EU Referendum Rules triggering a 2nd EU Referendum Petition

The Petitions Committee has decided to schedule a House of Commons debate on the recent EU referendum petition. The debate will take place on 5 September at 4.30pm in Westminster Hall, the second debating chamber of the House of Commons. The debate will be opened by Ian Blackford MP.

The Committee has decided that the huge number of people signing this petition means that it should be debated by MPs. The Petitions Committee would like to make clear that, in scheduling this debate, they are not supporting the call for a second referendum. The debate will allow MPs to put forward a range of views on behalf of their constituents. At the end of the debate, a Government Minister will respond to the points raised.

A debate in Westminster Hall does not have the power to change the law, and won’t end with the House of Commons deciding whether or not to have a second referendum. Moreover, the petition – which was opened on 25 May, well before the referendum – calls for the referendum rules to be changed. It is now too late for the rules to be changed retrospectively. It will be up to the Government to decide whether it wants to start the process of agreeing a new law for a second referendum.

The Petitions Committee is a cross-party group of MPs. It is independent from Government. You can find out more about the Committee on its website: http://www.parliament.uk/petitions-committee/role

The award winning Highdown Gardens in Worthing, received more good news this week.  Their apprentice, Sam Dexter (21, Worthing), has won the coveted Plumpton College Top Horticulture Apprentice of the Year award.

This news comes in the same week that Highdown Gardens won, for the second year running, a TripAdvisor certificate for Excellence. More details here.

Jo Hooper, Highdown Gardens Manager and Head Gardener adds “Sam is studying towards a Level 2 Work Based Diploma in Horticulture at Plumpton College.  We are extremely proud of Sam who has put  an enormous amount of work into his studies and contributed greatly towards the upkeep of Highdown Gardens.  Sam started with us in February 2015 and is due to complete his apprenticeship in May next year.  He has a very bright future in horticulture ahead of him and the award is very well deserved.”

Sam Dexter says “I have enjoyed my experience here at Highdown Gardens and have learnt a great deal, from identifying plants to general maintenance tasks. Plumpton College has offered me the chance to enhance my practical knowledge with theory and research. I feel the apprenticeship has given me a good basis to progress through the industry. I would recommend doing an apprenticeship to anyone who is interested in following a career in horticulture and I’d like to thank the Council for the opportunity.”

Councillor Clive Roberts, Worthing Borough Council Executive Member for Environment adds “Many congratulations to Sam.  He is an important part of this award winning Garden and a shining example of the many young people in Worthing who benefit from Apprenticeships.  Jo and her team have done a great job of sharing their wide breadth of knowledge with Sam, and in turn have helped this talented horticulturist maintain the high standards Highdown already enjoys, for a long time to come.”

Highdown will be recruiting for a new horticultural apprentice early next year, please keep an eye on the apprenticeship website www.apprenticeships.org.uk for details.

Trip Advisor Certificate of Excellence awarded to Highdown Gardens for the second year running!

One of Worthing’s most popular green spaces - Highdown Gardens - has been awarded a ertificate Of Excellence from renowned website Trip Advisor for the second year running, after continually gathering top reviews from visitors.

Nestled amongst the idyllic South Downs, Highdown Gardens is one of West Sussex’s most highly regarded green spaces.  Spread over 8.52 acres of land, the gardens offer wide open spaces for a range of activities which can be enjoyed by all. It’s a highly recommended place to visit particularly in spring or early summer, when the mix of wildflowers and landscaped garden offer a succession of colour and variety.  

Councillor Clive Roberts, Executive Member for the Environment at Worthing Borough Council, says:“Highdown Gardens continues to provide an exceptional sensory experience  and this award recognises the consistently high levels of attention and creativity the team deliver, all year round.  The Garden offers a delightful experience for all visitors and continues to be reviewed on Tripadvisor as a first class horticultural destination and one of Worthings most beautiful spots.”

Highdown provides a unique and stunning blend of lush gardens and relaxing water features, set in a   tranquil environment.  Free to enjoy, the Gardens can be found at the top of Highdown Hill, accessed from the eastbound portion of the Littlehampton Road.  More information about the Garden and all that it offers can be found online: http://www.highdowngardens.co.uk/  

Adur District Council opens new 135 bay car park in Shoreham-by-Sea

From Friday 15th July visitors and residents in Shoreham will now have a new 135 bay parking space when visiting this popular seaside town.

Shoreham by Sea is one of our smallest but most popular towns on the coast (as featured in ES Magazine Fri 8th July).  It provides a popular shopping and dining destination for residents and visitors alike but as urgently result requires more parking spaces as its popularity grows.

Adur District Council has taken the step to make a former 135 bay Council staff car park available to the public at its former Civic Centre, in Ham Road - Map.

The Ham Road Car Park will operate as pay and display on an hourly / daily basis, with the further opportunity to purchase season tickets.  Prices start from just 25p.  Full list below.

Councillor Neil Parkins, Leader of Adur District Council adds “Shoreham is a very popular town, with a wide range of bespoke and independent shops, a vibrant arts scene and popular weekly markets.  It is also enjoys many charming but narrow streets and parking has become an issue.  The new Ham Road Car Park will further improve on road parking and offer residents and visitors alike a more pleasant experience when visiting the town.”

Post referendum the world has changed. The UK sits amidst a political vacuum and an economic maelstrom - but where does that leave business and business planning and investment? 

The environment for manufacturers and engineers is particularly complex. The drop in the value of the pound should make the price of our products more attractive in world markets – a point made recently by the Mark Carney, Governor of the Bank of England.  However, the increase in the cost of raw materials and in time, energy may cancel that advantage out. Throw in interest rates, funding concerns, possible tariffs on Brexit and worsening skilled labour shortages (if free movement disappears) and where does that take things?

Cue the 5^th annual MHA Manufacturing and Engineering Survey, which has just been launched by South Coast and Gatwick-based Carpenter Box – the sector specialists from the accountancy and tax world.  The survey, which is sponsored by Lloyds Bank, has become the go-to report used by many in the industry, parliament and beyond to gain an insight into the opportunities and challenges the sector faces, with a particular focus on SME businesses. 

Once the data has been analysed, contributors will receive a comprehensive report with commentary, case studies and analysis on the state of the M&E Nation from Professor Rajkumar Roy, Director of Manufacturing at the University of Cranfield and Philippa Oldham, Head of Manufacturing and Transport at the Institution of Mechanical Engineers.

Ex engineer Chris Coopey, the Partner who heads Carpenter Box’s Manufacturing, Engineering and Technology Group commented:

“Over the past five years the survey has gone from strength to strength. This year, more than any other, the data we collect should help us to signpost the real issues around BREXIT for the sector as well as the opportunities. Our job is then to use the findings to do everything we can to help the sector grow in the face of what are very interesting times”.

Contributors to the survey will also receive an invite to a follow up event where the findings will be discussed and good practice shared.

Businesses interested in completing the survey before the closing date of Friday 5^th August and receiving a copy of the final report can find it at www.carpenterbox.com/me-survey  

Following months of negotiation, Adur District Council and the community of Fishersgate are pleased to announce that a resolution has been reached with the trustees of Fishersgate Community Association regarding the future of the Fishersgate Community Centre.

Further work is needed around some of the legal and financial detail. The intention is that the lease of Fishersgate Community Centre will be held by the District Council temporarily, to enable the Council to work with the local community and partners to develop plans for a new future for the Centre, at the heart of Fishersgate.

Over the coming months, the District Council will support the Fishersgate community in reopening the centre on a limited basis for the benefit of the community, with a full relaunch under a new charitable community association anticipated early in 2017.

Neil Parkin, Leader of Adur District Council, comments:

“I am very pleased to see a positive outcome for Fishersgate following months of uncertainty. Council Members, Officers, lawyers and the community have worked tirelessly to reach this point, and I am sure that the Centre will once again become a hub for all in Fishersgate to enjoy.”

Within the next few months, the Council will facilitate a public meeting to set out the plans to get the Centre up and running again, and will be forming an interim management committee to oversee the process.

By the end of the summer, it is hoped that the cafe and playground will be open, and that the committee will be inviting local residents to become part of the wider organisation which will run the Centre in the future.

As the autumn draws on, the interim management committee will start shaping the plans for the future of the Centre, developing the policies and procedures and establishing the new legal entity needed to guarantee a safe, enjoyable and transparently well-run community hub in the heart of Fishersgate.

More information on the plans to reopen the Fishersgate Community Centre will be shared as soon as they are available. In the meantime, anyone interested in knowing more about the future of the Centre, or wishing to express an interest in being part of its return to use, should contact Lee Billingham through the Communities Team on 01273 263311 or by email: communities@adur-worthing.gov.uk.

The public are being invited to take part in a review of issues surrounding the delayed implementation of the Lower Beach Road Car park and Ferry Road enhancement scheme - plus vandalism of the Adur Ferry Bridge in Shoreham

Adur & Worthing Councils’ Joint Overview & Scrutiny Committee (JOSC) meeting is being held on Thursday 14th July, at 6.30pm, at the Shoreham Centre, Pond Road, Shoreham, BN43 5WU.  

The public meeting will review in detail the delays of more than two years associated with the implementation of the Lower Beach Road Car park and the Ferry Road landscaping scheme on Shoreham Beach, and review the effect and causes of the recent vandalism to the Adur Ferry Bridge, which has included 19 broken glass panels and graffiti.

Chair of the Adur & Worthing JOSC, Stephen Chipp adds “Recently the Joint Overview and Scrutiny Committee conducted a review of 'how we work' and it was agreed unanimously by committee members that public engagement was vital for the committee to serve a real purpose for the residents we represent.  I therefore urge all those interested to attend and respectfully participate in this process and to submit any questions you may have about these two local issues by 5pm on Tuesday 12  July at the latest.”

We look forward to welcoming the following representatives; each representative will be limited to a 5 minute presentation.   

Addressing the Lower Beach Road Car Park and Ferry Road enhancement scheme will be;

·         Mike Thomas (Area Manager, Worthing & Adur Residents Services - Highways & Transport, WSCC)

·         James Appleton (Head of Economic Growth, Adur & Worthing Councils)  

·         Martyn Payne (Principal Engineer, Adur & Worthing Councils)

·         Cllr Brian Boggis (Adur District Council, Executive Member for Regeneration) tbc

·         Cllr Janet Mockridge (Adur County Local Committee Chair)

·         Keely Mowatt (Client Manager) Environment Agency

·         Tim Loughton, MP for Shoreham and East Worthing

·         Cllr Ben Stride  representing Shoreham Beach Residents’ Association

Representatives addressing Adur Ferry Bridge vandalism issues;

·         Mike Taylor (Bridge Engineer) West Sussex County Council tbc

·         Sussex Police tbc

·         Rhian Francis, Safer Communities Partnership Co-Ordinator Adur District Council Communities Safety Team

·         Tim Loughton, MP for Shoreham and East Worthing

The meeting is open to the public without prior arrangement.  Anyone wishing to attend should make their way to the Council Chamber on the first floor of the Shoreham Centre, Pond Road, Shoreham.  A lift is available. The chamber will be open from 6pm. The meeting will start promptly at 6.30pm.

All public questions, which must relate to these subjects only and need to be submitted no later than two days before the meeting, to mark.lowe@adur-worthing.gov.uk, 5pm on Monday 12th July..  

On Thursday 30^th June Brighton and Hove Albion Training Ground welcomed members of Worthing and Adur Chamber for an exclusive and has to be said very rare tour of their Training Ground in Lancing.

Recognised as ‘one of the best in the country’ this tour certainly didn’t disappoint. What an amazing faclility we have on our doorstep for youngsters locally and internationally. Aside from the 1^st team facilities which are outstanding with a hydrotherapy pool, on site doctor, visiting dentist, a specialist gym facility and so much more, the facilities for the youth teams are inspiring. With a team of dedicated tutors for some day release and part time students, a canteen where the students get involved led by a nutritionist which overlooks the 1^st players lounge, again there is that inspiration of what could be. With 13 training pitches to play on Brighton and Hove Albion are setting the bar high.

What we didn’t expect was the announcement of a major development on adjacent land which will be a significant investment for our area. Watch out for a press release soon.

To summarise, you missed out if you didn’t attend. We hope to do more of these exclusive tours in our area so keep an eye out for our emails!

Coast to Capital, the Local Enterprise Partnership, is pleased to announce a further loan investment of £1.25m from its Growing Places Fund to BCMY LTD.

BCMY Ltd which is based in Lancing, West Sussex, is one of the UK’s leading recycling businesses for used printer cartridges and mobile phones.

The Growing Places funding will help BCMY acquire the freehold of a new site and enable it to relocate its operations to another facility in Littlehampton.

This will create 25 new jobs over a five -year period, nearly doubling its current workforce of 17 people.

Jonathan Sharrock, Chief Executive of Coast to Capital, commented: “We are pleased our Growing Places funding will be used to help BCMY expand its business and create employment opportunities for local people within the Coast to Capital region.”

Commenting on the deal Simon Gilchrist, Founding Director of BCMY said: “Without this funding we would be unable to expand our operation and meet the future demand for our recycling service. There is a growing market for this type of service since new legislative changes came into place in January 2016 for printer cartridge and distributors and this has presented us with a significant opportunity grow our business, but the challenge has always been to secure a freehold site so that do not have to rely on renewing landlord lease agreements.”

The Coast to Capital Growing Places Loan Fund is available for projects that are ready to go forward and in the short-term will create or unlock job creation but that have stalled due to the lack of investment from other sources.

To find out more about the Growing Places Fund and to see if your business is eligible for funding go to www.coast2capital.org.uk or contact Paul Castle on 01403 333845 or email him directly at paul.castle@coast2capital.org.uk