annual meetings due to be held on 14 May 2024, let’s take the opportunity to clarify what happens at each.

Both types of meeting are open to the public to attend, and both are required to be held during May.

The Annual General Meeting of the Parish Council is when we review things such as who will be Chairman for the next year.  Otherwise it will follow a similar structure as for other Parish Council Meetings in the year.  Any member of the public is entitled to attend and observe, but as with all Parish Council Meetings, they are allowed to speak or ask questions only in a designated part of the proceedings or by the invitation of the Chairman.

All Parish and Town Councils throughout England are required by law to hold an Annual Parish Meeting, which acts as an annual democratic point of communication enabling the Parish Council to explain what it has been doing over the last year and providing an opportunity for the electors to have their say on anything they consider is important  to the people of the Parish.

Who can attend the Annual Parish Meeting?
The Annual Parish Meeting is a meeting of all the local government electors for the Parish, which the public are specifically entitled to attend and participate in.

Will I be able to ask questions and make suggestions?
Yes, any registered elector may ask questions at the Annual Parish Meeting, which will usually be answered by the Chairperson, the Clerk to the Council, or a designated Councillor. An elector may also make suggestions and comment on anything relevant to the residents of the Parish.

Who will chair the Annual Parish Meeting?
The Chairman of the Parish Council will chair the meeting or in his/her absence the Vice Chairman.

Will Parish Councillors be there?
Yes, however, the purpose of the Annual Parish Meeting is to enable the ordinary electors to have their say. Councillors will listen with interest and as some are electors themselves, they also have the opportunity to raise questions and make comments if they wish.

Will notes be taken of the meeting?
Yes, a written record of the meeting will be taken and presented at the next Annual Parish meeting for approval.

How long will the meeting last?
As long as need be within reason.  It will depend on how many persons attend who wish to speak.

Elections on Thursday 1 May: make sure you are registered to vote and have photo ID

Hertfordshire County Council elections are taking place on Thursday 1 May. There are ten county divisions in St Albans City & District, and all county councillor seats are up for election.

Poll cards will be sent in late-March and voters are asked to check to see which polling station they should attend as there have been some changes since last year.

Do I need to register?

People who were registered to vote in last year’s elections and whose details have not changed will still be registered. You can check by emailing elections@stalbans.gov.uk or by calling Electoral Services on 01727 819294.

If you are not already registered, a registration form is available to complete at www.gov.uk/register-to-vote. The deadline for registering to vote at the 1 May elections is Friday 11 April.

Voter ID

Voters are required to present an approved type of photo ID to vote at a polling station. This includes a current or expired UK passport or driver’s licence, as long as the photograph looks like the voter.

Details of approved photo ID and information about how to apply for free voter ID (known as a Voter Authority Certificate) are available on the Electoral Commission’s website: www.electoralcommission.org.uk/voting-and-elections/voter-id. Alternatively, call the Electoral Commission’s helpline on 0800 328 0280. The deadline for applying for the Voter Authority Certificate is 5pm on Wednesday 23 April.

Voting by post or by proxy

Residents who are unable to get to their polling station on Thursday 1 May can apply to vote by post or proxy. The deadline for applying to vote by post (and for amending an existing postal or proxy vote) is 5pm on Monday 14 April, and to vote by proxy is 5pm on Wednesday 23 April. Most types of postal and proxy vote can be applied for online at www.gov.uk/apply-postal-vote or www.gov.uk/apply-proxy-vote.

Postal voters will be sent their postal voting packs a couple of weeks before the election. Post your pack back as soon as possible; it must reach St Albans City & District Council by 10pm on 1 May. The rules have changed around returning postal votes by any method other than via Royal Mail (for example, handing it in at a polling station). Please refer to your postal vote poll card for further information.

Further information

For further information, visit www.stalbans.gov.uk/voting-and-elections.

The Holly Bush Public House

We have learned with sadness that the Holly Bush in Potters Crouch – one of only two pubs within the parish boundary – has recently closed its doors. The brewery, Fullers, say this is temporary, and that they are working hard to re-open. We send our best wishes to all connected with the Holly Bush, along with our hopes that the pub will soon be serving the Potters Crouch community once again.for its

Update from National Grid – Elstree Substation to Sundon Substation overhead electricity line refurbishment

National Grid has been refurbishing the existing 400kv overhead electricity line that runs between our Elstree to Sundon substations and passes through your parish.

We’ve now completed all phases of this work including reinstatement activity to remove our temporary trackway and Heras fencing, take down works sites and remove equipment.

Our work will ensure long-term energy security for southern England on both the high-voltage electricity transmission network, and the local distribution network supplying homes and businesses.

National Grid would like to thank local residents and businesses for their patience and understanding during these essential refurbishment works. Should you have any questions, please contact the team on: elstreetosundon@nationalgrid.com.

Parish Councillor Vacancy – January 2025 – UPDATE

The Elections Office at St Albans District Council have confirmed that no election has been requested. The vacancy will therefore be filled in due course by co-option, in accordance with the Local Elections (Parishes and Communities) Rules 2006. If you are interested in being considered, or would like to nominate someone you know (with their consent!) please do get in touch.

Please note -all our Parish Councillors, including anybody appointed by co-option, will automatically retire at the county-wide parish council elections in May 2027. Some or all of them may choose to stand again at that election, along with any new candidates coming forward.

ST MICHAEL PARISH COUNCIL
ST MICHAEL NORTH WARD
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 St Michael North ward of St Michael
Parish Council.

If by Tuesday 04 February 2025 (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 St
Michael North parish ward, an election will be held to fill the said
vacancy.

If an election is not requested, the vacancy will be filled by St Michael
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: Wednesday 15 January 2025
………………………………….
Julia Reading
Clerk to the Council

*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.

Your opinions needed please!

At St Michael Parish Council, we are keen to understand better the interests and concerns of the area’s residents and visitors, to help us in setting parish council priorities to focus our efforts in the coming years. A few moments of your time answering the questions in this survey would be very much appreciated.

Please follow this link, which will take you to an on-line survey form created with Microsoft 365.