Newsletter 19/01/2023
19 January 2023
Please note: this news article is in our archive. Articles were correct at time of publication, but should not be relied on for accuracy after the passage of time.
News from Ashdown Forest
Defibrillator at the Forest Centre
Thanks to kind donations from East Grinstead Memorial Estate and The Friends of Ashdown Forest a public access defibrillator has been installed at the Forest Centre car park. The defibrillator is registered with The Circuit, which maps defibrillators across the UK so in the event they are required they can be accessed quickly.
Lloyd Richards, Chair of East Grinstead Memorial Estate, said “We are delighted to help fund this vital piece of equipment”.
Pat Arnold, Chair of The Friends of Ashdown Forest, added that it was a “great reassurance to have a defibrillator available to visitors of the Forest.”
Winter Works:
This winter contractors have been commissioned to remove scrub and gorse in various locations across the Forest. The main areas include at Bunkers Hill, at the Crow and Gate area of King’s Standing, Hindleap, along the A275 near Reservoir car park, Vachery Drive and Greenwood Gate. This work is funded by the Countryside Stewardship Scheme.
The contractors are very experienced and ecologically sensitive, making sure that during the works all measures will be taken to avoid any unnecessary wildlife disturbance.
For everyone’s health and safety, please follow any warning signs/instructions and keep dogs under close control whilst these works are being undertaken. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.
- Why are we removing scrub?
Scrub is very important habitat for birds and invertebrates, but unfortunately without appropriate management, it will invade the heathland having a detrimental effect leading to the complete loss of this open habitat.
- What about the wildlife that use the scrub?
We are undertaking this works during the winter, so not to impact on any nesting birds. Despite a large amount of scrub being removed from this area, there is an abundance of suitable habitat for wildlife to take refuge nearby and in the surrounding heathland.
Grazing Enclosures:
The three Exmoor pony enclosures are next to the Old Airstrip just off Long Car Park, at Crown of Thorns near Reservoir car park and at Jumpers near Chuck Hatch Lane. They will be there until spring. Please keep dogs under close control in.
For more information about grazing and to see a map of all the current Forest grazing locations, visit https://ashdownforest.org/grazing/
Ashdown Forest Commoners Annual Meeting – 3rd March 2023, 7:30pm
The Ashdown Forest Commoners Annual Meeting will be held at Nutley Memorial Hall. This meeting is for Commoners of Ashdown Forest only. Please visit our website https://ashdownforest.org/forest-governance/ for information about the election of the Commoner Conservators.
Upcoming Events:
Information and booking details about all our events can be found on our website www.ashdownforest.org/events
- Wednesday 15th February (morning) Outdoor Explorer (5 years and above)
- Wednesday 15th February (afternoon) Charcoal Pencils and trees (7 years and above)
- Sunday 19th February – Ashdown Forest Youth Volunteer Group
- Monday 20th February – Ashdown Forest Mini-Explorers Toddler Group
Check our events page for details of more February Half-term activities.
Lead Warden – Kari Dunbar
Kari Dunbar has joined the Ashdown Forest Team as Lead Warden to deliver the SAMMS project. This is a new role funded by Wealden District Council through developer contributions, supporting the protection and enhancement of Ashdown Forest Special Protection Area (SPA), focusing particularly on protected ground nesting birds such as the Dartford Warblers and Nightjars. Kari’s role will involve working closely with visitors, raising awareness of these fascinating birds and promoting wildlife-friendly use of the forest whilst ensuring that the forest can be enjoyed by everyone, including the wildlife that calls it home, now and in the future. Kari is based in the Forest Centre but will be spending as much time as possible out and about getting to know the Forest and all the different groups who use it – please give her a wave and introduce yourself if you see her.
Car Park Refreshment Tenders – Closing Date 3rd February
We are once again looking to invite applications from individual ice cream concessions and mobile refreshment concessions (i.e. tea and coffee vans) for a period of one year, commencing 01 March 2023 and terminating 29 February 2024.
We particularly welcome applications from clean air/solar power and other zero-emissions vehicles with sustainable mobility credentials.
Closing date for applications – Friday 03 February 2023.
Further information and an application form are on our website ashdownforest.org/refreshment-tender-2023/
Forest Office
The Forest Office has relocated to the Visitor Centre. The Visitor Centre will now be open daily from 10am until 4pm (on occasions it might be closed if there is a shortage of staff and no volunteer cover). If you have an appointment to see a member of staff, please report to the Visitor Centre on arrival.
Chief executive’s bulletin – NALC
Happy New Year!
As this is my first weekly bulletin of 2023, I’d like to wish you all a Happy New Year. I also want to congratulate all those in local government recognised in the New Year Honours List. Among those who received an honour were Councillor Roger Atterwill from Swanton and Morley Parish Council in Norfolk, Cllr Brian Woodward from Maulden Parish Council in Bedfordshire, and Zulqarnain Aslam from Wellingborough Town Council in Northamptonshire – well done!
NALC chair’s open letter to all councillors
In case you missed it before Christmas, NALC’s chair, Cllr Keith Stevens, has penned an open letter to all councillors. He reflected on the year gone — the challenges we’ve faced as a sector and thanked local (parish and town) councils for continuing to step up. From our part in the COVID-19 response, showing our solidarity for Ukraine and our crucial role in supporting Operation London Bridge and subsequent local events after the news of the late Queen’s death, to helping our communities deal with the cost-of-living crisis and tackling the climate emergency. Keith also sets out his priorities for the year ahead and highlights the importance of working together and not in isolation to help build stronger communities.
Standards Matter conference — 3 March 2023
I’m delighted to kick the year off by announcing that our Standards Matter conference will take place on 3 March 2023 in London. This is an in-person event at the America Square Conference Centre in London, which you may recall was the original venue for the Empowering Communities event, which was held online due to train strikes. Our first in-person event since 2019 will focus on the never-more important issue of standards, including issues such as good governance, civility and respect, training and development, and continuous improvement. There will be opportunities to put your questions to our expert panellists and speakers, visit the sector-specific exhibition, network and share good practices, and participate in The Big Debate. Places are limited, so I would encourage you to book quickly to avoid missing out!
Upcoming online events
NALC’s regular monthly online events programme continues to be popular with dynamic, hard-hitting topics right up the street of local councils. We recently added three new online events: community engagement on 25 January, social isolation and loneliness on 22 February, and emergency planning on 29 March. Come to the January event to hear how to engage residents, which methods to use, and how to involve people in local council decisions. The February online event will show you how local councils can connect socially isolated people with practical and emotional community support. And the March online event will provide top tips on community resilience planning and what your local council can do to help. Find out more about these events and register your place.
Management Board away day
NALC’s Management Board met face-to-face with senior staff this week at the London office of our partner CCLA. This was the first informal meeting of 2023. We used the session to reflect on progress with delivering our vision and strategic aims, key issues and priorities over the next few years and several internal management issues, including the future of our London office.
Meeting dates for 2023
Staying on the subject of NALC meetings, our National Assembly agreed upon the calendar of meetings and events for 2023 in December which is now available to download on our website. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to get in touch with Farhana Miah at nalccommittees@nalc.gov.uk.
Fortnightly meeting with county officers
This week’s meeting between county officers and NALC covered many topics. These included relationships with principal councils, engagement with the Local Government Boundary Commission for England, the Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill and forthcoming legislation known as Martyn’s Law to ensure more robust protections against terrorism in public places. We also highlighted an invitation from the Local Government Association for applications to participate in the Innovation Zone at their annual conference in July.
Informal National Assembly meeting on the King’s Coronation
On 17 January, we are holding an informal online meeting of the National Assembly on the King’s Coronation. This meeting is open to anyone, and through the group discussion, we’re looking forward to hearing about experiences from councils of planning for this momentous occasion. We’ll also hear from Pageantmaster Bruno Peek CVO OBE OPR, one of Britain’s leading event organisers who masterminded some of this country’s most memorable celebrations, including spectacular events for The Queen’s Golden and Diamond Jubilees. The meeting will take place from 18.00 – 19.00, and you can book a place here.
Local Council Award Scheme
Congratulations to the latest local councils for being accredited under the Local Council Award Scheme (LCAS). LCAS celebrates the best of local councils, helps them develop their potential, and recognises that they are well-run and meet the required standards. The latest councils accredited at the Quality Gold level are Haydon Wick Parish Council, Wiltshire, Hawthorn Parish Council, County Durham and Malton Town Council, North Yorkshire. The Quality level has been awarded to Tolleshunt D’Arcy Parish Council, Essex and Great Notley Parish Council, Essex. And at the Foundation level are Eynsham Parish Council, Oxfordshire, Meopham Parish Council, Kent, Selling Parish Council, Kent, Market Rasen Town Council, Lincolnshire and Little Waltham Parish Council, Essex. Well done to everyone involved! You can find out more about the scheme and how to apply on the NALC website.
New publication on digital mapping systems
Working with our colleagues at Parish Online, we have released a new publication on digital mapping systems for local councils. The management of local councils can often involve various geographic tasks, and this publication provides a checklist of the many things every local council should be able to do using the vast array of digital mapping data that is freely available. You can read more in our news story here.
Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill
The Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill continues its passage through Parliament next week with its Second Reading in the House of Lords. Ahead of this debate, NALC’s president, Baroness Scott of Needham Market, hosted a well-attended Peers briefing this week where we could highlight NALC’s key issues, implications for local councils, and areas of concern. You can read more in our parliamentary briefing.
NALC National Network: LGBT+ councillors
Our online network series aims to connect local councils and councillors from across the country around shared interests and groups, engage groups around NALC’s work and campaigns, provide mutual support, and share learning and good practice. The NALC National Network: LGBT+ councillors get the year underway on 17 January – if you haven’t joined the network and would like to attend, you can sign up here.
And finally…
Throughout the year, you can stay up-to-date on all our work on your behalf via our website and social media channels (Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube) and by subscribing to our mailing list to receive our newsletters and weekly bulletins. Please share this widely and encourage others, such as councillors, to follow us and subscribe too!
Reforms to National Planning Policy
GATCOM Weekly News Bulletin
Landslip at Lingfield
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NALC newsletter
Standards Matter in-person event
NALC will hold its first in-person conference since 2019 on why professional standards and ethics matter in London on 3 March 2023.
New event on emergency planning
NALC has added a new online event on emergency planning, which takes place on 29 March 2023.
New digital mapping publication
NALC and Parish Online have released a new publication on digital mapping systems for local (parish and town) councils.
Civility and Respect Project
The Civility and Respect Project has backed an Early Day Motion on intimidation in community, parish and town councils, tabled by Dr Julian Lewis MP.
Blog: Stone Parish Council
Stone Parish Council outline how they received a Local Council Award Scheme Quality Award and provide tips for councils considering applying.
Policy Committee
Agenda papers for the Policy Committee meeting on 24 January 2023 are now available — view the agenda.
International Women’s Day
Send us your videos for International Women’s Day
NALC will celebrate International Women’s Day on 8 March 2023, a global day celebrating women’s social, economic, cultural, and political achievements.
NALC would like to make a video to showcase women’s achievements in the local council sector to celebrate International Women’s Day and encourage more women to stand as councillors. We want as many women as possible from the sector to participate and send a video following the instructions below.
- The video should be around 10 to 15 seconds long
- Look at the camera and say:
- Your name and your organisation (e.g. I’m Cllr Jane Doe of Example Town Council)
- Share an achievement while being a councillor — this can be an achievement for women’s rights or something more general (e.g. as a councillor, I have helped set up food banks in my local council)
- The video should be filmed in landscape (holding your phone sideways)
- Record as many takes as you need
By showcasing women’s achievements in the local council sector, we hope to inspire more women to stand as councillors.
Please send your videos to daisy.petrow@nalc.gov.uk or 07496 415 361 by 28 February 2023.
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A note from Regional Director of Nationwide Building Society
From Monday 17 April our East Grinstead branch at 82 London Road will be:
- Open to provide face-to-face service on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.
- Closed on Monday and Friday.