Christmas message from Wealden council leaders

Leader of the council and Liberal Democrat Councillor James Partridge and chief executive Trevor Scott have also highlighted the work and achievements of the authority over the last 12 months.

Councillor Partridge was elected leader of the authority following the Wealden District Council elections in May. The Alliance for Wealden was formed as a working partnership – between members of the Liberal Democrat Party and Green Party – to take on the political leadership of the council. The Green Party’s Councillor Rachel Millward is the deputy leader

Councillor Partridge said, “The elections in May 2023 saw a seismic shift in the political balance of the council. Since then we have worked closely with senior officers to develop a new set of council priorities and produce a new Council Strategy. The new administration is determined that the needs and wishes of Wealden’s residents and businesses are met. The new Council Strategy, therefore, strikes an important balance between preserving and fighting for our environment and the need to provide new homes, including affordable housing, and commercial premises to support our economy.

“We are ambitious for the future of our communities. Our vision for Wealden is far-reaching – to be a place where people and nature thrive together. In delivering that vision we strive to make Wealden a place that is greener, fairer and kinder.

“We have succeeded in charting a difficult course between financial austerities and continuing to deliver improvements for our local communities.

“Collaboration and partnership working are key to our way of working. Many organisations – county council, town and parish councils, local businesses, voluntary and charitable sectors – provide the things and services which are, and will continue to be, essential to life in Wealden and we recognise that partnership work is critical to achieve our aims.

“The Council Strategy also recognises that we will need to do more to bring our communities with us, and so we are developing a new community powered approach to community engagement and service design. This will allow us to work on more local solutions to community issues alongside our larger investment decisions.

“And finally, but most important, we are focused on delivering a new Local Plan, which goes to the heart of what so many of Wealden people are most concerned about – achieving a balance between growth, much needed affordable housing and infrastructure and protecting and restoring nature and biodiversity.

“On behalf of the Alliance for Wealden, I would like to wish everyone a happy, healthy and peaceful Christmas.”

Chief executive Trevor Scott said, “Whilst it has been a year of change, as a council we remain committed to delivering first class services and ensuring Wealden remains one of the very best places to live, work, visit and play.

“This year has seen the launch of the Wealden Community Lottery, which now has hundreds of players raising money for local good causes with a chance to win cash prizes; work is progressing on the council’s Community Sports Hub in the south of the district, a commercial development in Crowborough’s Farningham Road and the new community and health centre at Mayfield; we are making improvements to existing sports and leisure facilities; and we are moving forward with an exciting masterplan for the much-loved Cuckoo Trail.

“Electric vehicle charging points have been installed in many of our car parks, a decarbonisation programme in our housing stock is well underway, we launched our new engagement platform Let’s Talk Wealden to consult with our communities, we have supported our residents with the rising cost of living and all the while continued to deliver remarkable services across all council areas.

“Next year will see us continue delivering those vital services and there is much to look forward to. I wish all our residents, businesses and visitors a very merry Christmas and a happy and prosperous new year.”