November 22, 2024

 

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

On Tuesday Steve, Val,  and I had Full CDC - Donna had a chest infection. On Wednesday Val had CDC’s Development, Planning and Infrastructure Panel. Donna was still unwell but is now on the mend. Watch CDC’s public meetings.

The agenda at Full CDC included some important items, for instance I welcomed the continuation of the Council Tax Reduction Scheme, which was approved. We also considered and approved CDC’s 5-year Financial Strategy and Plan. We also agreed to continue funding for Voluntary Action Arun & Chichester for the provision of infrastructure support to the voluntary and community groups and charities in our District. We also extended funding for a further year to Chichester Festival Theatre, Pallant House Gallery and The Great Sussex Way. We also agreed up to £8 million to invest in leisure centres as part of the new leisure management contract and our response to the Government consultation on Enabling Remote Attendance and Proxy Voting at Local Authority Meetings.

We also agreed to extend the trial of evening Full Council meetings despite an amendment to not do so. I pointed out that despite questions of negative effects, ultimately this is an issue of democratic representation and daytime meetings largely limit potential Councillors to those who do not need to work. Steve pointed out that a lot of people, like him, don’t work 9 to 5.

I also asked the Leader why CDC does not lay wreaths at Remembrance parades outside of the City and received support from several other Members. This is something Adrian Moss said he would discuss with myself and Roy Briscoe the Conservative Group Leader.

Christmas is coming: -

• CDC has cancelled tomorrow’s the ‘Light up Chichester’ Christmas lights switch-on events and Sunday’s Cross Market and More due to weather warnings

• Next Saturday, the 30th, the High Street, Selsey is closed from 12:00 for a procession, a Santa in his grotto and more. From 2:30pm The Friends of East Beach, thanks to a grant from Selsey Town Council, have a free grotto, face painter, stalls, funfair, elves, the Grinch and Disney’s Aurora and Ariel.

• Midhurst’s lights switch io is December 6th from 5pm to 8pm while Petworth’s Christmas Cracker is Saturday the 7th from 11am to 7pm.

• From December 7th to 15th, the City has a programme of events in The Guildhall in Priory Park. The Christmas Market also returns from the 9th.

• CDC has teamed up with St Wilfrid’s Hospice for their Christmas Tree Recycling Scheme. (10th-13th January, book by 6th January.)

• Selsey Town Council’s Offices are an official donation point for the V2 Radio Christmas Toy Appeal, which is asking for new, unwrapped toys.

Our interesting reads this week are research shows being more active can add 5 years to your life and are you weather ready? 

Finally: - 

• Report potholes

• Warmer Homes

• Supporting You

• WSCC Meetings

• CDC Meetings

As always, from the whole Team, stay safe.

Tim