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LOCAL NEWS - Jan 2008
SUSSEX
NEWS
Council Jobs Go to Cut Costs
Councils across Sussex will be making job cuts over the coming weeks and months in order to deal with various budget constraints. At Hastings Borough Council current reports suggest at least 13 community wardens and 26 office workers will be made redundant because of the discontinuation of a government grant.
More than 160 jobs are said to be at risk at Brighton and Hove City Council because of an attempt to cut £3.5 million a year from the budget. An additional 20 jobs could go because of the extra cost to the council brought about by the Government’s decision to expand free bus travel for pensioners. The union which represents around 3,500 members at the council claims that job losses will be across a range of services and is balloting members for strike action.
Other councils across Sussex have warned they too may have to axe jobs in order to absorb council tax limits and other budget restrictions. And there are concerns that posts may be cut at both Worthing and Adur councils after the two authorities merge.
Source: The Argus, 1st & 7th January 2008, Worthing Herald, 8th January 2008
Sussex Growth Levels Among the Best
Several places in Sussex have been included in an economic growth survey of 60 of Britain’s towns and cities. Brighton and Hove’s 2.5 per cent employment growth between 1995 and 2005 was second best of all the towns and cities in the study. Milton Keynes saw the most growth of all.
Worthing’s 2006 employment rate of 78.9 per cent gave it sixth place in the table. Aldershot in Hampshire came top with 86.8 per cent employment. Both Crawley and Worthing featured in the top 30 for increased annual employment growth between 1995 and 2005. Crawley was 18th with a 1.9 per cent growth and Worthing 28th with 1.4 per cent. Hastings came in 51st with virtually no growth (0.5 per cent) in employment.
The report also considered the inequalities in employment levels, housing and transport between city centres and their suburbs. Crawley and Worthing, were the second and fourth most ‘equal’ towns in England - meaning there was little disparity in employment between the urban centres and their suburbs.
Crawley was in the top ten for the strongest growth in earnings, Brighton and Worthing came near the bottom. People living in Crawley earned £624.60 a week on average, but those in Hastings took home £200 less a week. Crawley also had the smallest proportion of people claiming benefits, just nine per cent, whereas in Hastings it was 21 per cent.
Source: The Argus, 12th December 2007
Huge Interest Bills for Sussex Hospitals
The extent of the borrowing and interest costs incurred by Sussex hospitals trying to balance their books has given rise to concern that they will have an impact on staff and services. Sussex’s hospitals have racked up debts of almost £130 million and will have to pay back more than £54.5 million in interest payments over the next 25 years. This cost is said to be the equivalent of hiring more than 1,900 nurses for a year - or paying the wages of 76 nurses for the next 25 years.
The biggest loan from the Department of Health (£56 million) was taken out by Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust which provides services at Crawley Hospital and Horsham Hospital. This will be paid back over the next 25 years. MPs fighting proposed cuts in hospital services across the county condemned the Government for putting struggling health trusts under greater financial pressure. NHS watchdogs say less money is being spent per patient in Sussex and other parts of the South East than elsewhere, despite the county's high percentage of elderly patients needing long term care.
Source: The Argus, 10th December 2007
Post Office Consultation Now Closed
The consultation period for the 49 Sussex branches at threat of closure ended on Christmas Eve. It is not yet known when the result of the consultations will be announced.
Source: The Argus, 26th December 2007
Novartis Poised to Axe UK Jobs
Concerns have been raised over the safety of jobs at the Horsham site of international pharmaceutical group, Novartis. The Swiss drugs company has confirmed that it is cutting 2,500 jobs worldwide over two years. A UK spokesman said they were currently considering the implications for Novartis in the UK and Ireland, but no details have yet been made available.
Novartis is expected to follow its rivals by cutting down on sales staff and adapting to new marketing techniques. Seven of the ten largest pharmaceutical companies have announced more than 34,000 job cuts worldwide in the last year. Novartis has a global workforce of 100,000, and hopes to manage a significant number of the cuts through natural turnover, but redundancies have not been ruled out. In the UK, most of their staff are based at the research and development centre in Wimblehurst Road, Horsham, and pharmaceuticals site at Frimley in Surrey.
Source: The Business.co.uk, 14th December 2007
Train Timetable Changes for Sussex Commuters
Southern Trains’ new timetables are reported to be causing problems for West Sussex commuters travelling to work. Service reductions made by Southern Trains following the withdrawal of fellow train operator South West Trains’, Basingstoke to Brighton service have left those travelling towards Brighton from the smaller stations between Chichester and Worthing with limited options at peak times.
Daily train users from villages such as Goring, Fishbourne, Bosham, Nutbourne and Amberley say the changes mean their trains are less frequent, and leave them waiting up to an hour-and-a-half for connecting trains on some services, whilst some stations are being missed out altogether. Some say it is making travelling to work by train almost impossible and are even considering moving home to cope with the timetable changes. Chris Burchell, managing director of Southern Trains, said the cuts had been made after careful consideration and were aimed at improving journey time and frequency for the majority of train users.
Source: The Argus, 20th December 2007
European Grant Bid to Boost Rural Communities
West Sussex County Council is bidding for two European funding grants in the hope of giving a £4 million boost to the areas rural economy. One project is in conjunction with Action in Rural Sussex which covers the Sussex Downs and Low Weald. The other project covers Chichester Harbour and the Coastal Plain from Emsworth through to Arun, including the Manhood Peninsula.
Available funding covers four main areas: Forestry and woodland businesses; Farming and food production; Small rural businesses; Local services and communities in rural areas. Local Action Groups have been formed of representatives from public sector organisations, local colleges, the voluntary and community sector, local businesses and business networks, farmers, woodland managers and tourism and community leaders. The groups have to submit their proposals to the South East England Development Agency (SEEDA) by the end of January. If the bids are successful the funds will be available from summer next year.
Source: West Sussex County Council, 21st December 2007
Park and Sail Scheme
Chichester Canal Trust are planning to trial a ‘park and sail’ scheme to help reduce traffic congestion from the Manhood Peninsula and help people living in the area to get to work in Chichester more easily. The Trust has said it would be able to accommodate a good number of people with its two boats: the 12-seater ‘Egremont’, and the 50-seater ‘Richmond’ boat. The Trust is appealing for anyone interested in using the proposed service to get in touch. The service would run from Hunston (with car parking), to the Canal Basin which is close to the bus and railway stations and the city centre. If there is enough interest a trial-run will take place in February, and more research will be carried out in to the scheme’s viability. If successful, it is hoped the scheme would also be extended to bring people in from the marina.
Source: Chichester Observer, 11th January 2008
Bognor Campus of University of Chichester to be Extended
The University of Chichester is to invest £30 million in extending their Bognor Regis campus off Upper Bognor Road: the largest change to the campus since it was created in 1946. Student numbers are expected to swell from 1,150 to 2,400 by 2016. It’s suggested that this will mean a £12.5m annual boost to Bognor’s economy. Thirty new student places will be taken up in the new graphic design department from September. However, it is likely to be 2011 before any major building work begins. The sports buildings and those used for music will be open to the public as part of the intention to make the campus part of the community. The teaching degree courses currently delivered at the campus will move to Chichester.
Source: Bognor Observer, 20th December 2007
Homes Plan for Historic Chichester Site
A bid to build up to 86 apartments and a new headquarters for Chichester Canal Trust on the west side of the Chichester canal basin next year has been approved by town planners (on the condition that agreement is reached with developers over costs). Plans will also be dependent on the long established stone masonry firm Geoffrey Osborne Ltd, which currently operates on the site, finding a new home. Chichester City Council has objected to the proposal, saying the buildings would be ‘too assertive’. So far the developers have agreed to pay £50,000 on improving the canal basin area and a further £25,000 on public art for the area. The council wants more investment to upgrade and improve road access to the site.
Source: The Argus, 26th December 2007
Train Timetable Changes for Sussex Commuters
Southern Trains’ new timetables are reported to be causing problems for West Sussex commuters travelling to work. Service reductions made by Southern Trains following the withdrawal of fellow train operator South West Trains’, Basingstoke to Brighton service have left those travelling towards Brighton from the smaller stations between Chichester and Worthing with limited options at peak times.
Daily train users from villages such as Goring, Fishbourne, Bosham, Nutbourne and Amberley say the changes mean their trains are less frequent, and leave them waiting up to an hour-and-a-half for connecting trains on some services, whilst some stations are being missed out altogether. Some say it is making travelling to work by train almost impossible and are even considering moving home to cope with the timetable changes. Chris Burchell, managing director of Southern Trains, said the cuts had been made after careful consideration and were aimed at improving journey time and frequency for the majority of train users.
Source: The Argus, 20th December 2007
Relocation Plans put Jobs at Risk
Vacuum equipment manufacturer Edwards have confirmed that they will be moving part of their production activity from the three units they currently occupy in Brighton Road, Shoreham, to another facility in the Czech Republic. The move, subject to consultation with employees and trade unions, could be implemented over the next 12 months. It is thought 89 jobs will be lost as a result. Edwards will continue to be make their new generation of pumps at Shoreham, where around 500 of the company's 4,000-strong workforce are employed. Products based on older technologies will be produced in the Czech Republic in the future.
Source: Chichester Observer, 9th January 2008
Shoreham Steelworks Jobs Move a Step Closer
Shoreham Port Authority and Brighton and Hove City Council have welcomed (previously reported) plans by steel processing firm, Parker Steel, to build a new plant at Shoreham Harbour and create 280 jobs. A report to Adur District Council's planning committee from officers recommends the plans are delegated to the head of planning for a decision, which some believe signals the local authority's desire to move quickly on granting permission for the project.
Source: The Argus, 31st December 2007
Disappointment for Local Out-Of-Hours GP Provider
Worthing-based WSDOC which has provided out-of-hours GP cover for towns and villages across a large part of West Sussex for the past four years has lost the contract to provide care and support to patients at evenings and weekends. West Sussex Primary Care Trust (PCT) has opted to appoint Bristol-based company ‘Harmoni’ to provide a service to the whole of the county from April. The contract will run for three years.
WSDOC, which is based at Swandean, Worthing and employs more than 170 staff, bid to win the countywide contract by proposing to save £1.5 million in the first year, but the PCT felt that Harmoni, one of the biggest providers in the country, offered better value for money. The PCT said it was not expecting any job losses for WSDOC workers as the new contract includes the transfer of all staff from the existing provider to the new under the national Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations, known as ‘TUPE’.
Source: The Argus, 12th December 2007
IT Workers May Strike Over Job Cuts
Dozens of staff at the Goring branch of Capgemini, the IT firm responsible for managing Revenue and Customs (HMRC) IT, are considering strike action. They were told before Christmas that plans to reduce HMRC’s IT running costs by 10 per cent by 2010/11 would lead to jobs being axed. It is thought that Capgemini wish to shed 50 of the 200 posts at Goring. Union officials believe compulsory redundancies are unnecessary as a large number of employees have indicated they would be happy to take voluntary redundancy. Chris Morrison, spokesman for the Public and Commercial Services Union (PCSU) said a ballot on strike action at the Capgemini’s Goring offices will be held in mid-January. Workers at Capgemini offices in Telford and Basingstoke are also being asked to vote on strike action. Mr Morrison said if the ballot resulted in strike action being held, it would lead to mass walkouts in early February.
Source: The Argus, 3rd January 2008
Business Closure Leaves Over 100 Unemployed
Over 100 people working for national window firm Bowater Home Improvements, which trades under the name Zenith Staybrite, were told they were being made redundant when they turned up to work recently. Workers at branches in Worthing; Brighton; Bognor; and Crawley were told that the company is being placed into administration. Self-employed fitters and canvassers have been told they will not be paid for working over Christmas and the New Year. The Weatherseal Group has bought the Staybrite and Zenith brands and 30 of its 58 sales offices and installation centres, but none of the Sussex branches have been saved.
Source: Crawley Observer, 9th January 2008; The Argus, 8th January 2008
Bognor Campus of University of Chichester to be Extended
The University of Chichester is to invest £30 million in extending their Bognor Regis campus off Upper Bognor Road: the largest change to the campus since it was created in 1946. Student numbers are expected to swell from 1,150 to 2,400 by 2016. It’s suggested that this will mean a £12.5m annual boost to Bognor’s economy. Thirty new student places will be taken up in the new graphic design department from September. However, it is likely to be 2011 before any major building work begins. The sports buildings and those used for music will be open to the public as part of the intention to make the campus part of the community. The teaching degree courses currently delivered at the campus will move to Chichester.
Source: Bognor Observer, 20th December 2007
Workers Must Move or Lose Jobs
South East Water’s merger with Mid Kent Water, finalised in December, could mean over 130 redundancies at South East Water’s headquarters in Haywards Heath. South East Water (as the newly merged company will now be known) has decided to base a 150-person call centre at Snodland in Kent. Up to 132 Haywards Heath-based employees whose roles will be duplicated and who will be unable to either relocate or travel to the new headquarters are being consulted on redundancy terms. No redundancies are to be made before the end of March.
Paul Butler, the managing director, said that extensive consultation on redundancy terms for those staff affected had been going on for several months. The merger is aimed at saving about £3 million a year and allowing the company to offer a £4 million one-off price cut to bills in 2008-2009. The water company, now second largest in the UK, is proposing to enlarge its state-of-the-art testing laboratory at Frimley Green, Surrey.
Source: Mid Sussex Times, 10th December 2007
Novartis Poised to Axe UK Jobs
Concerns have been raised over the safety of jobs at the Horsham site of international pharmaceutical group, Novartis. The Swiss drugs company has confirmed that it is cutting 2,500 jobs worldwide over two years. A UK spokesman said they were currently considering the implications for Novartis in the UK and Ireland, but no details have yet been made available.
Novartis is expected to follow its rivals by cutting down on sales staff and adapting to new marketing techniques. Seven of the ten largest pharmaceutical companies have announced more than 34,000 job cuts worldwide in the last year. Novartis has a global workforce of 100,000, and hopes to manage a significant number of the cuts through natural turnover, but redundancies have not been ruled out. In the UK, most of their staff are based at the research and development centre in Wimblehurst Road, Horsham, and pharmaceuticals site at Frimley in Surrey.
Source: The Business.co.uk, 14th December 2007
Holiday Options Scoops Travel Award
Burgess Hill-based travel company, Holiday Options, has been named the UK’s Favourite Independent Package Holiday Company at the British Travel Awards 2007. The company, now in its 16th year, offers a choice of flights to Corsica and Sardinia from a number of UK airports on its own charter route programme. More recently, trips to Croatia; Cape Verde; Serbia; and Bosnia-Herzegovina have been added. Rupert Diggins, sales and marketing director, said he thought that as a result of increasing domination of the UK travel industry by large tour companies, more people are turning to smaller independent providers who can offer a more personalised service.
Source: West Sussex Gazette, 28th December 2007
Mid Sussex Business Event Success
Over 150 local businesses attended the first ‘Open for Business’ event hosted by Mid Sussex District Council and Business Link at Ardingly Showground in December. The relaxed and friendly environment of the event offered attendees an opportunity to obtain advice and information about running a successful business from a collection of business support organisations. Councillor Gordon Marples, Leader of Mid Sussex District Council hosted the event and was impressed by the level support from the business community.
Source: Mid Sussex District Council, 11th December 2007
Airport Strikes Called Off
Strikes that would have shut Gatwick and seven more of the UK’s busiest airports were called off after union officials accepted concessions made by managers. The dispute was over BAA’s plans to close the final salary pension plan to new employees. BAA has now agreed not to change the pension scheme without proper talks. The first of the mass walkouts by firefighters, security staff and clerical workers had been planned for January 7th at Heathrow; Gatwick; Stansted; Southampton; Glasgow; Edinburgh; and Aberdeen airports.
Source: The Guardian, 4th January 2008
Gatwick Rail Link Changes ‘Short-sighted’
London Borough Councils have criticised plans to scrap a direct rail-link between Gatwick Airport and London as ‘short-sighted’. Southern Trains and the government plan to replace the Watford to Brighton service that will terminate at Clapham Junction. This would mean an end to direct services between North and West London and Gatwick Airport. Travellers using the West London Line to reach Croydon, Gatwick and Brighton will now have to change trains at Clapham Junction. The Department of Transport wants to take rolling-stock from the West London Line to use on the Thameslink service, which needs trains that can run on two kinds of power supply because of major engineering works in London. Councillors from Kensington and Chelsea; Croydon; Brent; Wandsworth; Hammersmith and Fulham; and Harrow Councils have written to Ruth Kelly, Secretary of State for Transport, asking her to find a better solution.
Source: UK-Airport-News.info, 4th December 2007
Hand Baggage Rule Change
Since August 2006’s transatlantic liquid bomb plot, passengers at UK airports have been restricted to one item of hand luggage. This rule has now been lifted at 22 airports. Gatwick have not yet been able to satisfy the Department for Transport (DfT) that they can cope with the change without a compromise to security (increasing queues). However, the one bag rule has been lifted on some connecting flights there. The one-bag rule is being maintained for economy passengers traveling on some budget airlines including, easyJet, Ryanair and Flybe at all airports (even where the restriction has been lifted). Other restrictions, such as the carrying of liquids, remain in force. Airlines and airport groups fear that the different rules between airports and airlines may cause confusion to passengers and passengers are being urged to check and plan ahead before flying to avoid last-minute problems.
Source: UK Airport News, 6th January 2008
Airport Car Parking Take-Over
Holiday Extras is rebranding the Q-Park airport car parks at Gatwick; Manchester; Newcastle; and Glasgow airports. Holiday Extras acquired the car parks in October when it bought rival BCP, and now plans to give them the name of its sister company, ‘Airparks’. At Gatwick the new owners will be offering travellers the option of a Meet and Greet service and undercover parking.
Source: UK Airport News, 13th December 2007
Checker Cars Retains Gatwick Contract
Leading airport taxi operator Checker Cars have retained the contract to provide taxi services at Gatwick Airport. As part of the new contract Checker Cars will be making a number of improvements to their service including: replacing a significant part of their fleet with new people carrier vehicles; improving booking information for passengers; and making the booking process more efficient through a greater use of technology. Computerised booking systems, hand-held devices for staff on the forecourts and better computer systems for the taxi drivers are soon to be brought in. Improvements will also be made to other aspects of the service; including pricing structure and developing new business for journeys to the airport (concentration previously has been on providing services for passengers travelling away from the airport). Checker Cars has a fleet of over 1,000 drivers across the six top UK airports.
Source: BAA Gatwick, 11th December 2007
Crawley University Campus Hopes Raised
Calls for a new university in Crawley received backing from Prime Minister Gordon Brown in a Commons exchange with Crawley MP Laura Moffatt recently. Crawley Borough Council has offered the University of Brighton nearly £20,000 to draw up proposals for a new campus in the Crawley area. Although the development is in its early stages, local business and council leaders are pushing for a campus specialising in science and technology in order to provide local employers with highly skilled local graduates. Ms Moffatt said she hoped that a campus in Crawley would help attract more companies and encourage students reluctant to leave the town into higher education. Jeremy Taylor, chief executive of Gatwick Diamond Business Association (CADIA which represents more than 500 businesses in the Gatwick Diamond area) said he welcomed the on-going discussions between Brighton University and Crawley Borough Council as there is a high demand for graduates and a gap in higher education provision.
Source: The Argus, 10th January 2008
Crawley Residents Fifth Highest Earners in UK
Crawley is the fifth-highest earning place in the UK, with the average weekly wage at £624, according to research published by the Centre for Cities research unit. The research claims that Crawley has the sixth smallest population of benefits claimants (9% of the town’s residents in 2007). Crawley also came out as the second most equal town or city, after Cambridge, in terms of wealth and earnings of residents. Town councillor, Brenda Smith, said she was not surprised by the results as there is work to be had in Crawley if people want it. She added that although Gatwick airport is always there for Crawley and keeps the economy strong the town’s success can’t all be put down to it since many of the jobs there are low waged.
Source: icSurrey online, 28th December 2007
Business Closure Leaves Over 100 Unemployed
Over 100 people working for national window firm Bowater Home Improvements, which trades under the name Zenith Staybrite, were told they were being made redundant when they turned up to work recently. Workers at branches in Worthing; Brighton; Bognor; and Crawley were told that the company is being placed into administration. Self-employed fitters and canvassers have been told they will not be paid for working over Christmas and the New Year. The Weatherseal Group has bought the Staybrite and Zenith brands and 30 of its 58 sales offices and installation centres, but none of Sussex’s branches have been saved.
Source: Crawley Observer, 9th January 2008; The Argus, 8th January 2008
Suggested Solution to Unemployment
Brighton and Hove City Council Leader, Brian Oxley, has said he wants to team up with his counterparts at Crawley and West Sussex councils to find ways to help unemployed people in Brighton and Hove to find jobs in Crawley. He claimed that despite Crawley only being a short distance away it can be a difficult trip for those without a car. He believes that helping Brighton and Hove’s jobless to find work in the fast-developing Sussex town would be good for the Sussex economy and good for individuals. Figures for October showed that Crawley had 1,700 unfilled vacancies and around 1,700 unemployed people claiming Jobseekers Allowance, in comparison to Brighton and Hove, which had about 1,800 vacancies and over 4,300 unemployed claimants.
Crawley councillor, Claire Denman, said the fact that Crawley accounts for just 2% of the land area of West Sussex but collects 37% of the business rates shows just how Crawley's economy is booming. She added that Gatwick Airport and a growing professional sector in legal, surveying and accountancy are opening up many jobs.
Source: www.24dash.com/news, 4th December 2007
Shops Complain over Street Trading
High numbers of complaints by shops and their customers have prompted Crawley town centre manager, Bob O’Brien, to look into ways of ridding the town of street peddlers. Between Christmas and New Year there were reports of more than 20 traders congregating on the walkway in the Martlets, an image the town centre manager says the council is not keen to promote. Mr O’Brien claims that the only way the council could block street traders is to apply for an act of parliament from the government, which would cost the council more than £40,000. Current laws, dating back to 1871 mean that peddlers are free to sell items wherever they like as long as they move from town to town. Cllr Duncan Crow says he will be urging Council Leader Bob Lanzer to look at the ‘problem’ and explore what options are open to them locally to crack down on peddling.
Source: Crawley Observer, 10th January 2008
Railway Route Study Gets Go-Ahead
A feasibility study into the possible re-opening of the Uckfield to Lewes railway line is to be undertaken by Network Rail. The £130,000 cost of the study is being met by a board made up of local councils and train operator Southern Railway.
Since the closure of the line in 1969, trains have only run north from Uckfield. Members of the Wealden Line Campaign group, who have been campaigning for years to see the route re-opened, discussed the issue with a government minister in May 2007. The Department for Transport said at the time that it would be happy to consider the results of any feasibility study. East Sussex County councillor, Rupert Simmons, said the idea to reconnect the line had come a long way from being ‘merely aspirational’ to one of ‘distinct possibility’.
Source: BBC News, 3rd January 2008
Council Highlights Excellent Staff
An awards ceremony was held recently by East Sussex County Council at Uckfield to recognise the achievements and hard work of staff. Teams and individuals based in Lewes, Eastbourne and other locations throughout East Sussex were praised during the ceremony for their dedication and drive towards providing better services. The Employee of the Year Award went to Anita Cobb, a Resource Officer in Adult Social Care, who helped develop work opportunities for 27 adults with learning disabilities. This was done by holding a public open day to raise awareness and was also carried out within existing resources. To see further details of the award winners please click here.
Source: East Sussex County Council, 21st December 2007
Extra-Care Housing Build to Begin
Builders are to begin work on the development of a £6.4m Extra-Care Housing Scheme in Peacehaven in March. Planning permission for the scheme, which will include 41 separate one and two bedroom flats, was granted in October 2007. East Sussex County Council and its partners have now received 40% of the total grant from the Department of Health: the other 60% is due to be released once building work has begun. The development, recently named ‘Downlands Court’, is due to be opened in late spring 2009. It will cater for people suffering from dementia and their carers, offering them the chance to live an independent life within a small friendly community, safe in the knowledge that a 24-hour support is available on-site. There will be a dining room, a hairdresser and other facilities which will be available to the local community. Health visitors will use the community rooms to offer services to residents and locals, creating a Community Health Hub for the local area.
Source: East Sussex County Council, 7th January 2008
Science Park Could Create Hundreds of Jobs
A plan for a multi-million pound science park is being considered by Eastbourne Borough Council as a way of retaining graduates and those with higher-level qualifications in the area and developing the economy. Eastbourne Borough Council is setting up a project board to look at creating the high-tech industrial centre but as yet, details have not been finalised. However, suggestions have been made about using the regenerated Sovereign Harbour site. Science parks elsewhere in Sussex are responsible for annual turnovers of tens of millions of pounds and provide hundreds of senior research and development posts. It is intended that a new park would have strong links to universities like the University of Sussex which runs the Sussex Innovation Centre (SInC), a business incubation hub, at its Falmer campus. Executive director, Mike Herd, said that the Eastbourne park would be a good option for SInC firms once they grew too large for the Falmer campus.
Source: The Argus,18th December 2007
Private Care Initiative to Save Hospice
The Martlets Hospice in Hove has established its own private nursing service, Martlets Care. The hospice requires £3 million a year to fund itself and ended the previous year in deficit the new private service’ s profits will be put back into the hospice’s funds. Chief Executive, Caroline Lower, believes that the new service will help to secure the future of the hospice and respond to the growing demand for ‘at home’ specialist nursing and social care, which existing services are unable to meet.
Patients will be able to access Martlets Care by self-funding; through personal private health insurance schemes; or through additional NHS health-funded care arranged by district nurses, social workers or clinical nurse specialists. Services will be available on a 24-hour, seven-days-a-week basis in Brighton, Hove and surrounding areas.
Source: The Argus, 27th December 2007
Suggested Solution to Unemployment
Brighton and Hove City Council Leader, Brian Oxley, has said he wants to team up with his counterparts at Crawley and West Sussex councils to find ways to help unemployed people in Brighton and Hove to find jobs in Crawley. He claimed that despite Crawley only being a short distance away it can be a difficult trip for those without a car. He believes that helping Brighton and Hove’s jobless to find work in the fast-developing Sussex town would be good for the Sussex economy and good for individuals. Figures for October showed that Crawley had 1,700 unfilled vacancies and around 1,700 unemployed people claiming Jobseekers Allowance, in comparison to Brighton and Hove, which had about 1,800 vacancies and over 4,300 unemployed claimants.
Crawley councillor, Claire Denman, said the fact that Crawley accounts for just 2% of the land area of West Sussex but collects 37% of the business rates shows just how Crawley's economy is booming. She added that Gatwick Airport and a growing professional sector in legal, surveying and accountancy are opening up many jobs.
Source: www.24dash.com/news, 4th December 2007
Meat Firm Upscales Production
Southover Foods, a producer and distributor of prize-winning hams, are increasing capacity at their Southwick factory by 35 per cent in an attempt to boost revenues by a fifth to £6 million next year. Owners Steve and Liz Pearce re-mortgaged their house in order to start the business in 1989 and are confident that investing a further £300,000 to refurbish three units and buy new slicing equipment will enable the company to supply to supermarkets. A further five staff will be employed, bringing the total to 50. The company is also aiming to achieve the British Retail Consortium standard next year.
Source: The Argus (Business), 18th December 2007
Business Closure Leaves Over 100 Unemployed
Over 100 people working for national window firm Bowater Home Improvements, which trades under the name Zenith Staybrite, were told they were being made redundant when they turned up to work recently. Workers at branches in Worthing; Brighton; Bognor; and Crawley were told that the company is being placed into administration. Self-employed fitters and canvassers have been told they will not be paid for working over Christmas and the New Year. The Weatherseal Group has bought the Staybrite and Zenith brands and 30 of its 58 sales offices and installation centres, but none of Sussex’s branches have been saved.
Source: Crawley Observer, 9th January 2008; The Argus, 8th January 2008
Brighton Service Providing Model Service
Brighton and Hove’s innovative family service, ‘Phoenix Futures’, has provided the model for changes proposed by the Cabinet Office in their recently published ‘Think Family’ report. The report explains how adult services will provide support to whole families, rather than just to individuals, in order to prevent problems from passing down to children from their parents. It also announces a £16m programme of local pilots. Phoenix Futures is a leading provider of care and rehabilitation services for people with drug and alcohol problems in the UK, including family services. The Brighton Family Service provides a six-month residential rehabilitation programme for single mothers and fathers, couples and pregnant women who wish to address their substance misuse issues whilst continuing to live with and care for their children.
Source: GNN, 10th January 2008
Post Office Consultation Now Closed
The consultation period for the 49 Sussex branches at threat of closure ended on Christmas Eve. David Lepper, MP for Brighton Pavilion, presented Post Office Ltd with a 1,540 signature petition against the closure of the Elm Grove Post Office; a 1,120 signature petition about the 221 Preston Road branch; and a 1,370 signature petition about 13 Preston Road. A further 750 people signed a Green party petition to save Trafalgar Street Post Office.
Despite the collection of thousands of signatures in petition against the closure of branches, it has emerged that the Post Office Ltd may treat each petition as just one letter of opposition, regardless of the number of signatories. It is not yet known when the result of the consultations will be announced.
Source: The Argus, 26th December 2007
