July 4, 2025

Welcome to this week's blog - as always thank you for having a read.

On Tuesday Donna had Chichester District Council’s Overview & Scrutiny Committee. The next day, Wednesday we all had an Extraordinary Selsey Town Council Meeting before Val, Mick, Ian, and Andrew had its Planning Committee. It's been a week of briefings, meetings and training for Donna. Next week she and Val have CDC’s Planning Committee on Wednesday, while on Thursday there is a Members’ update on Local Government Reform. In the evening Mike, Ali, Ian, Andrew, Donna and I have Selsey Town Council’s Finance & Administration Working Group before Ali joins Ian, Andrew, Donna and I for her first STC Personnel Committee Meeting. Since being appointed a couple of weeks ago she has been keen to update herself and joined Ian and I for an online meeting with the Deputy Clerk last week. You can watch meetings live: CDC and WSCC.

Chichester District Council’s popular Summer Street Party and Cross Market & More artisan market returns this Sunday, 6th July, to Chichester city centre, from 10am. South Street will be closed to traffic to make way for an ‘al fresco’ dining area. West Street and Cathedral Green will host free entertainment and attractions especially for children. Later this month, on Tuesday 15th July, CDC is inviting residents to attend its first free Men’s Health Fair at Petworth Park Sports in Petworth, from 10am to 3pm. It is designed to support men’s health and wellbeing, offering free health checks, expert advice and practical support to help residents take positive steps towards a healthier lifestyle.

Because of its construction, colleagues in my school worry about poor mobile signal in case their families need them urgently. A new OfCom website allows you to check different operators’ coverage by post code: - 

https://share.google/QnlyVy3NRaI0FBu01 

To mark the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War and the 109th anniversary of the Battle of Boar’s Head — “The Day Sussex Died” — British Army veteran Guy Radlett marched approximately 120 miles to Chichester, from Rye last Sunday and Monday. The challenge aimed to raise funds and awareness for armed forces and bereavement charities, including the Army Benevolent Fund, the Royal British Legion, and Sussex-based Veterans’ Growth and StrongMen:  https://www.givewheel.com/fundraising/7247/sussex-by-the-sea-memorial-march-2025/

At the end of 2024, Sussex Police saw a consistent rise in reports of romance fraud across Sussex. This year, romance fraud is still highly reported in West Sussex and currently accounts for 14.7% of reports to the police. In response to this growing issue, West Sussex County Council have collaborated with Victim Support to host a podcast series focusing on romance and relationship fraud. The series is made up of three episodes which look at debunking myths around romance fraud, how to spot some of the red flags in online and offline relationships and where to go for support if you or someone you know becomes a victim.

Finally: - 

• Selsey Sea Defences

• Report potholes

• Supporting You

• WSCC Meetings

• CDC Meetings

• STC Meetings

As always, from the whole Team, stay safe.

Tim