October 25, 2024

Welcome to this week's blog. As always, thank you for sparing the time to have a read.

On Monday morning Ian and I had the latest STC Liaison Meeting with Senior Officers. In the afternoon I had CDC’s Corporate Governance and Audit Committee. Later in the week, Donna and I also had separate Teams meetings relating to our different responsibilities at CDC. meanwhile Ali, Andrew, Gareth, Mick and Val had STC's Planning on Wednesday. Watch CDC’s public meetings 

A reminder that the Weald and Downland Museum’s Advent and Christmas Market  is on Saturday the 23rd and Sunday the 24th of November. The following Saturday, November 30th is when many civic Christmas lights will be turned on, particularly on the Peninsula. The High Street in Selsey will be closed from 12:00 to 19:30 - there will be a procession, a Santa in his grotto, animals and more.  The Friends of East Beach, thanks to a grant from Selsey Town Council, have a free grotto (with the Lion’s Santa) and face painter once again. Paying a visit are the Grinch, two Disney Princesses, Aurora and Ariel, and several of Santa's elves.

WSCC has launched a consultation about the lived-in experience of autism to gather information about people’s needs and their quality of life. The findings will help inform a new autism strategy that aims to improve services and support for autistic adults and children across West Sussex.

In December, a new exhibition in the Novium, ‘I Grew Up 80s’, is set to provide a colourful trip down memory lane, capturing what the decade was like from a child’s perspective when music was on cassettes, shellsuits and leg warmers were must-haves, and everyone received a Rubik’s Cube for Christmas. Visitors will find more than 200 items of memorabilia showcasing the youthful exuberance of the decade, from toys such as Care Bears, My Little Pony and Transformers, to album covers of timeless musicians like Queen, George Michael, Phil Collins and Kate Bush.

Scientists have apparently discovered that dogs are entering a new phase of evolution, thanks to us. We are familiar with the idea of human evolution but, until I came across this story, I had not really given much thought to other species. Meanwhile, it has been proven that cats effectively behave like a liquid and they may learn words faster than a human baby

Councillor Clare Apel, Chair of Chichester District Council, has spent nearly 40 years helping her local communities and helping the lives of residents. She has been shortlisted for a national ‘Lifetime Legend’ award, one of only five people shortlisted across the country for the award at the LGIU and CCLA annual councillor awards from over 350 nominations received across five categories that celebrate the wide-ranging work of councillors. Clare has been in local politics since 1987, representing her community at both the district and city councils. Her firm belief in human dignity and rights led her to become a founding trustee of Stonepillow in 1989. At the time, Clare was Mayor of the city and held monthly meetings in her house to come up with ways to raise the £30,000 needed to support them..

CDC is encouraging local community groups, schools, and parish councils once again to apply for funding to help increase the number of community orchards across our District. A total of £9,000 is available for the second round of their Community Orchard initiative, which is part of the wider Tree Chichester District scheme. Community Successful applicants will receive funding for trees and accessories that will help the trees thrive, such as guards, stakes, and tree ties. Funding will be allocated on a first come, first served basis, and successful applicants need to have completed their planting projects before the end of March 2025.

Finally: - 

• Report potholes to WSCC

• Housing Health & Safety

• Warmer Homes UK

• Suicide in Sussex

• Domestic Abuse

• Supporting You

• WSCC Meetings

• CDC Meetings

As always, from the whole Team, stay safe.

Tim