Community engagement strategy

3.1    With a population of around 120,000 residents, Welwyn Hatfield is located in central Hertfordshire, just off the A1(M) motorway and 25 minutes by train from Central London.

3.2    Many major businesses are based in the borough, including the headquarters of Tesco and Ocado, as well as many smaller and independent businesses. The University of Hertfordshire in Hatfield is famous for its strong ties with industry, attracting students from around the world for courses in business, engineering and computer science. The University of London’s Royal Veterinary College also has a campus in the borough and is ranked number 1 globally for Veterinary Science.

3.3    We are a landlord, responsible for engaging with tenants and leaseholders in over 10,000 properties. Please refer to the council’s Resident Involvement Strategy for more detailed information about tenant and leaseholder engagement.

3.4    From our most recent Community Survey undertaken in Autumn 2023, 57% of respondents told us they feel well informed by the council.  This is consistent with our tenants’ view, with 57% of tenants surveyed telling us we listen and act upon their views and 70% telling us we keep them informed about things that matter to them (based on 2024-25 Tenant Satisfaction Measures).

3.5    Data published by Herts Insight shows that the borough has an equal split between males (49%) and females (51%), with 65% of the population between 16-64 years old. Most residents are white British (78.7.5%) followed by Asian/Asian British (8.8%), with Polish and Romanian amongst the most Non-English spoken languages. Over 17,906 residents assess themselves as disabled under the Equalities Act 2010 and around 6% of the population have informal caring responsibilities. Christianity is the most common religion (47%). Please refer to Appendix A for a further breakdown.