May 22, 2026

 

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

If you watched the live stream earlier today you will have seen Donna elected as Chair of West Sussex County Council. Ali and Ian were there in person for what was a historic event. A colleague covered my class for ten minutes at school so I could watch it live. Social media is an interesting thing. Andrew noticed last weekend some unhappiness beyond our District with the final results of the WSCC election outcome because Selsey holds the balance of power: 36 Councillors are needed for a majority; Reform UK and the Liberal Democrats got 23 each, the Conservatives 11, Greens 7 and Labour 5. Reform may have secured the Conservatives support to reach 34 Members but the Liberal Democrats beat them with 35 by securing the support of the Greens and Labour. Donna followed convention and agreed to their forming an administration but will exercise her role independently. 

On Monday we delivered Donna’s election expenses after a quiet weekend trying to recoup from the election. This is exam season so I  am busy with them and the submission of internal assessments, which I still coordinate for my school. 

On Tuesday Steve, Val, Donna and I had Chichester District Council’s Annual Meeting. Following Donna’s ‘new job’ at West Sussex, Steve has taken over from Donna as Vice Chair of Selsey Town Council. As he runs his own business, time is precious so Val has replaced him on CDC’s Overview & Scrutiny Committee and I have come on it too because the Liberal Democrats had a vacant seat following the loss of Cllr Brookes-Harmer, the Member for Lavant. I have also replaced Donna on several bodies that meet quite rarely and Steve on the Boundary Review Panel. 

It was a lengthy meeting at CDC because we also approved the release of funds for several infrastructure related items including the commencement of the next Local Plan. I did secure clarity from Andrew Frost, the Director of Planning and the Environment, that it is hoped we might progress matters sufficiently by the time the new Unitary Authority takes over for the work to be seen through without amendment. Members' views were also sought on the Government’s further consultation about the composition of two Unitaries in West Sussex. Donna spoke against our District being with Crawley, Horsham and Mid-Sussex because of its coastal aspect whilst Cllr Todhunter, the Member for Loxwood, spoke for it. Other Members took either viewpoint but more were in favour of our District joining Crawley, Horsham and Mid-Sussex.

There are no public meetings next week, in part due to half term, but we have casework to progress and that will involve some private meetings.

You can watch CDC meetings here and watch WSCC meetings here.

Sussex has three of the top ten piers in the country, which is good news wherever you may live because visitor footfall is so important to our local economy: -

https://uk.news.yahoo.com/sussex-pier-age-well-beauty-040000719.htm

Finally:  -

• Selsey Sea Defences

• Report potholes

• Supporting You

• WSCC Meetings

• CDC Meetings

• STC Meetings

As always, from the whole Team, stay safe.

Tim