Newsletter 09/03/2023
9 March 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.
Council funding for Coronation celebrations
Mid Sussex District Council is making £20,000 available to local community groups and voluntary organisations to help Mid Sussex residents celebrate the Coronation of His Majesty King Charles III.
People across the country and the Commonwealth will celebrate the Coronation of His Majesty The King and Her Majesty The Queen Consort over a weekend of special events on 6-8 May.
The extended Bank Holiday provides an opportunity for communities to come together to mark the historic event and Mid Sussex District Council has created a special grant fund of £20,000 to support and facilitate community parties and events within the district.
The funding will help non-profit making community and voluntary organisations with the cost of celebrations on The King’s Coronation Weekend. The Council is promoting the fund through the Voluntary Sector Network and organisations can apply online on the Council’s dedicated Coronation page www.midsussex.gov.uk/the-coronation/
The deadline to apply for this one-off grant is 5pm on 31 March 2023.
Councillor Norman Webster, Cabinet Member for Community said:
“The coronation of a new monarch is a significant moment in our history and many people in the UK and across the Commonwealth will be keen to celebrate.
“We’re supporting people in Mid Sussex by providing one-off grants to help local people get community events up and running.
“Street parties are always a popular way to celebrate but His Majesty The King is also inviting neighbours and communities to share food and fun together as part of The Coronation Big Lunch on Sunday 7 May.
“The Coronation will be a wonderful time to celebrate with friends, family and neighbours but it also provides an opportunity to give something back to the community. The Big Help Out on Monday 8 May encourages people to try volunteering and join the work being undertaken to support their local areas on Monday 8 May.
“Whatever you choose to do, we are here to support you, especially if your event demonstrates a clear benefit to the local community. If you’d like to apply for support, please do so as soon as possible because applications close at the end of this month.”
For more information about the Coronation Community grant fund please email culture@midsussex.gov.uk
ENDS
Unseen Deadly Danger
West Sussex Trading Standards are reminding residents to be careful when buying electrical products online. The safety warning comes after a person suffered a serious electric shock from the metal casing of a device bought on Amazon.
The device, a PoE (Power over Ethernet) switch, was supplied with a standard three-pin cable, commonly referred to as a ‘kettle lead’. A sample lead was found to have the earth wire connected to the live pin, meaning the metal casing of the PoE device became live when plugged in.
“The danger of this power lead was hidden inside a moulded plug, and it was inevitable the user would receive an electric shock,” said Peter Aston, Trading Standards Team Manager. “It’s only as a result of luck the reported accident didn’t result in a fatality; although the resident is suffering long term nerve pain and remains under medical investigation.”
The power lead was also fitted with an unsafe fuse which could have resulted in injury or fire. Trading Standards Officers took immediate steps to ensure these items were removed from sale and a product recall was undertaken.
Investigations found that the seller was based in China. “Our advice for anyone purchasing electrical products or power leads is to buy them from a reputable business in the UK”, said Peter Aston. “Exercise care when buying something online that appears to be a particular bargain.”
Duncan Crow, West Sussex County Council Cabinet Member for Community Support, Fire and Rescue, said: “The dangerous nature of this product is thankfully not something our Trading Standards Officers come across often, but the unseen deadly risk it posed is of great concern.”
If you live in West Sussex and have bought an unsafe electrical product, you can let Trading Standards know by calling Citizens’ Advice Consumer Service on 03454 040506 or by going online to. www.westsussex.gov.uk/tsreport
Notes to Editors
Power over Ethernet (PoE) systems allow electricity to pass along Ethernet cabling. A single cable can therefore provide both a data connection and a small electrical supply, sufficient to power and operate a number of CCTV cameras or similar devices.
Recall details can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/product-safety-alerts-reports-recalls/product-recall-nicgiga-11-port-gigabit-poe-switch-2301-0164
ENDS
Chief executive’s bulletin
New NALC cost-of-living support webpage
Our new cost-of-living support webpage was launched this week to help local (parish and town) councils support their communities through the cost-of-living crisis. The webpage provides valuable resources, practical advice, and examples of local councils demonstrating good practices to support their community.
Localis essay collection on local government finance
Ahead of the forthcoming March Budget, the think tank Localis has asked some of the major players from the local government family, experts, and academics, to set out their thoughts, views and hopes for local government finance in the next political cycle. I’m delighted to be among the contributors to Moving through the gears, an essay collection covering perspectives on what the future could, should and might be for local government finance. In my essay, I talk about how local councils are often overlooked when it comes to local government finance, how they are changing and doing more and are an increasingly important cog in the council finance wheel, and what 2030 could look like through the lens of the fictitious Flowers on the River Community Council. Do check it out.
DCMS Coronation website
The Department for Culture, Media, and Sport (DCMS) recently launched a Coronation website which includes information for getting involved, a toolkit including templates and a Coronation playlist, and a form for submitting events. DCMS will upload social media materials to the Coronation website from 6 March 2023. The toolkit page currently has links to the Coronation Emblem guidelines, recipes, and a playlist, but it will have more from the beginning of March, including any official images. You can find all this information on NALC’s dedicated Coronation webpage.
On the blog: BHIB Councils Insurance on Coronation events
Staying on the King’s Coronation theme, this week’s blog is written by Lee Cleaver from NALC’s partner BHIB Councils Insurance. With King Charles III’s Coronation coming up on 6 May 2023, he explains the importance of conducting risk assessments in your local council to ensure Coronation events are planned and conducted safely. Check it out and let us know what you are doing to celebrate the historic occasion of the King’s Coronation at policycomms@nalc.gov.uk.
Top 10 communications tips for local councils
NALC’s communications and community engagement partners, Breakthrough Communications, have published their top 10 tips for local (parish and town) council communications in 2023. Discover strategies and tactics to make your council’s communications more effective over the coming year!
NALC National Network: Young councillors
Are you a young councillor? Do you want to connect with other young councillors from across the country? Would you find mutual support from other young councillors helpful? Are you keen on sharing learning and good practice? Interested in getting involved in NALC’s work and campaigns? Then NALC’s National Network: Young councillors is for you! You can join the network here and the next meeting is on 8 March, with the agenda including councillor training and an open forum.
And finally…
Today we are holding Standards Matter, our first in-person event since October 2019, on the important standards theme. I know that all the councils, county associations, NALC partners, speakers, and exhibitors joining us in London have been looking forward to returning together after all this time! A quick early thanks to everyone who joined us, plus our event sponsors BHIB Councils Insurance, Blachere Illumination and CCLA, for helping make it happen – I’ll provide a further update in my bulletin next week, so do look out for that!
Council includes significant investments in 2023/24 budget
Mid Sussex District Council (MSDC) approved its Corporate Plan and Budget for 2023/24 at a meeting of Full Council on Wednesday 1 March 2023.
The current high levels of inflation present considerable financial challenges for the public sector, just as they do for private businesses and household budgets. Mid Sussex District Council has worked hard to maintain financial stability and attract investment into the District; a prudent financial approach that has helped to protect frontline services, fund ambitious new projects and maintain one of the lowest levels of Council Tax in Sussex.
Each year the Council sets out how it will deliver its services and use its financial resources over the next 12 months. The plan is created in line with the Council’s key priorities; to provide effective and responsive services, create sustainable economic growth, deliver strong and resilient communities, and maintain financial independence.
In 2023/24 Mid Sussex District Council will continue to progress several key investment projects including, improvements in four major parks and play areas, the delivery of more temporary housing and construction of a new Centre for Outdoor Sports to the west of Burgess Hill.
The Council will invest in the expansion of its kerbside garden waste collections subscription service, enabling more people to conveniently recycle their green waste. There is currently a waiting list for the popular service and investment would enable an additional 7,500 residents to benefit from fortnightly garden waste collections. The capacity of the bulky waste service will also be increased, helping to tackle fly-tipping.
The budget includes increases to some fees and charges to help offset the rising cost of providing Council services. Council Tax will increase by 2.75%, which is £4.95 for an average Band D property, but which is a lower increase than permitted by the Government’s cap.
Councillor Jonathan Ash-Edwards, Leader of Mid Sussex District Council said:
“The past few years have been extremely tough financially, with first the Covid-19 pandemic and now the inflationary shock having a significant impact on all organisations, not just local Government.
“Our council has spent millions of pounds since 2020 to keep our key services going, particularly our much-valued leisure centres. However, now is a time we can be positive about the future because, through careful decision making and sound financial management, this is the first budget post covid where we’re not having to draw on reserves to support our day-to-day work.
“We are delivering a budget where Council Tax rises by less than the Government’s cap, that includes additional support for people on low incomes and continues to invest in our local services.
“This year we’re investing in our waste and recycling service by increasing the number our bulky and garden waste collections we provide for our residents. We are also helping people who fall on hard times to get back on their feet through our homelessness prevention work and by building new temporary accommodation at Swan Mead in East Grinstead.
“Work to build our new Centre for Outdoor Sport in Burgess Hill is due to start later this year. It represents the biggest investment in outdoor sports for a generation and will deliver modern community sports facilities for the whole community to enjoy.
“Finally, we will be working to improve our flagship parks across the district. These beautiful open spaces in the heart of our communities mean so much to local people and we are investing in their future to ensure they remain a wonderful place for our residents to visit.
“I’m delighted that the budget was unanimously approved by Councillors on a cross-party basis.”
ENDS
East Grinstead Choral Society
Big Town Clean Up
Details of the Big Town Clean Up organised by East Grinstead Town Action Group are below:
