This
project is financed by the LSC, SEEDA and
the European Social Fund
LOCAL
NEWS
SUSSEX
NEWS
Construction Firm Plans Sussex Expansion
Rok, one of the country’s biggest construction firms, is hoping to expand its Sussex operation four-fold during the next five years. The company, which has three branches employing about 250 people in Sussex, has had record financial results for the seventh year running with pre-tax profits up 42 per cent to £37.1 million. Chief Executive, Garvis Snook, said that in five years time he would expect the company to have one or two more branches in Sussex and bring the number of people they employ in the county to about 1,000. The company has strengthened its presence in Sussex through the acquisition of Eastbourne-based Llewellyn for £16.25 million in 2002. It now has offices in Eastbourne, Brighton and Crawley.
Source: The Argus, 11th March 2008
Police to Push for Dozens More Officers
Sussex Police is budgeting to expand its force by over 60 officers. Expansion plans include 12 new sergeants; 31 new constables; 5 specialist anti-paedophile officers; and 12 more traffic police. Jobs will also be created for 37 new police staff in areas including the force's major crime branch and a nationwide information-sharing programme. If a higher council tax rise is accepted, a further four officer and eight staff posts will be added to those figures.
Source: The Argus, 8th February 2008
UK Ferry Industry Booming
The Passenger Shipping Association (PSA) says that new figures show that ferry travel is seeing a revival. Nearly 43 million passenger ferry journeys were taken between British ports and the continent, Ireland, and British islands last year: a rise of 419,000 over 2006. PSA director, Bill Gibbons, says he believes the turn-around is down the ‘ongoing chaos’ at airports.
Source: UK Airport News, 4th March 2008
Successful Secondary School Allocations
Although nationally there has been much media coverage and concern about children missing out on places at their preferred secondary school, West Sussex County Council has announced that a greater proportion of young people have been successful in their applications for 2008/9. 92.3 per cent next year’s Year 7 students will take up places at their first choice school, and 97.6 per cent will be attending one of their top three preferred schools. The County Council does not operate a ‘lottery’ style system of admissions and has no plans to introduce this controversial approach.
Robert Dunn, Deputy West Sussex County Council Cabinet Member for Children and Young People’s Services, said: “It’s never going to be possible to reach 100 per cent but we aim to be as close to it as possible. It is likely that the figures may even improve before the start of the new academic year in September, as families move or circumstances change.”
Source: West Sussex County Council, 7th March 2008
West Sussex County Council Named as Top 5 Authority
The Audit Commission confirmed earlier this year that West Sussex had retained its four-star status for the quality of key services, and has now revealed the second element of the annual Comprehensive Performance Assessment, ‘the direction of travel’. West Sussex, along with Kent, Leicestershire, Shropshire and Somerset County Councils are the only five to be rated as ‘performing strongly’.
County Council Leader Henry Smith responded by saying “This is very good news, but there is no room for complacency. The fact that West Sussex is now independently rated as a cutting edge authority is a tribute to the hard work and dedication of all our staff.”
Source: West Sussex County Council, 5th March 2008
Olympic Training Camps to Come to the County
Approval has been given for nine sporting venues across the county to be used as training camps for national teams from around the world in the weeks and months leading up to the London 2012 Games. Two consortia in the county bid for approval to host pre-games training camps: Gatwick Diamond Venues and Chichester Gold. Assessments were carried out by the British Olympic Association and other UK sporting bodies.
All venues will now be included in the ‘Pre-Games Training Camp Guide’ which will be published this summer to help National Olympic Committees to identify suitable facilities and sites for their training camps.
All of the Gatwick Diamond Venues meet the standards: The All England Jumping Course, Hickstead; K2 Crawley; East Grinstead Sports Club; Olympos Burgess Hill; Broadbridge Heath Leisure Centre; and Pavilions in the Park, Horsham. The Gatwick Diamond Venues also includes Brighton’s Yellowave Beach Volleyball.
Chichester Gold’s venues the University of Chichester; the Goodwood Estate; and the Oaklands Park Archery Range have also been approved as meeting the standards to host pre-games training camps.
All approved venues in the county will be working together to organise a broad range of community activities inspired by 2012.
Source: West Sussex County Council, 3rd March 2008
Gold Award for County Council IT Trainers
West Sussex County Council’s team of IT trainers have won a national award for the quality of their information technology training courses. They were shortlisted alongside teams from the Houses of Parliament and the Prison Service in the Public Sector Training Team award. The award, which had 60 entrants, recognises outstanding examples of best practice, innovation and excellence across the IT training industry. Last year the eight person West Sussex team ran more than 635 training courses for more than 5,600 delegates. As well as training courses for County Council staff, it also ran sessions for neighbouring District and Borough Councils, and Chichester University.
Source: West Sussex County Council, 13th February 2008
Further ‘Fit for the Future’ Examinations
The Joint Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee met in late February to consider the findings from the public consultation on the NHS Fit for the Future proposals by West Sussex and Brighton and Hove City Primary Care Trusts (PCTs). The Joint Committee meeting also examined the Health Impact Assessment and public health perspective, the next steps to be taken in the Fit for the Future process and heard evidence from a range of strategic stakeholder organisations.
The PCTs’ Clinical Reference Advisory Group’s (CRAG) proposal was discussed, which allows for the retention of Acute Medicine and Accident and Emergency services at all three hospitals in West Sussex: St Richard’s in Chichester; Worthing & Southlands; and Princess Royal in Haywards Heath.
Some issues of concern were raised, including:
Details of the PCT’s definitions of A&E and maternity services, in relation to the six options being considered.
Details of the development of community services.
The timing of a separate review of health services in the north east of West Sussex.
Source: West Sussex County Times, 27th February 2008 & East Sussex County Council, 11th February 2008
Positive Adult ICT Assessment by Ofsted
The West Sussex Adult and Community Learning Service Information and Communications Technology (ICT) curriculum has been judged to be significantly improved by Ofsted. The recent statutory inspection highlighted significant improvements over the last year. The ICT area of learning was awarded grade two (on a four-point scale), which is classed as ‘good’ by Ofsted. For further information on courses available from the Adult and Community Learning Service throughout West Sussex visit the County Council website at http://www.westsussex.gov.uk/adulteducation or call 0845 0751009.
Source: West Sussex County Council, 11th February 2008
Hundreds of Affordable Homes on the Way
West Sussex is to have more than £24m invested in new affordable homes, the Housing Corporation recently announced. This first new allocation from the corporation's National Affordable Housing Programme for 2008-2011 will see around 626 new affordable homes built across the county. This is only the first wave of funding from the Government's national affordable homes agency's programme, which will see £8.4bn invested across England.
Source: West Sussex Gazette, 29th February 2008
Farming's Future in the Rural Economy
Farming is still sustainable as a business in Chichester District according to senior figures speaking at a conference organised by the District Council. More than 80 farmers from across the District attended an event at the Goodwood Park Hotel recently to hear speakers like Graham Sanders, Regional Agriculture Manager at Lloyds TSB Agriculture, give encouragement and advice. Leading agencies supporting the industry, including the NFU (National Farmers Union), SEEDA (South East Economic Development Agency) highlighted the issues facing farming across the Chichester District. The event also demonstrated to local farmers the support available to the District's rural economy.
Chichester District Council's Chief Executive, John Marsland, emphasised the importance of farming to the District's rural economy and landscape. He also described recent Council initiatives to support the farming industry, including the provision of a free preliminary planning service for farmers wishing to diversify, and yearly farm tours held for District and Parish Councillors to help them learn more about the issues facing the industry.
Source: Chichester District Council, 7th March 2008
College Wins Specialist Science Status
Manhood Community College in Selsey is celebrating being awarded Specialist Science College status. Schools minister, Andrew Adonis, announced the achievement and said that the status would bring many benefits, including support from sponsors, strong leadership and a clear sense of mission, backed by challenging targets and partnerships with other schools. Head teacher, Mark Vickers, said the college’s staff and students are thrilled, and thanked local businesses who contributed a total of £50,000 to support the bid for specialist status. Click here to see a letter to parents from Mr Vickers, outlining what the new status will mean for the school.
Source: West Sussex Gazette, 26th February 2008
Chichester District Youth Council Scoop Award
Chichester District Youth Council has won an award for their campaign to help young people stay safe on the internet. The Youth Group category of the Safer Place Awards 2008, organised by the West Sussex Strategic Community Safety Partnership was awarded to the group with £1,000 prize money, which will be used to design and print posters, mouse mats, and stickers to support the campaign. These materials offering advice on how to stay safe, and top tips on what to do and what not to do when chatting online will be distributed to pupils in every primary school in West Sussex.
For more information about Chichester District Youth Council, visit their website at http://www.yourcdyc.co.uk. Alternatively, contact Jo Losack, Youth Engagement Officer at Chichester District Council, on 01243 534857 or email jlosack@chichester.gov.uk.
Source: Chichester District Council, 26th February 2008
Olympic Training Camps to Come to Chichester
Approval has been given for nine sporting venues across West Sussex to be used training camps for national teams from around the world in the weeks and months leading up to the London 2012 Games. The Chichester Gold consortia was one of two groups in the county to successfully bid for approval to host pre-games training camps, through assessments carried out by the British Olympic Association and other UK sporting bodies. Venues at the University of Chichester; the Goodwood Estate; and the Oaklands Park Archery Range have been approved and will now be included in the ‘Pre-Games Training Camp Guide’ which will be published this summer to help National Olympic Committees to identify suitable facilities and sites for their training camps.
All approved venues in the county will be working together to organise a broad range of community activities inspired by 2012.
Source: West Sussex County Council, 3rd March 2008
Low Emission Coaches Ready for London Trips
Midhurst coach operator, Richardson Travel, has invested £500,000 to ensure that the fleet will be able to enter all areas of London without attracting the emission zone surcharge, of £200 per visit, which will be introduced by the London Mayor this summer. Expensive modification is required for coaches over 6 years of age, if they are to meet the stringent Euro3 and Euro4 low emission criteria. Richardson Travel has kept up its programme of vehicle purchases to ensure that all but its school buses for local journeys are less than 6 years old. However, it is estimated that around 60 per cent of coaches in the South East are older than that and therefore would attract this high charge each day they entered a London Borough (including Heathrow airport). Richardson Travel and some other coach operators have been making these investments in vehicles in order to remain competitive and to avoid having to pass on emissions charges to groups hiring their coaches for trips into London.
Source: Midhurst Observer, 7th March 2008
Dozens of Jobs go as Ford Firm Collapses
The closure of a haulage company based in Ford has caused around 60 job losses. Around 40 drivers and 20 warehouse and office staff working for Farndell & Gates Ltd, which trades under the name Page Group, were made redundant without warning recently as the firm went into administration with immediate effect. Norman Dingemans, Arun District Council's cabinet member for economic regeneration and cultural development, said that the council will be looking to see how they can help in finding placements for those workers affected. Littlehampton mayor, Dr James Walsh, said that he hoped that many of the drivers who have lost their jobs would be able to find work quickly as there are other haulage contractors in the area within the horticulture industry.
Source: The Argus, 21st February 2008
IT Firm Job Cuts
Capgemini, the consulting and outsourcing company, has lost a contract with Revenue and Customs, and will therefore be making numerous IT workers redundant. Of the 450 jobs to be cut nationally, around 10 per cent are expected to be lost from offices in Barrington Road, Goring. The Public and Commercial Services union (PCS) has expressed its concern that the reduction in staff providing IT support for the Revenue may lead to some disruption in the provision of tax credits.
Source: The Argus, 28th February 2008
Worthing Worker Too Old to Insure Fights Back
An 85-year-old man from Worthing, sacked from his cleaning job at Worthing College for being too old, is considering taking his case to the European Court of Human Rights. The college apparently took the decision to let Bill Lloyd-Briden go after learning from their insurer that they could not provide full cover for him because he was over 80.
Mr Lloyd-Briden has appealed against the college’s decision at an employment tribunal; an appeal tribunal; and now the Court of Appeal. He has been told by each that they have no power to consider his case because the 1996 Employment Rights Act restricted unfair dismissal claims to sacked employees aged 65 or under. Court of Appeal judge, Lord Justice Pill, expressed sympathy for Mr Lloyd-Briden and told him that had he been sacked just eight months later, the European Equal Opportunities Directive (which lifted the age restriction on unfair dismissal claims) would have come into force by then.
Source: The Argus, 21st February 2008
Newhaven Factory Job Cuts Decision
The downsizing of the Parker Pen Factory in Newhaven (previously reported on in our November bulletin) will cause the loss of around 150 jobs. Managers, who have been consulting with staff and union officials since November, recently confirmed plans to downsize manufacturing at the site and transfer all office functions elsewhere. The Newhaven operation is to become a ‘centre of excellence’ for a number of activities, including high volume assembly and the packaging of fine writing products. Lewes MP Norman Baker who has been in contact with managers at the factory to urge them to minimise the job losses expressed concern at the news but said he took some comfort from the fact it was originally thought 200 posts would be lost.
Source: The Argus, 29th February 2008
Worthing Sixth Form College Redevelopment
Worthing Sixth Form College has had its multi-million pound redevelopment scheme approved by council planners. The £41m plan will see a new college built along with 124 residential dwellings which will help fund the development in Bolsover Road. Principal, Peter Corrigan, said that he is delighted with the decision which will create a fantastic facility for young people in Worthing and prevent them leaving Worthing and seeking education elsewhere.
Source: West Sussex Today, 22nd February 2008
Spa Hotel Could Create Skilled Jobs Boom
Holiday firm, Butlins, recently presented plans for a new £20m state-of-the-art spa hotel in Bognor Regis to the Bognor Regis sub committee of Arun District Council. Butlins claim that the spa would create around 200 skilled jobs which would add to the wider regeneration of the area. Butlins’ managing director, Richard Bates, said that the hotel would have 570 beds and would include treatment rooms; a heated swimming pool; outdoor hot-tubs; relaxation pools; and a spa lounge.
Source: West Sussex Today, 27th February 2008
Drugs Firm Braced for More Jobs Cuts
GlaxoSmithKline have warned that an anticipated fall in this year’s profits, caused by tough competition from rivals, could have a knock-on effect with more job losses across its operation (although no redundancies will be formally announced until after consultation with employees). In October, GSK said that 180 workers could be made redundant at its manufacturing plant in Southdown View Way in Worthing and a further 130 jobs at its factory on the Manor Royal industrial estate in Crawley may be lost. The company paid out £338 million in restructuring costs during the final quarter of 2007 under the cost-saving plans. Shares in GSK fell by about eight per cent after the pharmaceuticals giant said that 2008 earnings would be hit by declining sales of diabetes medication, Avandia.
Source: The Argus, 12th February 2008
Food Safety Course for Businesses
Supervisors and managers working in the local food industry have attended a three day course run by Arun District Council. The Supervising Food Safety Course, held at Arun’s Civic Centre in Littlehampton by the Council (in partnership with Seahaven Food Safety), was aimed at ensuring businesses are up-to-date with the latest laws and requirements. Representatives from businesses from inside and outside of the District attended the event. Arun District Council’s Deputy Head of Environmental Health, Roger Wood, said that the course was all about driving home the message that supervisors and middle managers are an essential link in maintaining high standards of food hygiene and safety.
Source: Arun District Council, 25th February 2008
Private Fitness Centres Merge
Two of Haywards Heath’s private fitness firms, Cloud 9 and Sawyers, have merged. The deal between the two firms, which have been in direct competition for almost 20 years, sees the Cloud 9 membership (previously located at The Orchards, Haywards Heath) move to the Sawyers site at Boston Road, near Hanbury Park football stadium.
Source: West Sussex Gazette, 6th March 2008
Big Cheese with Big Plans
Bookham Fine Foods of Twineham have been nominated for the Business of the Year in the West Sussex Business Awards. The company has an annual turnover approaching £1 million, but has big plans for expansion to a turnover of £3m through the introduction of new products, still using locally sourced ingredients. The diary producer, best known for its vegetarian parmesan-style cheese which is distributed nationally through Sainsbury’s, the company also makes ricotta, pasta sauces, ravioli, and gnocchi. It is the Italian food market that Bookham looks set to develop further, in the near future. The company is also supporting the fledgling production of durum wheat, for pasta, in England in partnership with Surrey-based farmers and a miller on the Isle of Wight.
The company is strongly committed to expansion in Sussex and in supporting other Sussex ingredient producers. Their community work will soon include providing school visits to tie in with GCSE science to demonstrate cheese making and pasta production.
Source: West Sussex County Times, 8th February 2008
Local Marketing for National Government
Steyning-based marketing company ‘The Staging House’ is celebrating success through a series of high-profile contracts for national government clients. Prestigious contracts The Staging House now have held include the Royal Agricultural Society of England; the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA); and the Ministry of Defence.
Much of the company’s work involves creating targeted promotional websites for special events and campaigns, including the Territorial Army's centenary celebrations. West Sussex County Council is also working with The Staging House to promote activities to ensure that Sussex communities and businesses benefit as much as possible from the 2012 Olympics.
Source: West Sussex County Times, 27 February 2008
Olympic Training Camps in Mid Sussex
Approval has been given for nine sporting venues across West Sussex to be used as training camps for national teams from around the world in the weeks and months leading up to the London 2012 Games. All venues will now be included in the ‘Pre-Games Training Camp Guide’ which will be published this summer to help National Olympic Committees to identify suitable facilities and sites for their training camps.
All of the ‘Gatwick Diamond Venues’ meet the standards: The All England Jumping Course, Hickstead; K2 Crawley; East Grinstead Sports Club; Olympos Burgess Hill; Broadbridge Heath Leisure Centre; Pavilions in the Park, Horsham; and Brighton’s Yellowave Beach Volleyball.
Additionally, the ‘Chichester Gold’ consortia venues are: the University of Chichester; the Goodwood Estate; and the Oaklands Park Archery Range.
All approved venues in the county will be working together to organise a broad range of community activities inspired by 2012.
Source: West Sussex County Council, 3rd March 2008
BAA Sells Airport Duty Free Shops
Airports operator BAA has sold off its ‘World Duty Free’ business for £546.6m to Italian firm, Autogrill. The 58 shops, based at airports across the UK, will help to cut the £9bn of debt taken out by Spain’s Ferrovial for its £10bn purchase of BAA 18 months ago. Autogrill is now the world's biggest provider of retail services for travellers, operating 5,200 outlets in more than 1,100 locations. There are World Duty Free shops in BAA's airports at Heathrow; Gatwick; Stansted; Glasgow; Edinburgh; Aberdeen and Southampton.
Source: BBC News, 10th March 2008; Ananova, 10th March 2008
Government Ends Airport Lounge Subsidy
Foreign Secretary David Miliband has announced that the subsidy for VIP lounges at Heathrow and Gatwick are to be cut from 1st April. The suites, which are mainly used by travelling diplomats, will be run on a commercial basis by airport owner BAA. The change is initially on a 12-month trial basis.
Source: UK Airport News, 4th March 2008
Airport Toll Lane Possibility
Special toll lanes aimed at those travelling from London to Gatwick or Heathrow could be introduced on sections of the M3, M4, M23 and M20 and M25 under plans by Transport Secretary, Ruth Kelly, to tackle congestion spots on Britain’s motorways. The government has identified 540 miles of motorway where the hard shoulder could be used to create an extra lane. Ministers believe that this additional lane could be used for car-sharing; a blanket toll; a toll for people not carrying passengers in their vehicle; or as a crawler lane for lorries and caravans. Officials plan to use the next 9 months to draw up detailed plans for each motorway, but a toll of around £5 has been suggested.
Source: UK Airport News, 4th March 2008
600 Jobs to go at Friends Provident
Friends Provident a major life and pensions group with an office in Dorking, where a number of Horsham district residents work, is to axe 600 jobs. The group says cuts being made throughout the business by the end of 2009 are aimed at saving nearly £60m. Friends Provident is also looking at outsourcing parts of the business including its investment business F&C Asset Management.
Source: Bognor Regis Observer, 31st January 2008
Olympic Training Camps to Come to the County
Approval has been given for seven sporting venues in the Gatwick Diamond (including Brighton) to be used training camps for national teams from around the world in the weeks and months leading up to the London 2012 Games. The All England Jumping Course, Hickstead; K2 Crawley; East Grinstead Sports Club; Olympos Burgess Hill; Broadbridge Heath Leisure Centre; Pavilions in the Park, Horsham; and Brighton’s Yellowave Beach Volleyball venue were all give positive assessments by the British Olympic Association and other relevant UK sporting bodies. These venues will now be included in the ‘Pre-Games Training Camp Guide’ which will be published this summer to help National Olympic Committees to identify suitable facilities and sites for their training camps.
All approved venues in West Sussex will be working together to organise a broad range of community activities inspired by 2012.
Source: West Sussex County Council, 3rd March 2008
UK Ferry Industry Booming
The Passenger Shipping Association (PSA) say that new figures show that ferry travel is seeing a revival. Nearly 43 million passenger ferry journeys were taken between British ports and the continent, Ireland, and British islands last year, a rise of 419,000 over 2006. PSA director, Bill Gibbons, says he believes the turn-around is down the ‘ongoing chaos’ at airports.
Source: UK Airport News, 4th March 2008
250 Jobs Losses at Barclaycard in Crawley
The recent announcement of the closure of Barclaycard’s call-centre in Crawley’s High Street will mean the loss of 250 jobs. The decision comes after Barclaycard sold part of its business to American firm, CompuCredit. Barclaycard has said that staff will be encouraged to relocate to another custom contact call-centre in Milton Keynes. Workers unable or unwilling to move will be given three months paid ‘gardening leave’ to find another position within the company. If after this time no new post is found, they will be offered a full redundancy package.
Source: The Argus, 14th February 2008
Up to 650 Sussex Jobs Moving to Luton
Workers at TUI Travel in Crawley have been told that the company plans to move a large section of its operation to Luton. The German company, which merged travel brands Thomson and First Choice last year, plans to close First Choice House in an attempt to make savings of £150 million. Up to 650 staff based at the London Road office have been told that they can follow their jobs to Luton or choose redundancy before the office closes in 2009. TUI has also announced plans to close about 100 high street stores in the UK. This announcement does not affect staff at the company’s other four offices in Crawley.
Drugs Firm Braced for More Jobs Cuts
GlaxoSmithKline have warned that an anticipated fall in this year’s profits, caused by tough competition from rivals, could have a knock-on effect with more job losses across its operation (although no redundancies will be formally announced until after consultation with employees). In October, GSK said that 180 workers could be made redundant at its manufacturing plant in Southdown View Way in Worthing and a further 130 jobs at its factory on the Manor Royal industrial estate in Crawley may be lost. The company paid out £338 million in restructuring costs during the final quarter of 2007 under the cost-saving plans. Shares in GSK fell by about eight per cent after the pharmaceuticals giant said that 2008 earnings would be hit by declining sales of diabetes medication, Avandia.
Source: The Argus, 12th February 2008
Award-Winning Business Woman Joins EMC 'Board'
Award-winning businesswoman Gill Levett is to join EMC Management Consultants’ ‘mobile boardroom’ of professional advisers operating out of offices in Eastbourne, Crawley and Maidstone. The advisers mentor growing businesses across the south east with practical, hands-on advice. Gill, named Entrepreneur of the Year at last year’s Crawley Business Awards, launched her first business, The Cottage Loaf Company, when she was just 21. By the time she sold it eight years later, it was the largest privately-owned sandwich manufacturer in London with a turnover of £1.5 million and a staff of 80.
Source: Eastbourne Herald, 18th February 2008; EMC Ltd News.
Improvements to Help Children with Disabilities
West Sussex County Council has invested £200,000 in new facilities to support and promote the inclusion of children with disabilities at Bewbush Community Primary School. The improvements include a toilet/hygiene room with ceiling mounted hoist; adjustable shower bench and shower; a physiotherapy room with mounted ceiling hoist; a hearing loop system in the reception; a ‘Soundfield’ system in the school hall to assist pupils with impaired hearing; an accessible parking bay; and a dropped kerb onto the pavement leading to the front of the school to improve wheelchair access. As part of the project, a practical area in the school has also been refurbished to provide an improved teaching space which will also be used to accommodate breakfast and after school clubs.
Source: West Sussex County Council, 26th February 2008
Dairy Firm Distribution Centre to Close
It has been announced that the Arla Foods distribution facility at Sheffield Park, Uckfield, will close in July, meaning the loss of 90 jobs. Arla Foods have already begun consulting with employees and their representatives. Operations Director, Brian Salter, has said that the firm intends to give full support to affected staff to help them find alternative employment both within and external to Arla Foods.
Source: West Sussex Gazette, 28th February 2008
New Youth Hostel to be Built
Eastbourne’s youth hostel, destroyed by arsonists in 2004, is to be replaced on the same, East Dean Road site, with a 20-bed YHA hostel. The £500,000 facility will have en-suite rooms and will be self-catering. Planning officers said the proposed replacement youth hostel would be a useful facility for visitors to the town and the South Downs. The new hostel is expected to open next year.
Source: Mid Sussex Times, 8th March 2008
Children and Young People’s Plan Review
A review is underway of the Children and Young People’s Plan: a document, published in March 2006 by the Children’s Trust, which sets out the priorities for children and young people in East Sussex. As part of the review schools have helped distribute letters to parents containing a simple postcard which asks them to identify the issues they think are the most important to address. An extensive questionnaire has also been circulated to people who work with children and young people, and the county’s Youth Cabinet. The feedback will help develop a new plan for 2008-11 and shape the services provided in the county over coming years.
More information on the Children’s Trust and the Children and Young People’s Plan is available on the trust’s website. On the website parents can find the 17 top priorities that are being suggested for 2008–11 and can give their feedback on them. Click here to go to the relevant webpage.
Source: East Sussex County Council, 10th March 2008
Older People’s Engagement Day
East Sussex County Council and the East Sussex Seniors’ Association recently ran an ‘Older People’s Engagement Day’ to improve the communication between local decision makers and older residents in the county. During the event East Sussex Seniors’ Association identified eight issues of greatest concern and interest to older people:
Better support for older people returning to work, and accommodation of flexible working patterns.
The use of health MOT style tests and other ‘early warning’ screening tests designed to identify potential problems.
Funding for lifelong learning opportunities.
Better community involvement and the breaking down of barriers between generations.
Better communication between agencies to support vulnerable members of the community.
Having access to a range of different types of transport initiatives and the free bus pass system to meet different needs.
The importance of respite services for carers, including emergency respite.
A panel of elected councillors and executives from various relevant bodies responded to questions on these subjects with their thoughts and comments. The day ended with the Council’s Chairman, Councillor Bob Lacey, OBE, officially launching the ‘Time of Our Lives’ Strategy – a plan for improving and promoting quality of later life in East Sussex 2008 to 2011. The Strategy is aimed at bridging a wide range of areas that concern older people.
Represented at the event were the NHS; the Sussex Police; the Department of Work and Pensions; the Learning and Skills Council and the County Council’s departments for Transport and Environment; Adult Social Care and Communications and Policy.
Source: East Sussex County Council, 10th March 2008
Support Groups for BME Young People
New support groups for young people from black, minority ethnic communities are being created by East Sussex Council’s Youth Development Service. The first group will be set up in the Eastbourne area. It is hoped that further groups will follow, including one for the Lewes district. The Council’s BME Young People’s Support Worker, Jed Murray, said that the new groups would be an additional service for BME young people aged 13–19, not a replacement for existing mainstream youth groups. He stressed that although integration and community cohesion are very important the Council recognises that for some attending mainstream youth clubs may be difficult. Anyone interested in finding out more about the group should contact Jed Murray on 07825 926550 or email jed.murray@eastsussex.gov.uk
Source: East Sussex County Council, 11th February 2008
Little Group Expands
The owners of Eastbourne book wholesalers, Gardners Books Ltd, recently acquired The Holt Jackson Book Company Ltd, one of the UK’s major library book suppliers.
The Little Group Ltd, which also includes Askews Library Services Ltd, Browns Books for Students, and Book Protectors Ltd, says that all companies will continue to operate under their existing branding. The companies will benefit from a united strategy and combined support services and supply chain improvements. Annual sales are forecast to exceed £200m, including 20 percent from overseas markets.
Recent investment at Gardners Books warehouse on Highfields Industrial Estate has put a sophisticated stock control warehousing system in place to support up to a thousand staff at times of peak demand.
Source: Eastbourne Herald, 7th March 2008
£400m Council Buildings
The five-year capital building programme for East Sussex County Council is projected to cost £400m was discussed by the Cabinet and recommended for approval. The programme lays out plans for developments for schools and children’s centres; facilities for older people; new libraries for Hastings and Newhaven; and the long-discussed Bexhill Hastings Link Road, which is expected to enhance the attractiveness of the area to business investment.
Source: East Sussex County Council, 7th February 2008
Building Bexhill’s Future Schools
Consultation events during March will allow Bexhill residents to find out more about East Sussex County Council’s plans for a new £37m secondary school, and associated Vocational Skills Centre. The project will use £33m from the government’s Building Schools for the Future programme and £4m from the Council. It is hoped that a planning application can be submitted by this summer, so that building work can commence this year and complete by September 2010.
New Children’s Centres
East Sussex Council has unveiled several new Children’s Centres across the county, giving a further 13,000 children access to a range of services at a one-stop-shop Children’s Centre by 2010. There are now 22 Children’s Centres in East Sussex, many located in new-builds, or recently updated an upgraded facilities. The locations of the centres were chosen following consultation with parents and carers; schools; and other key stakeholder organisations.
All of the county’s Children’s Centre will offer childcare and early learning for young children; health services; family support; a base for childminders; and help into employment for parents. Additional services such as midwifery services; home visiting; parenting courses; parent and toddler groups; Book Start; the mobile Jobcentre Plus; and speech therapy will be arranged to meet local needs.
The purpose-built Dunbar Children’s Centre in Hailsham will provide one-stop shop services for children under five and their families in the Wealden area, and will sit alongside the existing Hailsham East Children’s Centre. Phone Tina Pugh on 01323 444888 for more information, or click here.
The Battle Children’s Centre, has been built in the grounds of Battle and Langton Primary School in Market Road. Information about the centre can be obtained from Natalie Hollands on 01797 227536.
Churchwood Children’s Centre, in Church in the Wood Lane, St Leonards includes a nursery which is run in conjunction with the neighbouring Churchwood Community Primary School. More information about the centre can be obtained from Tracey Rose on 01424 448143.
Source: East Sussex County Council, 4th, 26th & 27th February 2008
City Academy Businesses for Falmer
It has been announce that part of the operation of the new £26.4million City Academy at Falmer will be supported by businesses operated by pupils alone, and in partnership with professionals. A large open studio space will be incorporated into the new buildings (which are expected to be completed by 2011) to house these enterprises. Detailed plans for Falmer Academy are reportedly ‘back-on-track’ after a change of the major sponsor, with agreements that the Academy will focus on entrepreneurship and sport, tying in with Brighton and Hove Albion Football Club at the neighbouring Falmer stadium.
Source: The Argus, 6th March 2008.
Brighton Marina Hotel Plan
2012 should see the opening of a new 150-room four-star hotel with shops, bars and restaurants on the western edge Brighton Marina if plans submitted by Brunswick Developments gain approval from Brighton and Hove City Council. The design also includes a new bridge from Black Rock and steps directly down to the beach: significantly improving pedestrian access between the city and the Marina.
Activity around the Marina is set to increase, with around 3,200 new residents expected to move to new homes that are already committed, and new business ventures including shops, restaurants and an indoor events arena with two Olympic-size ice rinks. All this work will add to the buoyancy of the local constructions sector, and eventually further underpin Brighton’s retail and tourism trade.
Source: The Argus, 7th February 2008
Construction Firm Plans Sussex Expansion
Rok, one of the country’s biggest construction firms, is hoping to expand its Sussex operation four-fold during the next five years. The company, which has three branches employing about 250 people in Sussex, has had record financial results for the seventh year running with pre-tax profits up 42 per cent to £37.1 million. Chief Executive, Garvis Snook, said that in five years time he would expect the company to have one or two more branches in Sussex and bring the number of people they employ in the county to about 1,000. The company has strengthened its presence in Sussex through the acquisition of Eastbourne-based Llewellyn for £16.25 million in 2002. It now has offices in Eastbourne, Brighton and Crawley. The firm bucks industry trends by training and employing its own tradesmen instead of using sub-contractors. Rok has many local contracts, including providing building support to Brighton and Hove City Council.
Source: The Argus, 11th March 2008
Nursing Cuts?
Like all NHS Trusts, South Downs Health NHS Trust is looking for cost savings of 3 per cent each year, and staffing budgets appear to be top of the list. There is concern that cuts may fall on the District Nursing service, with up to 20 nursing and admin posts under threat. The number of posts in intermediate care, occupational therapy, speech and language and non-clinical support services may also be reduced as the result of an on-going review.
Source: The Argus, 13th March 2008
Primary Schools Reorganisation
Brighton and Hove City Council is reviewing infant and junior school places across the city in preparation to meet the needs of families in the future. It is estimated that in 5 years time there will be 558 more primary pupils and 492 more secondary pupils in the city than today. In some areas this will lead to mergers, in other areas expansion will be required, possibly leading to new schools being built. Where possible, primary schools will offer education from reception year through to 11, with existing infant and junior schools being merged. Already, plans are well advanced for West Blatchington Infant and West Blatchington Junior to be amalgamated this September.
Source: The Argus, 12th March 2008
Teen Pregnancy Rates Drop
Across Sussex, teenage pregnancy rates have been falling since 2000. However, while the drop in West Sussex (22.4 per cent) was approximately double the national average, the number of teenage pregnancies in East Sussex has been rising for eight years. In Brighton and Hove saw its teenage pregnancy rate drop by 10.4 per cent, just short of the national average.
The abortion rate in Brighton and Hove rose by 5 percentage points from 1998 to 2006 and in East Sussex it rose by 10 percentage points.
Source: The Argus, 29th February 2008
School Transport Costs
1,754 pupils in Brighton and Hove receive home to school transport assistance: 710 of those have special educational needs. In the autumn term bus passes cost the city council more than £1 million, mainly
The city council forked out more than £1 million during the 2007 autumn term alone and nearly £80,000 on bus passes, most of that cost incurred for pupils in mainstream schools at some distance from their homes. A further £40,000 was committed to taxi travel for a small group of pupils. However, the council pointed out that it also spent approximately £5000 reimbursing parents who provided their won travel at a much cheaper rate than commercial alternatives.
Source: The Argus, 28th February 2008
Patching Lodge Development Underway
A foundation stone has been laid to commemorate the Patching Lodge development. Brighton & Hove City Council and Hanover Group held a stone-laying ceremony on the roof of the seven-storey building, with uninterrupted sea views. The development is due to be fully completed in Spring of 2009, offering 76 one and two bedroom apartments for older people living in Brighton. There will be a combination of apartments for rent and for sale, along with a restaurant; hair and beauty salon; a healthy living suite; and a café. Residents will have independence, but with easy access to care and support services
Source: Brighton & Hove City Council, 4th March 2008
Short Break Funding for Disabled Children
More than £2 million more will be spent on short break services for disabled children in the city over the next three years, thanks to Brighton and Hove’s acceptance in the first wave of the government's ‘Aiming High for Disabled Children’ programme. Short breaks provide parents and carers a chance for a quality time as couples or with their other children, while disabled youngsters get the opportunity to forge new friendships and gain confidence through new and independent experiences. The city’s Children & Young People’s Trust will co-ordinate the short break programme, matching opportunities with the needs of individual families.
Source: Brighton & Hove City Council, February 2008
