September 26, 2025

Welcome to this week’s blog - as always, thanks for having a read.

Sussex, and in particular our area, is one of the more scenic places to live in the UK, although most places have something to recommend them. If you aren’t convinced, have a read about our Marden villages and a nature reserve we recently tried to visit but found the car park was overflowing: -

https://share.google/YkLOniE4Ou51rZhif 

https://www.sussexexpress.co.uk/news/people/chichester-nature-reserve-named-one-of-englands-best-hidden-gems-5311785 

Monday was a special day for me because although I now only teach four days a week, this was the first one that has been meeting free - Donna and I stayed in Ryde on Sunday, so we could be back in good time on Monday to better prepare for Tuesday’s meetings.

On Tuesday, it was the separate West Sussex County Council and Chichester District Council decision meetings on whether they intend to support a single Unitary model or two for our County. As you probably know by now, Conservative-controlled WSCC voted for the former, Liberal-Democrat controlled CDC the latter. Donna was one of the first to speak in the debate at WSCC because she leads the Green and Independent Group pointing out how large a single unitary would be, and that the financial discrepancy between the two proposals was proportionally very small. 

I spoke at CDC and thanked officers, as Leader of the Opposition, for their work on Local Government Reform and acknowledged the good financial stewardship of the current Liberal Democrat and previous Conservative administrations. I particularly  thanked the CEO, Diane Shepherd, for her financial stewardship and that of the Chief Operating Officer and Director of Corporate Services, John Ward.

On Tuesday our group also supported a motion calling for a fairer voting system, something I seconded and we all four collected wreaths for Remembrance Sunday. I will be honoured to lay it because I successfully raised the issue that CDC were our only Council to not provide them some time ago. Groups can email SelseyPoppyAppeal@hotmail.com if they would like one of their own to lay at Selsey's event. 

You can watch meetings live: CDC and WSCC.

Finally:  -

• Selsey Sea Defences

• Report potholes

• Supporting You

• WSCC Meetings

• CDC Meetings

• STC Meetings

As always, from the whole Team, stay safe.

Tim

Learn more https://www.localalliance.uk/ 

Local Alliance Statement on Selsey Town Council Casual Vacancy

The Local Alliance has decided not to contest the current casual vacancy on Selsey Town Council. With the next full elections scheduled for April 2027, we believe that the cost of holding this by-election, estimated at over £5,000, for a term of only 18 months cannot be justified as a responsible use of residents' money. To put this into perspective, this amount could  be invested into community improvements, such as providing the benches residents have requested.

This decision was reached after consultation with prospective Local Alliance candidates, who  expressed their support for this decision. 

Whilst the necessary ten North Selsey residents have exercised their right to request a by-election, the Local Alliance will not put up a candidate. To do so would contradict our clear position that the expense of such an election is an unnecessary financial burden on the community. If others feel differently, that is a matter for them. We will also not be putting forward a candidate for co-option, should the vacancy remain unfilled, as doing so would undermine the principle behind our decision.

Our priorities remain the same. Until the full elections in 2027, we will continue to focus on safeguarding council assets and resources, and delivering the commitments set out in our published Business Plan. This Plan was fully consulted upon, ensuring that all our fellow residents were able to have their say about the Town Council's direction. We continue to prepare Selsey for the upcoming opportunities, and challenges,  of devolution and local government reorganisation. An election will not change this.

We recognise that this decision may disappoint some, but we firmly believe it represents responsible stewardship of taxpayers’ money. Since 2019, the Local Alliance has consistently served the Selsey community, and we remain committed to doing so. Prudent and cautious financial management is part of that service.