Issue 12 | February 2020
Update on our financial position
Plans to cover the costs of a growing demand for services have been reviewed by West Sussex County Council Cabinet Members at a meeting this week (Tuesday 28 January 2020).
The draft budget included details of investment in areas which need improvement, with £12m identified for improvements in Children’s Services and £2.6m for improvements in the Fire and Rescue Service.
The Cabinet went through the proposed budget for 2020/21, which will now go before a meeting of the full council on 14 February for final approval.
Find out more about our financial position by visiting: www.westsussex.gov.uk/budget
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Fire safety training available for West Sussex businesses
Practical fire safety training, led by experts from West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service, is on offer for everyone working in the county.
Fire safety in the workplace is a legal requirement for employers, owners, landlords - or anyone with control of a business or non-domestic premises.
Employees will be taught vital information by our and places can be booked by visiting our Learning and Developing Gateway and searching for the keyword 'frs'.
For more information about the courses, visit our website.
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Spring funding window open to community groups
Local groups have until 13 February to apply for county council funding as part of running a crowdfunding campaign via West Sussex Crowd.
The West Sussex Crowd allows groups to apply for larger sums of money, and the ability to raise further funds from the local community.
Also available in addition to The Crowd, the Micro Fund is an alternative process for projects with total costs totalling up to £750.
Anyone expressing an interest in the Micro Fund should contact the CLC Development Team to find out the application deadline for their area. Enquiries are can be made by phoning 033 022 25075 or emailing talkwithus@westsussex.gov.uk.
Applications to both funds are considered at County Local Committees (CLC).
For more information, visit: www.westsussex.gov.uk/CIF.
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Free digital online safety sessions for parents and carers
Free events for parents and carers to learn how to keep children safe online start this month to raise awareness for Safer Internet Day.
The Community Safety and Wellbeing team are delivering the digital online safety sessions, offering tips and advice on how to keep children safe online, including:
- What children are doing online
- Identifying risks children may face online
- Showing available help, support and resources
- How to report concerns
Please help support any of your local schools holding these events by publicising them within the local community.
More information and ticket registration can be found on Eventbrite.
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All libraries closed on Monday 10 February for IT implementation
All West Sussex libraries will be closed on Monday 10 February for the installation of a new IT system.
The online catalogue and library app will not be available from 10am on Sunday 9 February to midday on Tuesday 11 February and the telephone renewals line will not be available on Monday 10 February to midday on Tuesday 11 February.
All libraries will reopen as usual on 11 February, but some may have limited IT until the new system is up and running.
Please can you make residents aware of the closures where possible.
Midhurst – Please note that Midhurst Library will be closed on Sunday 9 February as well.
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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.
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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.
Our current consultations are:
Look out for:
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School Special Support Centres - due to go live on 3 February
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Proposed reorganisation of rural and small schools in West Sussex - due to go live on 5 February
Go to the Have Your Say Consultation Hub for details of all of our current consultations.
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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.
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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
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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.
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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.
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