Welcome to the Local Alliance Blog

Full Up in Selsey are getting ready for Half Term: " It’s that time again, please text us to book your meals for half term. Meals are free or if you would prefer to pay we ask for a £1 donation for a main and pudding. 07852506923 ."  This week was Full WSCC today and earlier, CDC’s Cabinet on Tuesday which Steve kindly went too as neither Donna, our Green colleague Sarah or I could make it. Cabinet agreed a position statement to, as Steve put it, 'hold the line' in regards to Selsey's sea defences until funding comes through, something which is welcome when you read this . Preliminary work has provided information on the potential risks to the exposed Selsey peninsula, which has a long history of coastal flood and erosion risk. Many of the seawalls, which were constructed in the 1950s, are reaching the end of their design life and due to the sea level rise - caused by climate change - the level of protection provided by the existing defences will decrease over t...

Thank you once again for your kind messages following the loss of my father. The last week or so have been difficult - Donna and I even managed to forget our wedding anniversary. Sometimes a bit of quiet and perspective is in order so we went to Down House last weekend, which was Charles Darwin's family home. We've been meaning to visit for a long time but never managed to get around to it. The gardens acted as a sort of 'living laboratory' which inspired him to question how and why species evolve over time. My dad was a great gardener, and he'd managed to keep plants which had belonged to his parents, by taking cuttings over the years, so I'm sure he'd approve. We even tried a sort of fruit cake made with orange juice, from a recipe by Charles Darwin's wife. On Wednesday it was CDC's Planning which considered an application I red-carded on grounds of public interest. Steve and I have been working closely since he has joined me in representing Selsey...

  Since becoming the Official Opposition at CDC in May, we have operated as a 'critical' and 'constructive' friend, because of the Liberal Democrats large mandate. Donna is currently pressing the Police & Crime Commissioner to appear before the Overview and Scrutiny Committee, which she Chairs as we technically lead the opposition. Unfortunately Katy Bourne has now cancelled twice, but Donna is hopeful for January. At the Full CDC on Tuesday I successfully amended the wording to improve a motion protesting about the closure of railway station ticket offices: Council requests: -  The Leader writes to the Secretary of State for Transport and the Chief Executive of the Rail Delivery Group, as well as Southern Railway, to express this Council’s opposition to the possible closures of staffed rail ticket offices, particularly at Chichester, Bosham and Southbourne stations.  The Overview & Scrutiny Committe invites representatives from Southern Railway to attend a meet...