January 24, 2025
Welcome to this week’s blog of 2025 - thanks for having a read.
We should find out soon about the Sussex devolution bid. If the government agrees, the 1.8 million residents of Sussex will be electing a mayor next year to formulate regional strategy instead of the government and oversee some public services like the police. In 2027 we could elect new Unitaries to replace WSCC and CDC: East Sussex could form one, part of our County could join with Brighton & Hove to form a second and the rest of us make a third (in which our District might have about a fifth of the Councillors.)
This, unsurprisingly, came up on Tuesday when Donna, Val and I had Full CDC. We learnt that CDC had received the Post Hearings Letter from the Local Plan Inspectors and it was, in simple speak, nearly over the line. We also agreed amendments to the Infrastructure Business Plan and Donna spoke against aspects of a motion which asked the Leader to write to our MP to request they actively support measures which would increase regulation of children educated at home. As someone who did home educate her own children, she thought some of the measures it advocated could be overly intrusive and would further impact SEND children.
I thanked Officers for beginning to consider what land and buildings, when CDC is abolished, could perhaps be passed to parishes. I went on to ask the Leader, Adrian Moss, whether he would support, once we have more clarity on devolution and if it is permissible, finding a way to safeguard funding for our planned capital projects (like Selsey’s sea defences) which will take some time and drawing down our reserves to increase our District's supply of social housing. In reply, Cllr Moss said work was underway to ensure projects would be sufficiently advanced to not be impacted by the introduction of a shadow authority.
The next day I had my regular briefing with CDC’s Senior Leadership Team at which it was clarified that rules have come into play now there is a possibility of a Unitary which means that CDC cannot draw its reserves down in the way I had asked about. That morning, Donna and Val had CDC’s Development Planning and Infrastructure Panel which looked more closely at the Local Plan.
This coming week our Green colleague Tim Young has CDC’s Environment Panel on Monday and Donna has WSCC’s Employment Appeals Panel on Tuesday. On Wednesday Donna has CDC’s Grants & Concessions Panel in the day, then Ian, Mick, Val, Ali, Gareth and Andrew have STC’s Planning Committee in the evening.
You can watch meetings live: CDC and WSCC.
A new community exhibition celebrating the lives and stories of local LGBTQ+ individuals is opening at The Novium Museum in Chichester on February 1, developed in collaboration with Chichester Pride. Featuring personal stories, objects, and archival materials, ‘Out & Proud in Chichester’ celebrates the journey of Chichester Pride. Other upcoming events include the Vegan Market in the City between 10am and 4pm on January 26, two laser light shows at Petworth House on Saturday 15 February at 5.30pm and 6.45pm, and four further laser light shows on the 21st and 22nd in the Canal Basin, at 6pm and 7.30pm on both days.
I learnt this week that bananas may fare better if they are stored in the fridge -
Finally: -
As always, from the whole Team, stay safe.
Tim
Comments
Post a Comment