Category: News

At Central and South Sussex Citizens Advice we continually review our services to ensure they meet the needs of our clients and stakeholders, and implement improvements.

In 2017 we will be making some changes to how we operate in West Sussex to ensure we remain viable, fit for the future, and competitive in delivering maximum value for money as a volunteer-led organisation.

We will be setting up a dedicated telephone and digital focused advice team based in our Advice Centre in Shoreham, to meet our clients’ increasing demand for getting advice in these ways. We will be able to support more clients from across West Sussex in the way that suits them, either digitally or face to face.

We will be moving our existing Lancing Advice Centre from the Parish Hall to a great location in the heart of the town at Lancing Library, on Tuesdays from April 2017, with scope to extend if we have local demand.

We have piloted a successful new triage approach in our Worthing Advice Centre which will be rolled out across all centres this year. This new approach enables more people get the advice when they need it as quickly as possible, the first time they contact us.

We will be changing our centre opening times in East Grinstead and Burgess Hill from four days per week to two days in each, opening on Tuesday and Thursday. This change reflects local client demand and contact patterns.

In 2017 we will review our service models and how we provide advice in all our areas of service delivery, to ensure we are meeting the changing needs of our clients and stakeholders for the future.

Take a look at our leaflet at the huge local impact we made in 2015/16. We expect the changes we’re making to allow us to maintain and improve our impact in the coming years.

With local elections taking place in just a few weeks, voters in Mid Sussex are being urged to make sure they are registered to vote and are able to take part on polling day.

On Thursday 4 May 2017 voters in Mid Sussex will go to the polls to elect representatives for West Sussex County Council. The Mid Sussex electoral area of the County Council is made up of 12 divisions, each of which is represented by a single elected Councillor.

The deadline to register to vote in these elections is Thursday 13 April 2017. Whilst there is still time, it’s running out quickly. Anyone who isn’t registered to vote won’t be able to take part. The good news is that it only takes a few minutes to register online at www.gov.uk/register-to-vote.

Tom Clark, Returning Officer for Mid Sussex District Council said:

“Anyone not yet registered to vote should do so as soon as possible so they can have their say on issues that affect their day-to-day lives in West Sussex area. It’s quick and easy to register, but after the deadline of 13 April, it will be too late.”

To find out more about the election, or get help registering to vote, please contact Electoral Services at Mid Sussex District Council on elections@midsussex.gov.uk or call 01444 477222.

2017 voters in Mid Sussex will go to the polls to elect representatives for West Sussex County Council. The Mid Sussex electoral area of the County Council is made up of 12 divisions, each of which is represented by a single elected Councillor.

The deadline to register to vote in these elections is Thursday 13 April 2017. Whilst there is still time, it’s running out quickly. Anyone who isn’t registered to vote won’t be able to take part. The good news is that it only takes a few minutes to register online at www.gov.uk/register-to-vote.

Tom Clark, Returning Officer for Mid Sussex District Council said:

“Anyone not yet registered to vote should do so as soon as possible so they can have their say on issues that affect their day-to-day lives in West Sussex area. It’s quick and easy to register, but after the deadline of 13 April, it will be too late.”

To find out more about the election, or get help registering to vote, please contact Electoral Services at Mid Sussex District Council on elections@midsussex.gov.uk or call 01444 477222.

People in East Grinstead can now start having a conversation about their adult social care needs in a new way.

From this week, people are being encouraged to have early conversations with West Sussex County Council about their adult social care needs.

The aim is to reach out to people in their communities to help support their independence and quality of life.

A multi-disciplinary team from the county council will be based in the local area where they can talk with people about their circumstances.

For more information call 01243 642121 or email socialcare@westsussex.gov.uk.

Peter Catchpole, Cabinet Member for Adult Services at West Sussex County Council, said: “We recognise people like to have these conversations closer to where they live.

“We want to meet people, their families and carers in local settings to talk about the support they need and we’ll help people make the best use of their strengths, including family and community networks.

“The new approach is also intended to provide greater continuity of contact with members of staff.”

East Grinstead is one of the first areas to trial the new approach.

A number of other areas are also trialling the new way of working. If it proves successful, a decision will be taken in the autumn about introducing the new approach across the county from January 2018.

Following the recent resignation of two Mid Sussex District Councillors, by-elections have been called. One to elect a Councillor to serve Burgess Hill Franklands Ward and the other to represent Bolney Ward. Both by-elections will be on Thursday 4 May, alongside the West Sussex County Council elections.

The by-elections only concern registered electors in the electoral areas of Burgess Hill Franklands and Bolney; residents living in other areas of Mid Sussex will not vote for District Councillors but will be eligible to vote in County Council elections being held on the same day.

Candidates for the by-elections are yet to be determined and any registered elector in Mid Sussex is eligible for nomination. Local residents have until 4pm on Tuesday 4 April 2017 to submit candidate nominations.

For questions regarding nominations, voter registration or the electoral process please contact Mid Sussex District Council Electoral Services team at elections@midsussex.gov.uk or by calling 01444 477003.

Information about being a Councillor is available from the Council’s website www.midsussex.gov.uk. Additional guidance about being an election candidate and the various election procedures is available online from the Electoral Commission at www.electoralcommission.org.uk.

Mid Sussex District Council is encouraging local people who want to make a difference in the community to consider standing for election as a County Councillor.

West Sussex County Council elections are being held on Thursday 4th May. Mid Sussex District Council runs all elections in the Mid Sussex area and is encouraging residents to find out more if they are considering standing for election as a County Councillor.

“Local councillors represent the views of local people and work to ensure that the interests of the community are taken into account,” said Tom Clark, Returning Officer for Mid Sussex. “You don’t have to be affiliated to a political party; politically neutral candidates can simply stand as an independent. All that is needed is a desire to make a difference and help to shape the future of the local community.”

Those looking for more information can find out more online at www.beacouncillor.co.uk/west-sussex. The website explains what councillors do, how councils work and what is expected of a councillor. There are answers to a range of frequently asked questions and other local Councillors explain why they chose to represent their local community.

Nominations for candidates open on Monday 27th of March and close on Tuesday 4th April at 4pm.

Any registered elector in West Sussex is eligible to stand for election in the 12 County Council divisions within the Mid Sussex area and candidates are not required to pay a deposit. However, anyone who intends to stand on behalf of a political party would need to be authorised by that party.

To find out more about the election, or get help on standing as a candidate, please contact Electoral Services at Mid Sussex District Council on elections@midsussex.gov.uk or call 01444 477222.