Thumbs Up or Thumbs Down???

Did CDC give us the “Thumbs Up” today for a local economic Recovery Group?

If you read our post on Friday - thanks to all those of you who did and expressed their support - you will be aware that today was Full Council and we asked for our area to have its own Recovery Group like Chichester because our population is as big and the knock-on effects from the ‘hit’ on leisure & tourism will affect us all to a lesser or greater extent. 

The other Opposition Councillors were very supportive, arguing this would provide a clear Manhood focus and give us a stronger voice. The press quoted my pointing out that rightly or wrongly local people feel they are forgotten.

Sadly the Ruling Group en masse disagreed so when it came to the vote we were defeated.

Today we felt it appropriate to only update you on the outcome of our proposal; on Friday, as usual, we will update you on the other developments this week. 

As always, stay safe

Tim

P.S. This is our press release.

At Chichester District Council’s Full Council Meeting on Tuesday 21st July, the Local Alliance  Group proposed that a specific Group be considered to assist the Manhood Peninsula’s businesses recover from Covid 19.

Proposed as an amendment to a Motion, Councillor Tim Johnson, (Selsey South) asked that, in order to ensure parity with the City, the Peninsula, given its population and specific challenges, be considered for its own High Street Recovery Team, following the impact of Covid 19. This was defeated by 15 votes to 19, with all members of the majority group voting against it.

Councillor Donna Johnson, (Sidlesham with Selsey South) said: “The idea that recovery from Covid 19 can be delivered via the towns’ respective Visions is unreasonable and frankly, not good enough.  Our businesses need targeted, specific help now - they don’t have the luxury of waiting for the culmination of the Visions.  At the very least,  the Peninsula’s Town and Parish Councils should have been consulted about this; they would then have had an opportunity to speak with their business owners. The perception amongst many residents on the Peninsula is that we are marginalised.  More than ever there needs to be collegiate working between everyone and I’m particularly disappointed, therefore that, yet again, Council has taken a ‘Chichester-centric’ view and the Peninsula has effectively been left to ‘fend for itself”.