Author: Andrew Taylor

Mid Sussex District Council has written to local residents to ask them to confirm their details on the 2020-21 electoral register.

Each year, everyone in the UK must confirm their electoral registration details are up-to-date by responding to the annual electoral canvass. This information is then used to ensure the electoral register is accurate.

This year, the annual electoral canvass has changed. Under the new system, data held on the Electoral Register for each household is matched against the information on the Department of Work and Pensions database to check data is correct before households are contacted. Depending on the result of the match, properties are contacted in a variety of different ways.

As a result, some residents will shortly receive a form in the post with information about how to confirm their details on the electoral register. If required to respond, people are encouraged to do so by telephone, text message or online because this is by far the quickest and most convenient method.

By using digital channels, all information is processed instantly and effectively, there’s no chance of the form being lost in the post and it’s environmentally friendly. It also provides taxpayers with savings when compared with the cost of posting back the form.

Tom Clark, Returning Officer for Mid Sussex said:

“Elections can be called at short notice so it’s vital that everyone responds to this canvass and makes sure that their details are correct on the electoral register.

“We want to help the residents of Mid Sussex to have their say and maintain their democratic rights. Logging details with another council department does not automatically entitle you to vote because details must be entered onto the Electoral Register separately.

“Registering to vote only takes a few minutes. Make sure you don’t miss your opportunity to vote by responding promptly when contacted.”

For more information about the electoral canvass visit www.midsussex.gov.uk/elections-voting/annual-canvass/registering. To contact the Mid Sussex District Council Electoral Services team email elections@midsussex.gov.uk or call 01444 477003.

Mid Sussex District Council has approved a draft Site Allocations Development Plan for one final public consultation before it is submitted to the Government for public examination.

The Council has produced a final version of the draft Site Allocations Development Plan, which sets out how to meet the District’s outstanding housing and employment needs up to 2031. There will now be an eight-week public consultation from 3 August 2020 to allow people to comment on the plan.

The Mid Sussex District Plan 2014-2031, which was adopted in March 2018, sets out in broad terms what, where, when and how development will take place in Mid Sussex up until 2031. Whilst the majority of development sites are already planned for in the District Plan, the Planning Inspector required the Council to identify more sites to ensure the housing and employment needs of the District are met.

The draft Site Allocations Development Plan Document addresses that requirement and recommends 22 housing and 7 employment sites at locations across Mid Sussex, plus a Science and Technology Park.

Following the public consultation, the draft Site Allocations Development Plan Document will be submitted to the Secretary of State for examination by an Independent Planning Inspector.

Councillor Andrew MacNaughton, Cabinet Member for Housing and Planning said:

“The preparation of this draft Site Allocations Development Plan Document is one of the final steps we must take to finish our work on the 2014-2031 District Plan.

“Strategic plans like this are really important because they show that Mid Sussex can meet the future housing needs of our District. Once agreed this protects our District from speculative unplanned developments put forward by developers.

“The consultation starts on 3 August and I encourage as many people as possible to read the proposals set out in the Site Allocations Development Plan Document. If you have any comments to make about the plan, please submit them to us and we will send them to the Independent Planning Inspector for consideration as part of the public examination.”

The annual election canvass starts in Mid Sussex on Monday 13 July and a new system will be used across the UK for the very first time.

Each year, everyone in the UK must confirm their electoral registration details are up-to-date by responding to the annual electoral canvass. This information is then used to ensure the electoral register is accurate.

Under the new system introduced this year, data held on the Electoral Register for each household is matched against the information on the Department of Work and Pensions database to check data is correct before households are contacted.

Residents who have provided the council with their email address details or mobile telephone number will be contacted by email or SMS on or around Monday 13 July and asked to confirm their details within 7 days. If the council holds no contact details, or a household fails to respond within 7 days, a letter will be issued by post asking them to confirm their details.

Should the information on the electoral register fail to match with the Department of Work and Pension records, the household will receive an electoral registration form in the post at the end of July.

Tom Clark, Returning Officer for Mid Sussex said:

“Residents will shortly receive either an email or postal form with information about how to confirm their details on the electoral register.

“I urge everyone to respond by telephone, text message or online because this is by far the quickest and most most convenient way to respond.  By using these digital channels, all information is processed instantly and effectively, there’s no chance of the form being lost in the post and it’s environmentally friendly. It also provides taxpayers with savings when compared with the cost of posting back the form.

“The annual canvass must be held by law once a year and everyone must respond, even if you have recently registered or have been registered for many years. Make sure you don’t miss your opportunity to vote by responding promptly when contacted.”

For more information about registering to vote or elections contact the Mid Sussex District Council Electoral Services team by emailing elections@midsussex.gov.uk or calling 01444 477003.

Following the great success of the first Mid Sussex Applauds Awards last year, nominations are now open for 2020. The Awards aim to highlight the fantastic work of individuals and organisations across the district.

Through each of the eight categories the Awards seek to recognise our connections and celebrate our community. With categories ranging from young achievers to green champions, those who help support active lifestyles and who work to bring communities together, we hope to highlight all our community VIPs.  The categories are:

Good Sport Award – a club or individual who has made an outstanding contribution to supporting activity or sport in Mid Sussex

Young Volunteer of the year – recognising those young people who have made a difference in their local community

Stronger Communities – a community group or organisation that has helped to bring together cultures and communities through a local project or community activity

Young Achiever Award – against all the odds, someone who has overcome significant obstacles and made a positive difference to their own lives or to other young people through education, campaigning or helping another overcome a difficult situation or personal problem

Take Pride in Mid Sussex – This award will recognise residents who dedicate their time and energy into keeping Mid Sussex clean and green, take pride in their local area by creating community gardens, painting local spaces, upcycling or encouraging others to recycle.

Business in the Community Award – recognising a business which supports or makes a positive contribution to benefit and enhance community life

Lifetime Achievement Award – an individual who has made a substantial commitment to the community in their lifetime

Stronger Together – an individual who has helped to bring together cultures and communities through a local project or community activity

Mid Sussex District Council Chairman Councillor Colin Trumble commented, “2020 has been an exceptionally challenging year for all in the community. I have been extremely impressed at the way organisations and individuals have risen to those challenges giving vital support, especially to those most in need. I have also been impressed by the way businesses have very swiftly adapted to the new environment and continued to give help to their communities. Yet, while the response to recent challenges has been magnificent, I am so pleased that people and organisations have continued to do the charity and support work they always do. Unquestionably, this shows we have a strong community in Mid Sussex of which we should feel proud and for which we should feel grateful.

“I know there will be many individuals, groups and organisations we will want to thank and recognise so please send in your nominations for this year’s Mid Sussex Applauds Awards so we can celebrate their achievements and tell their stories.”

Residents are encouraged to take part in the straightforward nomination process which will be open until 18th September. Just visit www.midsussex.gov.uk/applauds for details of how to nominate.

The hugely popular Mid Sussex Play Days have moved to a new stage for summer 2020 – with performers beaming into homes across the district to provide fun and entertainment.

Last year thousands of people enjoyed the free Play Day activities in towns and villages throughout the District. However, due to the current Covid guidelines it is not possible to gather for such large-scale events, so another solution had to be found.

Working alongside performers and event organisers Mid Sussex District Council has organised puppetry, sport and circus entertainment for the under 10s on each day of the summer holidays from 20^th July. Weekly sessions for over 10s will incude DJ workshops, graffiti art and dance sessions.

“Play is vital to the physical and mental health of children and families and indeed everyone. This is increasingly the case and recent months have reminded us of the importance of our parks and open spaces, and time spent together with friends and family. When it became clear that we couldn’t proceed with our traditional Play Days programme, we knew we had to rethink our approach,” said Councillor Webster, Cabinet Member for Community.

“At the best of times it is a challenge to keep children entertained over the summer holidays but this year there are restrictions which are likely to make this even more tricky. Many of the performers previously involved in Play Days were really keen to help out and we have created a varied programme which we hope will go some way to helping with a mix of entertainment, ideas for activities, and fun that may start online but will, we hope, provide inspiration for many more inside and outdoor activities.”

Parents and carers are urged to visit www.midsussex.gov.uk/playdays to sign up for emails about the programme coming up. The link from there will contain new content every weekday at 11am.

For more information contact Sally Blackmore, Mid Sussex District Community Engagement and Events Officer or email communityservices@midsussex.gov.uk.