Welcome to the Local Alliance Blog

  Have you walked the City walls? I started doing so when the shops reopened earlier this year, whilst the family were shopping. As non-essential retail reopens this week, and we move into Tier 2 , I expect to be doing it again soon, even though it will be a colder and less clement experience We all want to support our local businesses as much as possible in the run up to Christmas. To help businesses take part in their Support Local campaign CDC have created a marketing pack , which includes social media graphics, a digital Facebook profile frame, a digital poster, a Christmas gift tag design to use in point of sale and window displays, and Christmas gift tag designs and printed tags which can be given to customers. They are personalised by area, so, for example, CDC and STC have been publicising the Shop Local in Selsey campaign. It goes without saying that we wish all of our Traders, across the whole District, a successful run up to Christmas in these extraordinary times. It...

  Crime is a big concern across our District: we all have an interest in helping reduce it. Chichester Police are investigating a burglary in Selsey on November 14 where a number of high value watches were stolen If you were in its High Street, and may have seen something, please contact them on 101 quoting serial 0551 14/11 or click here to report online .    Another local concern is the Local Plan, which is still very much a ‘work in progress’ and it may be that the Government look again at the Housing algorithm due to a number of concerns which have been raised across the country. Last week, we mentioned CDC’s Countdown to Christmas campaign which is focussed on encouraging us all to shop local. Donna was photographed with local traders for the media campaign on Thursday holding the Selsey one of these downloadables: - Selsey East Wittering Chichester The District in general . This week Overview and Scrutiny considered a request from the Mayor of Chich...

  We promised to let you know when local businesses which have had to close due to the national coronavirus restrictions can apply for a one off Local Restrictions Support Grant : it is £1,334 if you have a rateable value of £15,000 or lower, £2,000 for a rateable value over £15,000, but less than £51,000; and £3,000 for businesses with a rateable value of £51,000 or above. Pubs and restaurants offering a takeaway only service can apply. When you buy your Christmas presents and cards, you could support local charities as this recent article points out and support local businesses with the help of CDC’s Countdown to Christmas campaign . Please remember to recycle all you can but not polystyrene, shiny or metallic wrapping paper, ribbons and bows, or plastic film and wrapping. Real Christmas trees can be disposed of using the St Wilfrid’s Hospice charity collection scheme from January 6 - 26. The Four Streets Project urgently needs help to feed the homeless in Chichester. They ...

I am pleased to tell you we had another small victory this week: although we did not get CDC’s Cabinet to agree to an additional Towns and Villages Recovery Group, similar to the one for the City, Donna and I were added to the District Economic Recovery Team.  You may recall consideration of our proposal was recommended by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee, avoiding a constitutionally required delay until January. We wanted action now because of the worsening situation, even though a lot has been done including £37 million paid out in Business rate grants and £237,000 in Council Tax Hardship Fund payments. The return of national measures, means Senior Briefings have resumed, plans are in train to maintain essential services like household refuse collections and more financial assistance for CDC to pass on to affected businesses is on the way: the easiest way to learn when business assistance becomes available is to follow your parish council online, e.g. @SelseyTownCouncil ....