Welcome to the Local Alliance Blog

  How well can you pronounce Sussex place names like Arundel and Bognor? If you think you are good at doing so, this article might give you pause for thought .  Last year Covid prevented any elections taking place, so on May 6 it is planned to hold elections for our West Sussex County Councillors and the delayed Sussex Police and Crime Commissioner. CDC are also planning a referendum on at least one Neighbourhood Plan (Selsey's) You can register to vote here but must do so by April 19. If you are unable to go to, or would prefer not to vote at your polling station, you can apply to vote by post . Applications & changes must be received by 5pm on April 20. More information about the May elections locally can be found here . Thursday is Time to Talk Day, part of a national campaign to encourage us all to talk more and to end mental health stigma. A small conversation can make a big difference. Scheduling a cuppa with a friend or family member online is a great way to c...

Did you see this article in the Chichester Observer - it reminds us that Covid is not the only significant local concern, so you won’t be surprised to learn that we are keeping a close eye on this application. Last weekend, because of the interest expressed to us about how vaccinations are going locally, we monitored things in Selsey and Tangmere with the help of our Team and your feedback. Regular readers will know each week we are sharing the most recent County vaccination update. We understand further sites in our area, including Chichester, are being considered. “Manhood” is thought to derive from the Anglo-Saxon maene-wudu meaning 'common wood.,' so, as a Peninsulan, I am pleased CDC are one of five English authorities taking part in a new £2.5m tree planting project with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA.) The Subsidised Tree Planting pilot scheme looks to help tackle climate change and boost biodiversity by establishing novel ways to inc...

  Whenever you look out of the window or go for a walk, do you ever think how lucky we are to be living where we do? We have some lovely coastal and inland walks, plus, whenever I compare postcodes using the Government’s data dashboard , I realise our proportion of Covid cases is significantly lower than more urbanised areas.   Many of you were grateful that we made the first West Sussex vaccination briefing available to you in our last post, so here is the second one . We will continue to do this for as long as they come our way.   This week Donna and I had an in-person Councillor briefing about the vaccination rollout across the County from the NHS Sussex Health and Care Partnership. We also had  other meetings including the District Economic and Organisational recovery teams. Next week, Donna has some Selsey Town Council Meetings, we will both be at their Planning Committee on Wednesday and I also have CDC’s Corporate Governance and Audit Committee plus a Budg...

  Happy New Year: we hope you had as festive a break as you were able and, if only online, caught up with family and friends.  The pandemic and new lockdown are high in all our thoughts, so we are focussing on sharing some key local information, starting with the West Sussex Covid-19 data dashboard .     West Sussex have issued a vaccination scam alert. Watch out for suspicious calls or texts offering the COVID-19 vaccination and remember: -. The vaccine is only available on the NHS (for free) to people in priority groups, and they will contact you when it is your turn. Anyone offering a paid-for vaccine is committing a crime. The NHS will never ask you to press a button on your keypad or send a text to confirm you want the vaccine, and never ask for payment or for your bank details. At the moment West Sussex are not making house calls to deliver or discuss the vaccine. Anyone offering this now is committing a crime. If you receive a call you believe to be ...

  This is our last planned post of 2020;  however if something important comes up, we will obviously keep you informed. CDC are modernising the way in which residents access council services, including a new ‘meet and greet’ style service at East Pallant House; a ‘floorwalker’ will help you use the self-service computers, signpost people to further information and respond to any enquiries. This will free up staff to help support the most vulnerable residents, e.g. those who do not often use the internet or have trouble filling in forms. CDC are also repeating their business support schemes in 202l: the Enabling Grants Scheme supports new and existing businesses while the Independent Retail Support Programme provides support in our designated high street areas: Chichester, East Wittering, Midhurst, Petworth and Selsey. In the meantime, businesses can save money and help the environment, following the launch of their new Business Food Waste Recycling Service. Don’t forget ...

Have you come across a Covid Ambassador yet? CDC are working with Blayde Security to deliver this service in Chichester, Midhurst, Petworth, Selsey and East Wittering/Bracklesham. Staff will be working in pairs and wear a red vest with “Covid Ambassador” on the back. They will introduce themselves to local businesses and work with them to assist where possible. Their role is not to enforce COVID-19 regulations - enforcement powers remain the remit of the police and designated local authority compliance and enforcement officers -  but to engage, explain and encourage best practice and national COVID-19 secure guidance, promoting social distancing, encouraging compliance with COVID-19 public health measures, educating and explaining COVID-19 Secure guidelines and supporting businesses and premises not following guidelines, escalating as appropriate. A Charter for Social Housing Residents has been published as a white paper by the Government, setting out what every social housing r...

  Have you walked the City walls? I started doing so when the shops reopened earlier this year, whilst the family were shopping. As non-essential retail reopens this week, and we move into Tier 2 , I expect to be doing it again soon, even though it will be a colder and less clement experience We all want to support our local businesses as much as possible in the run up to Christmas. To help businesses take part in their Support Local campaign CDC have created a marketing pack , which includes social media graphics, a digital Facebook profile frame, a digital poster, a Christmas gift tag design to use in point of sale and window displays, and Christmas gift tag designs and printed tags which can be given to customers. They are personalised by area, so, for example, CDC and STC have been publicising the Shop Local in Selsey campaign. It goes without saying that we wish all of our Traders, across the whole District, a successful run up to Christmas in these extraordinary times. It...