Norman’s Notes

28 May Norman’s Notes

May 2019 local elections

On 2 May local elections were held in Mid Sussex and all East Grinstead Conservative candidates were returned to serve our community for the next 4 years. We’re very grateful for the support received and I know that all those elected to both East Grinstead Town Council and Mid Sussex District Council are keen to deliver on our East Grinstead manifesto promises, which were:

• Support the town’s economy through initiatives such as grants to improve shop fronts
• Protect and preserve the town’s character by undertaking a Conservation Area Appraisal to safeguard the historic areas of the town
• Improvements to the town’s gateway Railway Approach to encourage tourism and improve the entrance to the town
• More cash for West Sussex Schools to ensure fair funding and supplement the £28 million already secured for schools in the county.
• Review East Grinstead’s parking provision to make the forthcoming parking strategy review work for our town’s needs

Micro business grants

Those EGBA members who attended the last Meet and Greet at La Farola will have had heard MSDC officers presenting the latest news about the micro business grants scheme which has run for a number of years. I would dearly like to see more applications coming before the Grants Committee in the coming year.

If you weren’t able to attend La Farola this month you can find information here:

https://www.midsussex.gov.uk/licensing-business/micro-business-grants/

MSDC Annual Council

Cllr Jonathan Ash-Edwards was elected as the new Leader of Mid Sussex District Council at a meeting of full Council on Wednesday 22 May, becoming one of the country’s youngest Council Leaders.

The leadership position was vacant after former leader Garry Wall decided not stand for re-election having served Mid Sussex for 12 years.

At the meeting, Cllr Judy Llewellyn-Burke was appointed as Deputy Leader of the Council.

The following Cabinet Members were confirmed at the meeting:

Cabinet Member for Community – Cllr Norman Webster

Cabinet Member for Customer Service – Cllr Ruth de Mierre

Cabinet Member for Economic Growth – Cllr Stephen Hillier

Cabinet Member for Environment and Service Delivery – Cllr John Belsey

Cabinet Member for Housing and Planning – Cllr Andrew MacNaughton

Cllr Colin Trumble was elected as Chairman for the next civic year and Cllr Margaret Belsey was appointed as Vice Chairman.

I’m delighted to be joined in Cabinet by my East Grinstead colleague Cllr John Belsey, who many EGBA members will know as a local business person. I am also very pleased that Cllr Margaret Belsey, who runs the family business in East Grinstead, was elected Vice Chairman.

Cllr Ash-Edwards said:

“Having lived in Mid Sussex all my life, I am delighted to have been elected to lead the District Council and grateful for the confidence that Councillors have shown in me. I am committed to public service and will work hard to make a positive difference for local residents, our towns and villages.

“The number one priority of my team and I is to deliver on the manifesto commitments we made in the local elections. This includes providing well run local services, protecting and enhancing the environment, supporting the local economy, working with the Government to get the sixth form college open and securing the biggest upgrade in our district’s infrastructure for a generation. We will ensure the Council’s finances are well managed, remembering that every penny spent belongs to the taxpayer.

“Mid Sussex is a fantastic place to live and work and the new Council will do everything it can to continue improving our district”.

New Town Mayor attracts international attention

Cllr Favor received the Chain and signed the declaration of office from the Outgoing Town Mayor Cllr Rex Whittaker, at East Grinstead Town Council’s Annual Meeting at East Court on Monday 14th May.

Cllr Favor expressed his pride and appreciation on his election saying that having moved to the town 19 years ago to work at the Queen Victoria Hospital he never in his wildest dreams thought he would be a Town Councillor, let alone Town Mayor.  Cllr Favor, now a British subject, was honoured to have representatives from the Embassy of the Philippines attend Mayor Making and joined Cllrs and guests for a glass of wine and a light buffet.

Cllr Favor has chosen three local charities for his Mayoral year; they are all very personal to him, and excellent local service providers. They are:

• Queen Victoria Hospital Charitable Fund – To support the work, patient care and research undertaken at the hospital
• EG First Responders – Those who are first at an emergency medical situation, usually arriving within 8 minutes.
• EG Street Pastors – Who patrol the streets late at night at weekends or after school times to give support to anyone who may need a sympathetic ear.

East Grinstead Conservation Area Appraisal & Management Plan

Consultation on the Conservation Area Appraisal and Management Plan will begin shortly. Please do keep an eye out for this as it is important that MSDC is aware of residents and business people’s thoughts on this significant policy document.