Wealden District Council
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Parish Bulletin – February 2023

A straight green banner with the words "Southern Water" in the centre.
A photo of polluted water going into the sea.

Local authorities meet to pledge action on Southern Water’s failings

Following a catalogue of issues including flooding, sewage seeping into people’s homes, gardens and roads, and the ongoing problem of discharges into rivers and waterways across Wealden and the wider south east, we have instigated the Southern Water Local Authority Stakeholder Group to hold Southern Water to account for delivering the vital infrastructures that communities need.

An inaugural meeting of local authorities took place at the end of January when the group discussed action and experiences to date across the full Southern Water network.

We co-ordinate and chair the group, which includes representatives from more than 40 councils across the south east including neighbouring Eastbourne, Hastings and Rother councils.

Lots of newspaper cut outs with the centre that says "Cost of living", the others are all based on cost of living, most are not visible.

Our Cost of Living hub goes live

Our Cost of Living support hub to help residents, businesses and community groups has been launched.

The hub has been designed to point people in the right direction to receive professional financial advice tailored to the needs of each group.

Head to our Cost of Living Hub now

A red stamp that says "approve" in the centre, as well as in smaller letters above and also below, the latter is upside down.

Free NHS health checks offered to residents in Wealden ​

Council Tax reduction scheme has been approved

Free NHS health checks are to take place across the Wealden in partnership with One You East Sussex.

Find out more

Some working age people could receive 80 per cent support in a bid to ease the financial pressures.

Find out more

An image of lots of people on the bus.
A ten pound note on a wooden table with pound coins on top of it and around it.

£2 single bus journey until 31 March

Household Support Fund

Many bus users in the south east will benefit from three months of reduced fares. Until 31st March, single journeys will be capped at £2.

Find out more

We have received additional funding from ESCC through the DWP’s Household Support Fund. The funding is limited and will close on 31st March 2023.

Apply Here

A woman is crouched down on the floorholding a measuring tape up against a sofa. She is looking at a man who is also crouched down who is looking at a tablet.

Pevensey Bay gets Outreach Day

High quality and affordable furniture

Residents living in Wealden are invited to an Outreach drop-in session in Pevensey Bay on 07/03/23. The event is being held in St Wilfrid’s Church (12pm – 4pm).

Find more drop-in sessions

Furniture Now supplies high-quality, new and used furniture at affordable prices. Customers who claim financial support, are in low income jobs and students will be able to claim a discount.

Find out more

A straight green banner with the words "Electric Vehicle Charging" in the centre.
A white electric car being plugged in to a electric vehicle charger.

EV charging installation has started

Installation of electric vehicle (EV) charging points across our public car parks has begun. Our first chargers, in Lower Road, Forest Row, should be available for use within the month, closely followed by our other phase one locations (The Willows, Alfriston; Croft Road, Crowborough; Mill Road, Heathfield; Luxfords, Uckfield; North Road, Pevensey Bay; The Greyhound, Wadhurst: and Horsefields, East Dean)

Connected Kerb, one of the UK’s leading providers of EV charging infrastructure solutions, has worked in partnership with us over the past three months reviewing all council owned and operated car parks for their suitability to develop these first phase of installations. We will continue to work with Connected Kerb on reviewing car parks for subsequent phases. 

We have been successful in obtaining a government grant of almost £157,000 to fund this roll out of electric vehicle charging points in our car parks.

Find out more

A straight green banner with the words "Wealden Community Lottery" in the centre.
The Wealden Community Lottery logo. At the far left there is a multicoloured circle, which represents community. Then there are the words "WEALDEN Community Lottery". "Wealden" is in green and "Community Lottery" is in black.

Wealden Community Lottery tickets go on sale

Following a successful launch attended by well over 100 people the hotly anticipated tickets for the new Wealden Community Lottery are now on sale, with the first weekly draw taking place on Saturday 25 March.

Tickets are available to buy online at a cost £1 each and winners could scoop up to £25,000.

Buy your tickets now

An image taken at the launch of Wealden Community Lottery. There are eight women in the photo smiling, all of them holdig a large photo frame or paddle with the lottery name and logo on it.
A straight green banner with the words "Corporate Plan 2023 - 2027" in the centre.
A photo of a forest. There are bluebells scattered through the grass and straight and bendy tree trunks cover the field too. You can't see the top of the trees that are close, but in the background you can see the green leaves of the blurred trees behind.

Corporate Plan 2023 - 2027

We have agreed our new corporate plan for 2023 – 2027. ‘Ambitious for our future’ highlights our ambition as a council, focusing on engaging communities, continuing our work in creating a sustainable environment and ensuring a thriving local economy.

Take a look at our new Corporate Plan here

A straight green banner with the words "Other stories" in the centre.
An image of a post it note that says "No ID? Apply for a free voter ID by 25 April!"
A man crouching down and handing someone sitting on the floor, who appears to be homeless, a hot drink from a flask.

Voter ID is now required to vote in this year's elections

We received £555K to help prevent homelessness

For the first time, residents will need to show photo ID to vote at this year’s local elections. Residents are being urged to make sure they are ready to vote in May by checking they have an accepted form of ID.

Check now

£555,000 has been allocated to support vulnerable people at risk of sleeping rough. This is part of a package which will also help tackle homelessness and provide temporary accommodation for victims of domestic abuse.

Report homelessness here

 

A photo of a man smiling and shaking hands with another man who is barely visible.
A 2D wooden house with "Council Tax" above and next to it also made of wood.

Employment prospects rise from Wealden Community Grants Programme

A Council Tax increase of £6.05 a year has been approved

Working with People Matter we are providing increased employment opportunities through access to training, volunteering and comprehensive employability support, all provided by the charity.

Find out more

The decision to increase the amount by 2.99% was approved by our Cabinet Committee and ratified at a meeting of the Full Council this week. 

Find out more

lady dressed up as a snow fairy sitting in a perspex bubble. A little boy is touching the perspex bubble smiling
A photo of a green checkmark inside and silver circle while a greyish green background.

Streets of Wealden: fun for kids and adults!

Mayfield Community and Health Centre plans approved

From an enchanting mermaid gliding through the streets to a dance display, there’s something for all the family in towns across Wealden throughout March.

Find an event near you

Members of Wealden District Council’s Planning Committee North unanimously approved permission for the application at a recent meeting.

Watch the meeting here

An artist's impression of the houses. There are several houses and young children running on the pavement.

Help NHS Sussex and ESCC with their survey

Contractor is appointed to develop new homes

Help NHS Sussex and ESCC create better ways to support people to access advice about managing their money by sharing your views in their survey. Complete the survey by 17 March for a chance to win a £50 Love2Shop voucher.

Click for survey

Westridge Construction has been awarded the contract to demolish and redevelop Streatfeild House. The project will provide 18 homes for rent and two for purchase on a shared ownership basis.

Find out more

 

A photo of a road with two lanes on each side of a metal barrier. There are lots of cars, most of them blurred from motion. On the right-hand side there are trees beyond the road.
Two semi-detached homes with a large driveway and garages.

Decision awaited on A22 package of improvements

Homes in Wealden available for Shared Ownership

A decision is due soon as to whether a multi-million pound package of transport improvements on the A22 Corridor can move to the next stage of development.

Find out more

We are working with Greymoor Homes to offer two brand new three-bedroom houses available for Shared Ownership. The scheme in Wadhurst is due for handover this spring.

Find out more

 

A woman working on her laptop with a mug beside her. She appears to be at home, and smiles at her laptop screen.
A man installing something into a box on a wall, it has something to do with the electrics.

We are a finalist in national awards

New alarm / sensor systems in our homes

We are 2022 finalists for two separate Great British Workplace Wellbeing Awards! These awards recognise organisations who are making a difference to the lives of our working population.

Find out more

An award-winning system that can indicate potential issues with humidity and air quality (as well as excess cold or heat) is being installed in 150 of our properties across the district.

Find out more

A cordoned off site next to an existing building where building work has begun. There are people in hi-vis jackets, there is a small digger and earth is being dug up.
two ladies sitting on a chair playing curling on a wooden floor

Changing Places unit in Pevensey Bay

Supporting those affected by dementia

Our contractors are currently putting the finishing touches to a new Changing Places unit in the Sea Road Car Park.

 

Wealden Dementia Action Alliance (WDAA) has activities to support everybody on their journey with dementia, ranging from cafes to film screenings.

Join now

 

Wealden District Council logo
A photo of an exercise class. there is a blonde woman in focus smiling with her hands up and blurred people in the background doing the same.

Conclusion of Community Governance Reviews

Six community groups benefit from funding pot

Last year, we received requests to review the boundaries and electoral arrangements for three parishes, which have recently reached a conclusion. 

Find out more

Six groups have been given a share of a £30,000 funding pot to help increase physical activities and deliver better health outcomes.

Find out more

 

In a row, there are three ladies in swimsuits smiling with with their arms on the edge of the pool. The lady on the far right had kicked her legs, making the water splash behind her.
Wealden's Chairman playing short mat bowls.

Freedom Leisure receives funding to help improve health and wellbeing

Short mat bowls enjoyed by all thanks to our Community Grants Programme​​

We will be working throughout the spring and summer with Freedom Leisure to deliver a wide range of free activities to improve both the physical and mental wellbeing of the community and enable better access to health and leisure facilities.

 

Our Community Grants Programme has allocated £3,000 to Hailsham Short Mat Bowls Club to purchase an electric storage and winding machine. This will help bowlers with limited mobility to enjoy the sport more.

Take a look at our Community Grants Awarded this Year

 

Lots of Union Jack banner crossing at the same point and then going off in different directions. The sky is in the background.
A photo of an orange crane, only part of it is shown, namely the central control.

Communities invited to join in with celebrations

Meeting with minister to keep housing target pressures

The Coronation of His Majesty The King will take place on Saturday 6th May, with a bank holiday on Monday 8th May. Parish Councils are encouraged to let us know about any events so we can help promote them.

 

A meeting with the new Housing and Planning minister is being sought to lobby against the high number of homes the we are required to provide.

Find out more

 

A group of people high-fiving at the same time.
There are four people all picking up rubbish from the floor using litter pickers. They look to be in a park with trees behind them. They all have white rubbish bags and one of them is wearing a hi vis jacket.

Team shortlisted for two national awards

Great British Spring Clean 2023

Our Local Land Charges (LLC) team has made the shortlist for two awards at the 2023 Land Data Awards for Excellence!

Find out more

We are calling on residents to show pride in their area by pledging to pick at least one bag of litter during the event.

Pledge now

 

A group of people each putting in a piece of a puzzle, their hands are visible and they are over a table with papers scattered across the table.
A photo of a lit up orange sign on the roof of a barely visible taxi that says, 'TAXI'. The photo is dark and there are blurred orange, yellow and blue lights in the background.

Benefits of joint working wins award 

Wealden cab driver has licence revoked​

We have won a joint award with ESCC’s Housing Occupational Therapy team, for the Disabled Facilities Grant Home Adaptation Service, as part of the joint working partnership. 

A private hire driver has had his licence revoked following a recent meeting of the council’s Licensing Sub-Committee, as it was found that the driver had nine penalty points.