Ask the Leader
The leader of Wealden District Council is Councillor James Partridge. He will be pleased to answer any question you may have about Wealden District Council's policies, or other matters involving the council, which you think are of interest to people living, working or visiting Wealden.
To ask your question, please use our Ask the Leader - Submit a Question Form
Councillor Partridge is the Liberal Democrat leader of the Cabinet of Wealden District Council and represents Crowborough North.
Specific inquiries about particular services such as planning applications, licensing or accommodation can be reported online. Please use our directory of tasks on online services' to find the appropriate form. You can also email info@wealden.gov.uk
We will try to respond within 10 working days of receiving your question and your question and the leader's reply will then be posted on the website. Please provide your name, we don't need your address. If we think the question is inappropriate for publication we will contact you by email to say why.
For information on any of the Ask the Leader questions listed please contact our Communications officer on pr@wealden.gov.uk
Crowborough Infrastructure
16 March 2023
Question: Dear Councillor Newton, With all the additional housing being built in Crowborough, what plans have you made to increase the infrastructure – doctors surgeries, schools etc…? Mark Pitman
Answer: Dear Mr Pitman, Thank you for your question. At a recent Cabinet meeting, it was recommended to Full Council to commit funding towards delivery of upgrades to the existing hockey pitch at Beacon Academy. This includes resurfacing the pitch and adding floodlights to ensure that the school, local clubs and the community can use the...
Uckfield Leisure Centre
16 March 2023
Question: Dear Councillor Newton, Why is Wealden District Council even considering the closure of Uckfield Leisure Centre? This is a vital community asset and many residents – in a large and expanding town – rely on its facilities. Many would not be able to access Crowborough or Hailsham. We all know money is tight, but if...
Answer: Dear Hatty Philips, Thank you for your question. Following a comprehensive district-wide leisure provision review, in October 2020 Wealden resolved to hand back the dual use leisure centre in Uckfield to East Sussex County Council at the end of its lease, in large part to remove a layer of bureaucracy in the operation of the...
Uckfield Leisure Centre
13 March 2023
Question: Dear Councillor Newton, In the Susses Express recently, there was an article about Uckfield Leisure Centre stating that Wealden District Council would not continue to operate the centre. Instead WDC would concentrate on Crowborough and Hailsham. How does that help leisure in continuing to expand Uckfield and its surrounding area. Ian Thornton
Answer: Dear Mr Thornton Thank you for your question. Following a comprehensive district-wide leisure provision review, in October 2020 Wealden resolved to hand back the dual use leisure centre in Uckfield to East Sussex County Council at the end of its lease, in large part to remove a layer of bureaucracy in the operation of the...
Infrastructure in Crowborough
13 March 2023
Question: Dear Councillor Newton, Crowborough is having a lot more houses built in the past few years. When will more social housing be built to help the existing community and how will the council help the struggling infrastructure in the town please? Jennifer Stapley
Answer: Dear Jennifer Stapley Thank you for your question. At a recent Cabinet meeting, it was recommended to Full Council to commit funding towards delivery of upgrades to the existing hockey pitch at Beacon Academy. This includes resurfacing the pitch and adding floodlights to ensure that the school, local clubs and the community can use the...
Polegate Parking and Local Plan progress
9 March 2023
Question: Dear Councillor Newton, Restrictions apply to High Street laybys by Polegate town shops but it not uncommon for people to park in the laybys for days on end. These are often commuters and even people who park and then go on holiday by train to Gatwick and beyond. This means local residents and many potential...
Answer: Dear Mr James Thank you for your question. In relation to parking issues, Wealden District Council reviewed the options for On Street Car Parking Enforcement in 2017/18 A full and detailed reported was written and presented to Wealden District Council’s Cabinet Committee for consideration and direction https://council.wealden.gov.uk/ieDecisionDetails.aspx?AIId=45130 Below is the link to the decision made...
Freedom of Information
27 February 2023
Question: Dear Councillor Newton, Recently I made a Freedom of Information request of WDC for communications between WDC and a developer but the details were withheld. I do not know who actually refused to divulge this information as the replying email was unsigned from the Information Governance Team. As this was a specific request of WDC...
Answer: Dear Mr Stone, Thank you for your question. Given this matter is now with the Information Commissioners Office (ICO), being the independent body with responsibility for upholding information rights, it’s considered appropriate to let that process run its course. Best wishes Councillor Ann Newton
Land between Willingdon and Polegate
1 November 2022
Question: Dear Councillor Newton, Now that you have succeeded in joining Willingdon to Polegate and destroying the identity and character of each, will you be renaming the ugly town you have created? The original names seem pointless now. Tony Robinson
Answer: Dear Mr Robinson, Thank you for your question. I am unsure if you are aware but this extent of development at Mornings Mill Farm was vehemently refused by Wealden District Council’s Planning Committee. Councillors did all they could to stop the scale of development which was in excess of the area identified as a Strategic...
Will there be a rebate for garden waste collection service not collected during strike action?
6 July 2022
Question: Dear Councillor Newton, With regards to the bin strike. Wealden has stated there will be no rebate. Why? Regardless of how much of the Council Tax is collected and retained by Wealden with regards to refuse collected, a service is not being fulfilled. Are there not defaults in the contract with Biffa and if so,...
Answer: Dear Mr Richings, Thank you for your question and apologies for the delay in providing a response. This has been due to officers dealing with the industrial action which has now ended. We are unable to offer a Council Tax refund in response to the industrial action. Only 9% of Council Tax collected by Wealden...
When will I receive my Council Tax rebate?
5 July 2022
Question: Dear Councillor Newton, Please could you advise when the Council Tax rebate will be paid. I have checked the website and it clearly states from 23rd May 2022. I pay by Direct Debit. My April one cleared and still nothing. Tomorrow we will be in June and it will be a Bank Holiday weekend this...
Answer: Dear Caroline Morgan, Thank you for your question and apologies for the delay in coming back to you. Those delays were due to officers dealing with the waste collection industrial action. We have now processed more than 31,000 payments (74%) to Direct Debit payers and are working to contact all those Direct Debit payers who...
Where is my Council Tax rebate?
5 July 2022
Question: Dear Councillor Newton, Where is my council tax rebate? You’re hanging this out as all the others have all been paid. From Shaun Clay
Answer: Dear Mr Clay, Thank you for your question and apologies for the delay in coming back to you. Those delays were due to officers dealing with the waste collection industrial action. We have now processed more than 31,000 payments (74%) to Direct Debit payers and are working to contact all those Direct Debit payers who...