The Mayor sends his sincere thanks to everyone who supported his Garden Party last Sunday to raise money for his chosen charities.  The event was a great sucess due to the help of so many special people, including all those who bought tickets and spent their money at the event!   The Mayor sends his best wishes to all.

The referendum on the second Neighbourhood Plan for Bishop's Stortford, covering All Saints, Central, and South wards and part of Thorley Parish, will take place this coming Thursday, 7th September 2017.

Further information can be found on our neighbourhood planning page .

The Tourist Information Centre (TIC) on Market Square is run by Bishop’s Stortford Town Council and offers advice, leaflets, souvenirs, holiday brochures for many parts of the country and many other services to both residents and visitors. 

To secure this service for the future, the Town Council has made an offer to purchase the building (2 Market Square) in which the TIC is located.  If the offer is accepted the purchase will be funded in part from a loan (of up to £240,000, the precise value will depend on the final purchase price) and in part from existing funds held by the Council.

If the Council is able to buy the property it will be protected from possible eviction or rent increases in 2019.  We won’t need to raise the Council tax to acquire this asset.  This is because the cost of the loan repayments (both interest and capital) are covered  (to within a very small margin) by savings in rent plus the rent we would receive from Nockolds who occupy the upper floors.  Over the 15 year period of the loan we will save approximately £150,000 in rent payments and pay less than £30,000 in interest.

If you wish to comment on this please email the Council at enquires@bishopsstortfordtc.gov.uk

If you’re over 50 and thinking about getting more active, you are invited to a FREE Come and Try event.

Have a go at traditional activities such as yoga and bowls, or try something new like Tai Chi or Walking Football

Saturday August 12 from 1pm-5pm, registration from 12.30pm

Birchwood School, Parsonage Lane, Bishop’s Stortford CM23 5BD

If you have any questions, contact Nigel in the Forever Active East Herts team at East Herts Council on 01992 531695 or email forever.active50@eastherts.gov.uk

The Town Council is appealing to local businesses to support a Community Defibrillator in Potter Street.

The Community Defibrillator, which will provide a potentially life-saving community facility, will be housed in the red telephone box in Potter Street at the top of Devoils Lane.  This will be refurbished and re-purposed by the Town Council and BT have confirmed that it is available.  The refurbished box will also provide a bright and colourful focal point in the centre of Town.  

The Council is seeking one or more sponsors for the defibrillator itself which costs £2,500 including fitting.  The Council is also seeking one or more sponsors to cover the annual maintenance costs of £500 per year approximately.  The Council will acknowledge any sponsorship received on its website and any business or individual donating £200 or more will be listed on a plaque to be fitted in the box, for the lifetime of the machine purchased.

If you or your business wish to contribute please contact the Council on 01279 715000.

Audit Notice - Accounts for 2016/2017

PERIOD FOR THE EXERCISE OF PUBLIC RIGHTS - ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2017

Local Audit And Accountability Act 2014
Accounts and Audit Regulations 2015 (SI 2015/234)

Bishop’s Stortford Town Council’s annual return needs to be reviewed by an external auditor appointed by Public Sector Audit Appointments Limited. Any person interested has the right to inspect the accounting records for the financial year to which the audit relates and all books, deeds, contracts, bills, vouchers and receipts and other documents relating to those records or documents.

These documents for Bishop’s Stortford Town Council are to be made available on reasonable notice by application between the hours of 10am and 3pm on working days (excluding public holidays) commencing on 22 June 2017 and ending on 02 August 2017.

If you wish to view them then please contact the named authority representative:

Mark Westwood
Finance Officer
The Old Monastery
Windhill
Bishop’s Stortford
CM23 2ND

Telephone: 01279 712140
Email: mark.westwood@bishopsstortfordtc.gov.uk

Local electors and their representatives have rights to question the auditor about the accounts and object to the accounts or any item in them. Written notice of an objection must first be given to the auditor and a copy sent to the smaller authority. The auditor can be contacted at the address below for this purpose during the inspection period which commences on 22 June 2017 and ends on 02 August 2017.

The smaller authority's annual return is subject to review by the appointed auditor under the provisions of the Local Audit And Accountability Act 2014, the Accounts and Audit Regulations 2015 and the NAO's Code of Audit Practice.

The appointed auditor of Bishop’s Stortford Town Council is:

BDO LLP
Arcadia House
Maritime Walk
Ocean Village
Southampton
SO14 3TL

Telephone: 023 8088 1941

View the Summary of Electors' Rights and the Annual Governance Statement 2016/17 and Accounting Statements for 2016/17.

The Town Council is inviting quotations for the regular cleaning of its facilities at the Monastery, the Tourist Information Centre and Markwell Pavillion.  Responses are required no later than 23rd June 2017 and full details appear on our Tenders page

Bishop's Stortford Town Council is inviting tenders for additional play equipment at the Childrens Playground on Sworders Field.  Please see our tenders page for details

Bishop's Stortford's popluar Farmers and Craft Market returns this Saturday (6 May) from 9.30-13.30 in North Street.

Traders who have registerd to attend are:

Aggies Bag- Handmade bags

Art Society- Original prints

Artisan bread

Beekeepers

Carol’s jewellery

Cheese teller- Cheesemonger

Bella By D – Jewellery

Giggly Pig- Local sausages

Goat Golden Soaps

Heavenly Homemade- Jams, chutneys and cakes

Hertford Porkies- Local Pies

Mogg’s Pickles- Jams and chutneys

New Barn Farm- Local lamb and beef

Olivine Originals- Hand created skin care

Perk’s Pickles- Jams and chutneys

Radwinter Game

Spice Queen- Indian spice blends

Wobbly Bottom Farm- Goat cheese

Hootie Tootie Jewellery

Goodies Pet Stall

Beau Petit Macarons

Moore and Moore Plants

Hasista Barista Coffee- hot coffee and beans

The Goodness Food Company- homemade cakes specialising in dietary and health needs

Hibiscus Lilly- Indian inspired jams chutneys and snacks such as nuts and bars

Mrs Scruff Handcut designs

We have vacancies for a Tourist Information and Events Assistant (21-27 hours per week) and a Tourist Information Assistant (Saturdays).  Full details and an application form can be downloaded from our vacancies page.  Applications must be received by 19th May 2017.