We’ve launched ‘Your Voice – The People’s Panel’, a way for West Sussex residents to have their say on a number of important county-wide issues.

Formerly known as the E-Panel, ‘Your Voice’ is a community of people who have volunteered to be consulted regularly about local matters, many of which may affect them.

Anyone who lives in West Sussex can sign-up.

Once registered, members will receive links to surveys, reports and outcomes, as well as links to other public surveys – allowing them to give their views, see the results and find out how their opinions impact key decisions. 

Please direct your communities to our website for further information.

You can also help encourage them to join by sharing the link to register.

Please be aware of a number of scam emails being circulated recently. Senders may appear to be from local government email addresses or other organisations you have a relationship with. Recent emails have included requests to Parish Councils to approve invoices appearing to be from Local Councillors.

There may be a link within the email, or an attachment. Do not click on or open these. Some will lead to a phishing site which will ask for credit card details and security information. Other emails may look to install malware on your machine.

Please take the time to verify the sender. If in doubt, contact the person or organisation the email claims to have been sent by ... better safe than sorry.

Tips to help spot if an email is genuine or not:

• The sender’s email address may be different from the trusted organisation’s website address.
• The email may be sent from a completely different address or a free webmail address.
• The email may not use your proper name, but a non-specific greeting such as “Dear customer.”
• A sense of urgency; for example the threat that unless you act immediately your account may be closed.
• A request for personal information such as username, password or bank details.
• You weren't expecting to get an email from the organisation that appears to have sent it.

Other email top tips:

• Do not follow links from unknown or untrusted sources
• Be careful about what personal information you share
• Do not reply to posts or email messages when asking for personal information
• Do not send sensitive information through email
• Log out when you are finished

Further advice can be found here and here.

West Sussex Fire & Rescue Service is offering free electric blanket testing to help keep residents safe from fire, by identifying electric blankets which pose a potential fire risk.

The Fire Service's expert team will check blankets for any weaknesses in the structure and any abnormalities with the electric current when the blanket is switched on.

The free testing sessions will be held at selected venues across the county from Monday 2nd to Tuesday 31st October.

Elderly members of the community, and those with mobility issues, can be especially vulnerable so we’re urging everyone who uses an electric blanket to take up the offer of a free test.

Booking is strictly by appointment only and slots will be offered on a first come first served basis.

Please support this life-saving cause and urge your communities to book their place. To do so, residents need to call our Fire Safety Team on 0845 872 9719.

This is a final reminder that the date to receive completed audits together with a copy of your latest Community Winter Maintenance Plan is Monday 4th September 2017 which is less than a week away.

Farmer/Contractor financial contribution:

If you have a Farmer/Contractor supporting your plan who is wishing to claim a financial contribution from WSCC towards the cost of work the following MUST be provided by the 4th September.

• A plan showing the roads that Farmer/Contractor will be covering.
• Farmer / Contractor details and contact information.
• Email addresses for 2 key contacts that will receive the winter trigger information – one of whom should be the Farmer/Contractor.
• A valid Public Liability Insurance (PLI) document for the Farmer/Contractor.

For any audits received after 4th September, we will be unable to organise refilling or topping up your salt supplies.

The relevant documentation and completed audits need to be emailed to active.communities@westsussex.gov.uk.

Operation Watershed has made £500,000 available for 2017/18 to help communities protect themselves against the risks of surface water and ground water flooding. The fund looks to support people in their local communities who want to work with the County Council to become more prepared for floods and help reduce the likelihood of flooding caused by surface water or ground water.

Applications include highway drainage, schemes to protect properties, drainage investigations, river bank improvements and volunteer equipment.

Groups in Horsham received £38,942

Itchingfield Parish Council =£38,942

More applications and enquiries are now flooding in as Parish & Town Councils and Community Groups continue to engage with the fund.

If you have an idea for a scheme to help your community, and it has wider support, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us and we can start discussing it. 

For more information click here or email operation.watershed@westsussex.gov.uk

The County Council’s Fostering Recruitment Team is undergoing significant investment, with a recruitment drive underway to assess and approve more foster carers than ever this year. We are looking for people from all backgrounds and with a range of life experience with the desire to make a difference for a child or teenager. There is currently a particular need to recruit foster carers from ethnic minority backgrounds and people who can support a parent and child (often a young mum) in a specialist placement, which offers an enhanced allowance and support package.

A series of information sessions will be taking place across the county, allowing people thinking about fostering to come and find out more. Details of the events can be found here and we would be most grateful if you can publicise upcoming events on your website. If you would like a supply of leaflets or to host an event then please contact Lisa Cole at Lisa.Cole@westsussex.gov.uk   or Tel: 0330 222 8949