LocalCouncilNews

Chichester City Council

New mayor sets out vision for the city in his year of office

Edited extracts from draft minutes of the Annual City Council meeting on 11th May 2022. New Mayor. It was resolved that Councillor Julian Joy be and is hereby elected Mayor of the City of Chichester until the date of the next Annual Meeting; the allowance paid to him be at the rate of £4,000 per annum (exclusive of additional allowances already paid). Councillor Joy, having been invested with the Chain of Office and presented with the Mayor’s ring, walking stick and gold snuff box, then made and subscribed the Declaration of Acceptance of Office. Councillor Richard Plowman is Deputy Mayor . Mayor’s Charities. The Mayor informed Members that the Mayoral charities for the year would be Business2Schools and Second Chance Chichester and he gave Members some background about the work of these charities. Post-meeting note. Discussions regarding the arrangements for Second Chance Chichester being the Mayor’s second charity were ongoing at the time of minuting. The Mayor highlighted areas of interest that he intended to focus on during his time in office. These included the cultural life of the City and the benefits of the arts at all levels to the wellbeing of the City, the City streetscape and wider community and sustainability projects. He also proposed the creation of forums involving the City Council, West Sussex County Council and Chichester District Council to better focus on these priorities and the needs of the city and its residents and visitors. He also reminded Members that, while there were challenges including the post-pandemic recovery, the situation in Ukraine and the developing cost-of-living crisis; Chichester had always been a welcoming city with a strong history of charity and support. He expressed the hope that the City Council, with the newly created communities support role, could be a focus to bring together community groups and charities to support those in need. www.chichestercity.gov.uk

Petworth Town Council

Pavilion works; minor maintenance; town tidy ups

Edited extracts of draft minutes of the Parish Council meeting held 14th April 2022. Sports Pavilion. The electrical works would cost more than had been budgeted for, and had been identified once the refurbishment project had commenced. It was suggested that community use of the pavilion was likely to increase once the improvements had been implemented. Resolved to lend £5,000 to Petworth Park Sports interest free for three months to cover cashflow issues while grants were awaited. Help with maintenance. Resolved to delegate authority to the Clerk, if voluntary assistance is not available, to effect non-emergency minor works and repairs around the town by engaging either a regular or contract groundsman as required, obtaining three quotes in each case. The annual budget for this would be £1,000 to be reviewed each year. Planting & Horticulture Working Group. Spring and summer planting and weeding has been taking place, much on a voluntary basis. Preparations for the In Bloom competition are steaming ahead. The regional judge will tour the town on 12th July and the national judging will take place in the following fortnight. Petworth is one of only six in the national competition in the small town category. In the process of planning the route, bringing in the National Trust and Petworth House, as well as the community garden, the school and local businesses, residents and shops. Simon Knight has said the Armoury will be repaired and painted and has asked for further areas that need doing. The telephone exchange is going to be tidied up as is the ground and fencing on Station Road, belonging to the gas board. We have new volunteers including a D of E student for the silver category who will spend the next six months with us and Petworth in Bloom organised a town tidy up. Sadly, on the other hand, various areas have seen vandalism. www.petworth-tc.gov.uk