July 18, 2025
Welcome to this week’s blog - as always, thanks for having a read.
I had a minor operation on Monday so unfortunately missed both Chichester District Council’s Corporate Governance and Audit Committee that day and Full Council on Tuesday. Donna stayed with me and Steve had a work imperative but Val was joined by our two Green colleagues, Sarah Sharp and Tim Young. Donna and Val had CDC’s Development Planning and Infrastructure Panel on Wednesday morning while Ali, Ian, Gareth, Curt, Mike and Andrew had Full Selsey Town Council in the evening. Today, Friday, Donna had Full West Sussex County Council. There are fewer meetings now the holidays have begun but an increase in casework. You can watch meetings live: CDC and WSCC.
We played Monopoly a lot when I grew up because there were fewer things to do: it was a time when many people slowly turned to colour television to watch one of the two then three channels available before we were gripped by excitement when there was a fourth one to also watch. In case you missed it, Chichester is getting its own version of the famous board game next year: -
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cg4rnke7v7ro.amp
The Met Office’s annual report on the state of our climate shows record breaking and extreme weather have become increasingly commonplace in the UK. Their latest assessment shows how baselines are shifting, records are becoming more frequent, and that temperature and rainfall extremes are becoming the norm. The hottest summer days have warmed about twice as much as average ones in the past decade in some parts of the UK and it is also getting wetter, with extremes of rainfall, floods and storms. Worryingly tide gauge records since the 1900s show sea level rise around the UK is speeding up, with two-thirds of the rise taking place in the last three decades:
Thanks to West Sussex County Council, fire engines, police vehicles, ambulances, and helicopters will be taking over Oaklands Park on Sunday 24 August for Chichester’s first Emergency Services and Community Day. The event is free and runs from 10am and 4pm. If you are looking for other things to do this Summer don’t forget Experience Sussex.
We are all invited to share our views about the future of our councils by August 13 at: www.shapingwestsussex.org.
West Sussex County Council and the seven district and borough councils are working together to gather views that will help shape proposals for creating the future of our local government in the county. The government has asked councils to explore proposals for a new unitary council model, or models, to replace the current two-tier system with a single-tier council responsible for everything from bin collections and housing to education and adult social care. Town or parish councils will remain as they are.
On 26 September 2025, the Government will begin a formal consultation process with a decision expected in Spring 2026. After this, further engagement with residents, staff, councillors and businesses will be carried out on the design of how the new council will look, in line with the chosen model and implementation schedule.
Whatever changes are agreed, vital local services will continue as normal – from waste collection and public health, to care for older people and support for families. The aim of Local Government Reorganisation is not to reduce services, but to simplify how they are delivered and to ensure that local voices are heard more clearly in decision-making.
Finally: -
As always, from the whole Team, stay safe.
Tim
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