April 3, 2026

 

Welcome to this week’s blog - as always, thanks for having a read. Donna and I also want to thank all those residents who have greeted us warmly this week as we began campaigning for her for the Selsey Division of West Sussex County Council on Thursday May 7th, 2026 in earnest. To vote for Donna, you must be registered by 20th April 2026.

During the campaign Purdah kicks and there are fewer meetings. Donna and I had a Chichester District Council briefing on Wednesday about where things are now with preparations for Local Government Reorganisation following last week’s government announcement. I had not realised the scale of how much Officers have to do including syncing the data of all the different councils involved securely,  but without causing any disruption to residents. 

The Government will run a further (technical) consultation on unitary proposals for Sussex after the local elections. It will consider moving our District into a unitary with Crawley Borough Council, Horsham District Council and Mid Sussex District Council. This will leave a second unitary in West Sussex comprising Arun District Council, Adur District Council and Worthing Borough Council. Secondly, whilst we believe they have accepted that East Sussex will become a single unitary, the government consultation will also consider moving wards in Falmer, Peacehaven and Saltdean from Lewes District Council to Brighton & Hove City Council. A decision is expected in the summer. Elections to the new shadow unitary authorities will take place in May 2027 preparing for the new authorities to formally launch in April 2028. 

At that point, I will no longer have some of my Mondays spoken for by CDC’s Corporate Governance & Audit Committee. Working part-time has allowed me to attend its meetings again. They were made in person again following the  2023 elections. On a personal note I was saddened that the Committee at that point became all male. I am one of the three longest running Members along with Frances Hobbs (Conservative) and Jonathan Brown (Liberal Democrat.) 

Maintaining our County’s highways is currently a responsibility of WSCC until whatever our Unitary authority becomes takes over from them. Enforcement, however, is a police matter. Sometimes Waze routes me along the A285 through Chiddingfold in Surrey on my way to work or coming home. I noticed a few months ago the average speed cameras they now have. Apparently they may soon be coming to West Sussex as you can read here: -

https://www.sussexexpress.co.uk/community/average-speed-cameras-set-to-come-to-west-sussex-6484074 

Finally:  -

• Selsey Sea Defences

• Report potholes

• Supporting You

• WSCC Meetings

• CDC Meetings

• STC Meetings

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As always, from the whole Team, stay safe.

Tim