Newsletter 13/11/2023
13 November 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.
Planning
Remembrance Sunday
I would like to thank you for inviting me to join the Remembrance Sunday Parade and Service in East Grinstead yesterday. It was an honour and a privilege to represent the Lord Lieutenant of West Sussex, Lady Emma Barnard, at such an important and special event.
The service was extremely moving and it was wonderful to see not only everyone involved in the Parade, but also the residents of East Grinstead both young and old, come together to remember those that sacrificed their lives for our future.
I would be grateful if you could pass on my warmest thanks to everyone that made me feel so welcome especially the Parade Marshall, Flt Lt Hudson, and the Town Mayor, Cllr Visser, and to those that had meticulously planned the whole event and gave up their time to ensure it went so smoothly.
With thanks and best wishes,
Julia Aisbitt DL JP
Christmas Jumper Day – 7 December 2023
The town council will be signing up for Christmas Jumper day on Thursday 7th December. This is annual and in aid of Save the Children, please wear your jumper, take a pic and send to Sarah M so that we can add them to the newsletter. There will be a text code which we will share closer to the date. Thank you.
About Christmas Jumper Day 2023 | Save the Children
WSCC Active Travel Consultation
In March on behalf of WSCC, MSDC published a Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan (LCWIP). This focuses on our key population centres and areas of growth, identifying where the greatest benefit could be achieved through new and improved active travel infrastructure.
West Sussex County Council have now developed the County-wide LCWIP and Active Travel Strategy based on all the LCWIPs from across the County which addresses the longer, more strategic connecting active travel routes needed from 2023 to 2036. This has been published for consultation and is open, until 11.55pm on 15th November, for your comments and feedback on the routes they have identified as high priorities for the next decade.
This Council at its meeting in September agreed to write to the WSCC Leader emphasising this Council’s concerns over the lack of active travel networks between our towns.
Given the importance of active travel in achieving our commitments to net zero I would encourage all of us to respond to this consultation. Further information and the consultation survey are available on the WSCC website , where you will find the Active Travel Strategy and County wide LCWIP .
I would be extremely grateful if you could share this with you network to secure as much feedback as possible.
Louise Duffield – Director of Resources and Organisational Development Mid Sussex District Council
WSCC Budget 2024/25
WSCC Budget 2024/25 – find out more and have your say
Budget consultation survey link
MSDC Town and Parish Liaison Group
MSDC Cost of Living Report
Sussex Police and Crime Commissioner
Sussex Police & Crime Commissioner News
London Gatwick Annual Public Meeting
This year, London Gatwick’s Annual Public Meeting will take place on Wednesday 6 December, in the Ascot Suite of the Hilton Hotel at London Gatwick’s South Terminal. Welcome refreshments will be available from 13:30, with proceedings starting at 14:00. The annual meeting is an opportunity for members of the local community to hear more about the wider noise mitigation initiatives and operation of London Gatwick, and a chance to ask questions of industry partners. There will be noise monitor demonstrations, as well as the latest information on our newly opened STEM centre. Places are available on a first come first served basis. If you wish to attend, please email NMB@gatwickairport.com.
Gatcom News
Voter ID – Levelling-Up Committee Chair writes to Government on voter turnout concerns
Clive Betts, Chair of the Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (LUHC) Committee has today written to Baroness Scott of Bybrook OBE), Minister in the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities to raise concerns about the impact of the introduction of voter ID on some voters and on the capacity of local council electoral staff to manage the voter ID requirement (letter available here).
The Chair’s letter refers to figures from the Electoral Commission report which showed voter ID had a significant impact on some people’s ability to vote at the local elections in May 2023.
The Committee’s correspondence states that while the Electoral Commission’s post-poll report (published in September) noted 14,000 people were recorded as being unable to vote due to the requirement for voter ID, the Electoral Commission has warned they believe the actual number to be far greater.
The Electoral Commission’s initial analysis of the local elections found 4% of people did not vote as a result of the voter ID requirement. In correspondence on 12 September to the Committee, the Electoral Commission confirmed that based on the local election turnout figures, 4% of non-voters was equivalent to 740,000 people.
Clive Betts, Chair of the Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (LUHC) Committee, said: “The Electoral Commission have found that voter ID had a significant impact on some people’s ability to vote at the local elections in May. The Government needs to spell out how it will act on the Electoral Commission’s recommendations and the steps it will take to ensure the proportion of those unable to vote due to voter ID is not considerably higher at a future general election.
“It is particularly concerning that the Electoral Commission found unemployed voters and disabled voters were more likely to be unable to vote due to the voter ID requirement. The Government should set out what it will to do to change this and to ensure specific groups of individuals, including unemployed or disabled individuals, are not disproportionately impacted by this requirement in future elections.”
The Chair’s correspondence calls for the Government to confirm if it plans to expand forms of accepted ID. The letter also highlights concerns about the recruitment and retention of electoral staff, a long-standing problem but which, evidence suggests, has been exacerbated with the roll out of voter ID.
The Levelling Up Committee has been reviewing the implementation of voter ID in connection with the local elections as part of its inquiry into electoral registration.
The Council have been advised by MSDC that they have booked a separate room to deal with voter ID before the public get in to the polling station proper for next years police and crime commissioners election, when the general election is called this will require further discussion.
NALC News
The Kings Speech 2023
On Tuesday 7 November, during the State Opening of Parliament, His Majesty The King opened the 2023/24 Parliamentary session, setting out the Government’s legislative plan ahead of the next general election. The speech covered three key themes of strengthening society, growing the economy and keeping people safe, with 21 separate Bills announced. There are several areas of relevance to local government including proposed legislation on restricting the sale of tobacco and vaping products to young people, creating a legal framework for self-driving vehicles, supporting renters, and digitalising local traffic regulation orders. The legislative programme also includes proposals aimed at protecting public premises from terror attacks through the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Bill, also known as Martyn’s Law, which NALC wrote to the prime minister about last week. The government has also announced that ahead of introducing the Bill in Parliament, there will be a further consultation on the Standard Tier to ensure the Bill’s measures strike the right balance between public protection and avoiding undue burdens on smaller premises. This consultation is welcome as NALC’s written evidence to the Home Affairs Committee set out our concerns about the impact of the legislation on our councils. We will of course be responding to the consultation and engaging further with the government and Parliamentarians in both Houses on the Bill and wider legislative programme.
NALC briefing on the national salary pay scales
We have published a new employment briefing on the national salary pay scales for clerks and other employees who are employed under the terms of the model contract or Green Book terms. The briefing includes updated pay scales in line with the 2004 NALC and the Society of Local Council Clerks national agreement for the sector. These pay rates are applicable from 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2024. You can find the briefing under the Employment section of the Briefing webpage in the member’s area. If you have any queries, please contact your local county association.
NALC committee election voting is open!
County association representatives on NALC’s National Assembly can now vote for the vice-chair (member services) post and for NALC’s Management Board. We are also calling for all larger and smaller local (parish and town) councils to vote for the Larger Councils Committee and Smaller Councils Committee. This year, we are using the Single Transferable Vote system for all elections, and to vote, you will need to pre-register your council to vote. Those details will be submitted to UK Engage, and a voting link will be issued. Larger councils can find more information about the candidates for direct councillor and clerk vacancies and pre-register to vote on the NALC website. Smaller councils can find out more about the candidates for the three direct seats on the committee as well as pre-register to vote by visiting the NALC website. All councils must register by 20 November 2023, and voting will close on 22 November 2023, with results being announced at the National Assembly meeting on 29 November 2023. For any enquiries on the committee elections, please get in touch with NALC at nalccommittees@nalc.gov.uk.
Extra tickets were released for the sold-out funding event
We’ve released extra tickets for our sold-out online event on winning strategies for the funding game on 15 December 2023. This event aims to showcase these exceptions and provide information on why it makes sense from a funder’s perspective for local councils to be able to apply for such funds. You will hear from experts and local councils that have successfully secured grant funding. They will share their experiences and tips on navigating the current funding environment and increasing your chances of success. Please find out more and register your place for this event, and check out our other upcoming events.
On the blog: The Health Foundation
This week’s blog is from the Health Foundation. The blog provides recommendations for what councils can do to tackle food insecurity in their communities. Affording and accessing enough nutritious food to lead a healthy life should be possible for everyone, but this is not currently the case in the UK. Local government has a crucial role in building healthy, thriving communities. The building blocks are interconnected; any missing or weakened threaten the whole structure. Preventing food insecurity is an important cornerstone that will help shore up the health and resilience of everyone in a community. Read the blog to find out more!
Celebrating 75 years of the Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes Association of Local Councils
It was good to join colleagues from the Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes Association of Local Councils and local councils from across the county and city at their 75th anniversary event and Annual General Meeting on 1 November in Aylesbury. NALC’s head of policy and communications, Justin Griggs, joined the celebrations where he presented the Long Service Awards to Councillors at the Excellence Awards before giving a short speech which culminated in a toast to local councils and the continued development and support offered by the county association.
Local Government Strategy Forum
Our senior solicitor and legal manager, Jane Moore, attended the Local Government Strategy Forum in Cheshire between 1 and 3 November 2023. The packed event had a varied programme, including presentations and group sessions looking at improvement and more efficient ways of working across local government, particularly within budgetary constraints. The event also heard positive stories on housing regeneration projects and organisational transformation, including the use of digital technology, with high-level speakers from principal authorities across the country.
Swimming Pool Support Fund
Recipients of the Swimming Pool Support Fund were announced by the government this week. Local councils were eligible to apply via their principal council, which is why as part of our direct funding campaign I am keen to find out more about the sector’s engagement with this funding stream. We’ve already reached out to some local councils we are aware of that run a swimming pool, but please get in touch at policycomms@nalc.gov.uk.
National Network: Super councils
Our next national network meeting for Super Councils will take place on 15 November 2023. The agenda includes an update from officials from the Office for Local Government including their consultation on the next set of draft metrics, a presentation from Luke Trevaskis from Morecambe Town Council on lessons learned from their recent peer challenge, and NALC’s annual analysis report on local council precepts. They will also discuss a network survey designed to provide insight into the super councils and how they would like to shape the delivery of the network in the future. The meeting will also include an open forum where members can share best practices and issues they are facing and receive mutual support.
And finally…
Are you weather ready? The Met Office has recently launched its WeatherReady winter campaign, which focuses on weather challenges and tips for the public. Local councils can find a full range of resources in the Met Office’s online partner toolkit, including top tips in seven languages, social media posts, email signatures and printable posters.
Stakeholder Update Gatwick Airport Station
Rural Bulletin
Rural Bulletin 7 November 2023
Gatwick DCO Relevant Representation Process update
Following our News Flash Item on 29th October we have now heard from the Planning Inspectorate with their revised procedure for submitting a representation for the Gatwick DCO process.
Note particularly if you submitted your representation on the 29th by email as a result of the website failure then you must re-submit using the online form.
Important Update from the Planning Inspectorate
As you will be aware, due to a technical fault with the Planning Inspectorate’s online Relevant Representation form, users were not able to make submissions on the final day of the representation period. The fault has now been resolved, and we apologise for any inconvenience this caused.
As a result of the premature closure, the Applicant has extended the period for submission of Relevant Representations until 23:59 on Sunday 19 November 2023. You can submit a representation and register as an Interested Party by navigating to the project webpage of the National Infrastructure Planning website: https://infrastructure.planninginspectorate.gov.uk/projects/south-east/gatwick-airport-northern-runway/.
If you previously submitted a representation via email due to the website fault, you will need to resubmit this via the online form by the above deadline in order for it to be valid.
If you have already submitted a representation via the form, please do not resubmit it unless we have contacted you directly about your submission.
If you are unable to complete a registration form online and would like to register your interest, please call the helpline on: 0303 444 5000 to request a paper form. Please note the deadline above for receipt of the completed form by the Planning Inspectorate. For further advice please see Advice Note 8.2: How to register to participate in an Examination. You can also check our step by step guide to find out more about having your say about a national infrastructure project.
Gatwick Airport Northern Runway Project Case Team The Planning Inspectorate
Helpline: 0303 444 5000
Email: GatwickAirport@planninginspectorate.gov.uk
West Sussex County Council to appoint full-time Chief Executive
A full-time chief executive is to be recruited by West Sussex County Council as it concludes a highly successful local leadership partnership with its neighbour, East Sussex.
Becky Shaw has been chief executive of both West and East Sussex County Councils since January 2020, in an innovative partnership set up by their leaders Cllr Keith Glazier (East Sussex) and Cllr Paul Marshall (West Sussex).
The partnership has seen both councils thrive and deliver important services for the residents, businesses and communities of both counties which are now well run with strong, stable and transparent governance, management and business planning and ambitious to meet the priorities of the people they serve.
Given the importance of strengthening and deepening local relationships and the range of opportunities and challenges facing both councils, the councils have decided now is the right time to increase the senior officer capacity and for West Sussex to recruit a new chief executive, with Becky Shaw returning to East Sussex full time once the new person is in place.
The working relationships between the councils and with local partner organisations were strengthened during the pandemic and those strong foundations are helping the councils respond to the challenges of cost of living rises, recruitment and retention and the increased demands for council services.
The county councils will continue to work closely together supporting economic growth, promoting the Sussex visitor economy, working with the NHS, lobbying for the needs of East and West Sussex to be understood and met by Government and other bodies and making the very best use of resources.
Cllr Paul Marshall said: “West Sussex County Council is in good shape to face the significant challenges and uncertainties ahead and we are proud of all the team has achieved since 2020. We are grateful for the significant contribution Becky and the East Sussex team have made to West Sussex and we look forward to continuing to work in partnership once we have recruited a new chief executive.”
Cllr Keith Glazier said: “The local improvement partnership between us was the first of its kind between upper tier councils. It has been very effective and will continue to evolve. I know the timing is right for this next step with strong foundations and huge ambition and we look forward to carrying on working well together.”
Becky Shaw said “The role at West Sussex is a great opportunity for the right person to lead the officer team at the thriving and ambitious county council. It has been a huge privilege to work across both councils and I am very proud of all we have achieved. The teams in East and West Sussex share a huge ambition for local people, businesses and communities and I know will continue to go from strength to strength working closely together on common issues. I look forward to being part of it.”