Your Town and Parish Council News for July

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Issue 4 | July 2019


West Sussex Fire & Rescue Service badge

Fire service inspection report is published

On 20 June 2019, Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services (HMICFRS) published its inspection report for West Sussex Fire & Rescue Service (WSFRS).

This was one of 16 fire and rescue services which had been inspected as part of the second tranche of HMICFRS inspections nationally.

You can read the county council’s response to the inspection report here.

The inspection report and improvement plan will be subject to scrutiny at a special meeting of the Environment, Communities and Fire Select Committee on 10 July 2019 at 10.30am.


experience west sussex

Vacation or Staycation? Summer holidays survey to local residents

We think West Sussex has a fantastic range of tourist attractions and leisure pursuits to keep all our residents busy during the summer months. Do you agree? Are you planning a staycation this summer or heading further afield?  

We'd like as many residents as possible to take five minutes to complete our survey and let us know their summer plans and views on local tourism.

We’ll share the results with our tourism and leisure partners to help meet the needs of local residents during the summer. As the sector is worth around £1 billion to the local economy it’s a major industry providing thousands of jobs to local people.

Please encourage as many people as possible to complete the survey – the closing date is 14 July.


WS Climate Pledge

Make the West Sussex Climate Pledge

The West Sussex Climate Pledge asks all residents to make small changes to their lives so as a county we can make a difference against climate change.

The key areas of the pledge are:

  • Make low carbon journeys
  • Save water and energy
  • Pass on plastic
  • Shop local
  • Fight against food waste

With over 850,000 people living in West Sussex we can all work together to make a change.

Find out more and make your pledge by:

If you would like to get more involved in the Climate Pledge, or have any questions please contact WSClimatePledge@westsussex.gov.uk. Please encourage residents to get involved and make their pledge.


downs link

Half a million pounds boost to Downs Link 

WSCC has been awarded £558,000 for all-weather surfacing along five sections of the Downs Link in West Sussex.

Those sections are currently harder to use in the winter due to water logging. The new, unbound surface will drain more easily and be suitable for walking, cycling and horse-riding all year round, boosting visitor numbers and in turn the rural economy.

The funding has come from the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development. The works will be delivered in two phases, over 2019 and 2020, with a November 2020 deadline.

Those affected sections of the Downs Link will be closed during working hours while the works are taking place but will be open in the evenings and at weekends. The WSCC Project Manager will be in touch with the relevant parish councils in the coming weeks, once the works have been awarded to contractors, to provide more detailed information.

EU Flag

 

The European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development:

Europe investing in rural areas


What If?

You Can Make a Difference!

The aim of the “What If – You Can Make a Difference” programme is to “Empower local people and communities to help themselves and the vulnerable, to prepare, respond and recover from events that disrupt the community from life as normal”.

“What If” is not just about emergencies. The knowledge gained through the training and resilience awareness is transferrable and can be used to support the vulnerable, elderly and those less able in our communities to enjoy being more independent for longer.

Consider - What If an incident occurs? Will you and your neighbours be prepared, but more importantly -

What If you can make a difference and make a positive contribution in supporting your community?

The programme is led by WSCC Resilience and Emergencies Team and consists of four key areas.

  • Community Resilience
  • Resilient Businesses
  • Health & Wellbeing
  • Resilient Young People – Duke of Cornwall Award

More information about the training, including details on how local residents can sign-up, can be found on our website.


Bognor Regis bus

News about our Bognor Regis mobile library service

After a series of mechanical failures, our County Council Transport Services have advised that the mobile library based in Bognor Regis, which serves the rural south of West Sussex, is unfortunately no longer roadworthy and the difficult decision has been made to take it off the road.

The mobile library users have been informed and reassured that they will face no overdue letters for items they currently have on loan. They are being encouraged to return books to their local libraries instead.

They have also been given details of local static libraries which can be used as an alternative.

Other arrangements will be made to collect books from those unable to visit a library and all options for the future are being reviewed.


Campaigns

Our latest communication campaigns 

Take a look at three of our latest communication campaigns:  

Feel free to share these links, and the information contained within, to help keep your residents updated and informed. 


Consultation Hub
WSCC

Have your say on local issues that affect you

Have your say on matters that affect you and your local communities - and get your residents to do the same - by visiting our Have Your Say Consultation Hub. From major road schemes and Joint Area Action Plans, to premises licence applications and safeguarding in our schools; we want to hear your residents' views to help shape future policy and decisions.

Go to the Have Your Say Consultation Hub for all the latest consultations

Your Voice

Your Voice: The People's Panel

Alternatively, encourage your residents to join Your Voice: The People's Panel where they'll be regularly consulted about a number of important local issues. Once registered they'll receive links to surveys, reports and outcomes and occasionally links to other public surveys.

Find out more information and subscribe here


Get in touch

Get in touch!

If you have any questions about what you've read, or you'd like to share some of the work your town or parish council is doing for us to highlight in future newsletters, email us at: 

townandparishcouncilnews@westsussex.gov.uk

Follow us on social media

Don't forget you can also follow West Sussex County Council on social media for all the latest news and updates. Just click on one of the social media links at the bottom of this email.

Social media

Events

Do you have an event coming up? 

If you would like to promote an event in your area you can use the events calendar on our website.

You can search for West Sussex events here.