Worthing’s new first citizen to make history as youngest in the UK  

Worthing’s new mayor will make history becoming one of the youngest ever in the country to don the civic robes and chain.

Alex Harman is set to officially take on the role as the town’s first citizen at a ceremony today, Friday, May 19

At 23, he is not only the youngest ever mayor in the borough’s 127-year history, he is also the youngest borough mayor ever in the UK.

Alex said: “It’s a great privilege to be Mayor of Worthing. It’s a fantastic borough and I’m extremely proud to represent it.

“Obviously I’m a little bit younger to other mayors and I want to bring a little bit of an energy to the role that wasn’t there before

“I don’t think being 23 makes me too young for the job; it just means I’m a little different.

“The town is changing, you can see that with the demographics in that it is becoming a lot younger and a lot older too. I want to represent that in everything that I do.”

Alex has lived in West Sussex all his life, moving to Worthing seven years ago.

After leaving Worthing College, Alex secured an apprenticeship in Business Administration with West Sussex County Council and Northbrook College.

He has spent the majority of his career to date working in client facing roles for both large international companies and smaller more local businesses.

In the next 12 months, Alex will take a year out of work to fully focus on his civic duties, with hundreds of events already booked in his calendar.

After putting on the century-old robes for the first time on Friday, Alex will waste no time getting on to business - with a mayor’s inaugural dinner that evening followed by a civic service at St George’s church on Sunday.

The following day, he will welcome a group of English language school students from Austria and a local Brownies group into the mayor's chamber.

Alex will be accompanied throughout the year by his wife Fran, who works in finance for Worthing High School. They married in September last year.

Alex, who was elected to represent Selden ward on Worthing Borough Council in 2015, said: “I am looking forward to meeting as many members of the community as I can across the next year and promoting some of the great things that happen within the borough.

“I hope to spend some time with various council services to highlight the great work they do keeping our town a fantastic place to live.

“Across the last year as Deputy Mayor I have met with some amazing local businesses and charities and am looking forward to having the opportunity to meet more as Mayor."

QUICKFIRE QUESTIONS

Three top things to do in Worthing?

I enjoy going on the pier with withe my wife; going for a pint at my local pub; and going out to eat in some of the many restaurants in Worthing town centre.

Favourite food?

Indian food

Favourite sport?

Rugby

Favourite film?

Any of the Batman trilogy

Tell us something about the mayoralty we didn’t know?

The thing that fascinates me the most is the mayoral robes that you see the mayor out and about in are the same robes worn in 1890 when the role was first created.

Adur District Council chooses new chairman

A councillor has become the first citizen of Adur for the second time in five years.

Peter Metcalfe was elected Chairman of Adur District Council at its annual meeting, taking over the chain of office from Cllr Ann Bridges.

Cllr Metcalfe, who lives in Southwick and represents Southwick Green, has served as a councillor for nine years and first became chairman in 2012.

He told of his delight at becoming Chairman for a second time, saying: “It was totally unexpected. I absolutely loved it before and I’m really looking forward to serving as Chairman again and having the opportunity to meet people and see the great things that are happening in Adur.”

The new Vice Chairman is Cllr Joss Loader, who lives in Shoreham and represents Marine ward.

Read on to find out more about the new Chairman.

What is your background?

After serving in the Armed Forces for 11 years, I retrained as a financial adviser. Thirty-two years later, I still enjoy my meetings with clients. My wife Rosemary and I have been married for 38 years and have two children, Sarah and Martin, and three grandchildren.

How do you relax?

I’m never one to sit still. Golf, cycling and walking allow me a great way to enjoy our area and relax.

Why did you become a councillor?

The change from having no particular interest in local politics to absolute concentration came about when our street was threatened with a block of overbearing flats which were totally out of keeping with the conservation area. We were successful in stopping the inappropriate flats with the help of Cllr Janet Mockeridge and others, so this began the thought process that if you don't like the system, there’s no point in standing on the sidelines moaning. If things need changing, join whatever organisation it is and try to change it from within. That's what my motivation was. Now it is to help others facing challenges from whatever direction.

What are your priorities for the coming year as Chairman?

I would, on behalf of the Council, extend our congratulations to Brighton and Hove Albion for their terrific promotion to the Premier League. Of course, with their top class training ground in Lancing, I would like to think we have been part of that success and I would like to work with the Albion to bring the benefits to the residents and schools of Adur. It’s a tremendous opportunity for us and one that I shall be looking forward to.

Which charities will you be supporting as Chairman?

My charities this year are:

·         St Barnabas House – a local charity offering support, a hospice and care for patients with cancer and other life-limiting conditions

·         Building Heroes – a charity which, as a veteran myself, is very dear to my heart. It provides skills and training for military veterans and support back into employment in the building trades. The aim is to tackle unemployment for those who have put their lives on the line for us

·         Macmillan Cancer Support – supporting and offering advice to reach and improve the lives of everyone living with cancer and to inspire millions of others to do the same

·         Citizens Advice – providing free, confidential and independent advice to help people overcome their problems.

I hope as many people as possible will support me in raising funds for these and other charities this coming year.

What makes Adur a special place?

Shoreham, Lancing and Southwick – the main towns of Adur – along with our villages of Fishersgate, Coombes and Sompting offer so much diversity and beauty. With the timeless backdrop of Lancing College, our very successful Shoreham Port and the ever changing River Adur – from which, of course, we get our name – snaking its way down to the sea from the South Downs, it's a joy being in such a lovely location. 

Creating a Dementia Friendly Workplace - A Practical Guide for Employers

This week is Dementia
Awareness Week 14-20 May

This guide for employers is designed to help them provide support for staff members with dementia. 

It may also be a useful resource for people living with, or affected by, dementia in the workplace. 

The guide includes practical tips and examples of situations that managers can use to ensure best practice as well as to review existing approaches to supporting people living with dementia in the workplace.

Click the image to download the full guide.

Pitching, Presentation and Networking: Capitalise on "Meet the Buyers" events

Presenter: Colin Spiller

Colin is a hands-on, creative senior manager with strong sales and marketing skills. He has successfully launched and manages a new angel investment club for Angels Den, and has raised over £6m. He has been a London Met University external examiner on their Management Programmes and provided guest lectures on Risk Management and contingency planning.

Attendees of this seminar will benefit from Colin's expert advice on how to prepare for a meeting with a public or corporate buyer, how to improve and tailor your pitching skills to the business opportunity and how to build networking skills to ensure any 'down time' between buyer meetings is maximised.

Venue: Canon (UK) Ltd, Woodhatch, Reigate, Surrey, RH2 8BF
Date: 7th June 2017
Time: 9.30am -1pm

Designed to support delegates in advance of a Meet the Buyer event, this interactive workshop will cover:

·         How to prepare successfully for a meeting with a public or corporate buyer

·         The secrets to successfully building relationships through your Interactions

·         Understanding buyer needs and how to position yourself against the competition

·         Identifying and targeting, with pinpoint accuracy potential customers and partners

·         Structuring and conducting business meetings to gain information to help you sell

·         Crafting and delivering contract winning presentations for your business

·         Learn how to handle buyers questions and to recognise buying signals

·         Gain confidence to ask for the order and handle objections and price issues

·         Develop your listening skills and using your voice to maximum effect

·         Find out how to use ready and use Body Language and Rapport to progress a sale

·         Develop networking skills to use "Down Time" between meetings

Those who attend this workshop will emerge with confidence that their sales meetings, presentation and pitching performance and networking skills will be vastly improved. Your meetings with prospects will be energised, structured and have impact and enable you to build your pipeline as well as helping you to increase your win ratio and grow your revenues.

Places are limited so if you are interested in attending the above seminar, please click on the following link to register: BOOK NOW

Q: When is an AGM not an AGM?

A: When it’s a fond farewell!

Most Annual General Meetings are thought of as cures for insomnia, but Worthing and Adur Chamber bucked against this idea with a very special AGM this month, here’s what happened…

For the last fourteen years Peter Bennett has led Worthing and Adur Chamber of Commerce as its President. In that time the Chamber has evolved beyond recognition. Peter became President in 2003 and one of the first things he did was lead the Chamber into the digital age. Worthing Chamber of Commerce (as it was then) needed to widen its appeal and Peter drove the expansion into the Adur region, changing its name to Worthing and Adur Chamber of Commerce.

Sadly, Peter decided it was time for him to step down as President and at the recent AGM Peter handed the reins over to Chris Coopey, Practice Director of MHA Carpenter Box. The meeting started formally enough with the usual ratifying of accounts etc but things took a slightly different turn when it came to thanking Peter for his service to the Chamber. Gifts were handed out, chains of office removed and tissues found!

We wish Peter well and we thank him wholeheartedly for his leadership and the huge difference he has made. Without Peter Bennett we would not have the Chamber we have today. Thank You Peter

That leaves us to now introduce the new Worthing and Adur Chamber President, Chris Coopey. Chris is Managing Partner at accountancy firm, MHA Carpenter Box, and previously served on the Chamber Executive Committee for a number of years. He takes the helm from Peter and has reassured members that he is looking to keep things on an even keel before making any drastic changes.

At the AGM he introduced himself to the attendees through some slides outlining his varied career so far. Not many knew he had previously served in the Army Reserves as an engineer or that he liked climbing telephone poles!

Chris said, “I’m looking forward to leading the Worthing and Adur Chamber and aim to have fun doing it. For me, being a member of our Chamber is an enjoyable thing. I want our members to be happy, both with what we offer and what they gain from membership too.”

We are sure this new Chapter is set to be an exciting time ahead and hope all the members and supporters of Worthing and Adur Chamber wish Chris and the Executive team much continued success following in the rather large footsteps of Peter Bennett.

Car park closes to make way for potential office development

The former Adur Civic Centre staff car park in Shoreham is closing in preparation for a multimillion pound office development scheme.

Land in Ham Road is earmarked for new employment space as part of Adur District Council’s plans to regenerate the former Civic Centre site opposite to potentially create much-needed new homes and business accommodation.

Demolition of the former Council office buildings is already well under way and due to finish within weeks.

The former Council staff car park, which opened to the public on a temporary basis last year, will close for a day next Tuesday (May 16) for a drainage survey to be carried out.

It will then close permanently from June 1 so that surveyors can continue their work ahead of a planning application for the car park site later this year.

Drivers who use the car park for pay-and-display are being redirected to other car parks in the town. The nearest are in Pond Road and Tarmount Lane.

A small number of monthly season tickets will not be renewed and current ticket holders will be advised of alternatives, including Riverside and Ropetackle.

Councillor Brian Boggis, Adur’s Executive Member for Regeneration, said:

“We apologise to users of Ham Road car park for any inconvenience the closure will cause. The car park was opened to the public on a temporary basis only while we made preparations for the exciting future of the site.

“We are now ready to move ahead and look forward to the opportunity to generate new investment which will provide jobs as well as more homes in our area.”

Positive Step Forward for Adur Local Plan

A blueprint to guide development in Adur aimed at building hundreds of homes while protecting the environment has taken another step forward.

More than 1,000 people have had their say in the drawing up of the Adur Local Plan so far.

Adur District Council used these comments to help produce a blueprint aimed at balancing the need to build new homes and employment space while protecting the environment.

After submitting it to the government, the local authority received a letter this week informing it that the Government appointed Planning Inspector had produced his preliminary findings, which supported much of the work.

Local authority experts will now look at the feedback and consult on the Inspector’s suggested modifications before submitting a final plan.

The hope is that the Local Plan will be approved and fully adopted by the end of this year.

Martin Randall, Adur & Worthing Councils’ Director for the Economy, said:

“It’s always tricky to get the balance right when it comes to development.

“I’m pleased that the Inspector has recognised the local authority’s commitment to supporting the creation of new homes and workplaces while protecting the special and unique environment across the Adur District.”

The Local Plan will be used by the Council’s planning team to guide development across the area until 2032.

Key targets in the Plan include building approximately 3,700 homes and a minimum of 41,000 square metres of employment-generating floor space.

Within the letter sent this week, inspector David Hogger recommended a number of alterations to the Local Plan.

But the Inspector’s modifications did not refer to the allocation of any other land for development, apart from the sites already proposed by the Plan .

This means sites such as the Shoreham Gateway, near the A27 flyover; Mill Hill in Shoreham; and Old Salts Farm and New Salts Farm, both in Lancing, are not earmarked as areas to build on.

While the Plan has not been officially adopted yet, it has some weight in guiding decisions made by the local authority’s planning department.

James Appleton, Adur and Worthing Councils’ Head of Planning and Development said:

“It is very positive to hear that the Planning Inspector has supported the Council's future strategy for meeting development needs.  

"Although a number of modifications have been recommended to address issues raised by the Inspector and other interested parties at the Examination in Public, the overall approach to accommodating extra homes and jobs has been endorsed.

"Consultation on the main modifications to the Plan will be undertaken during the summer so that the Inspector can complete his final report and the Council can hopefully move to adopt the Plan later in the year.”