Government funding boost for Greater Brighton’s pioneering projects

Two Greater Brighton projects to improve public services while freeing up land for major regeneration schemes have received a government funding boost.

The Greater Brighton One Public Estate programmehas been awarded a further £208,000 to help it work with partners and unlock multimillion pound projects on public land in Brighton and Burgess Hill.

The aim is to use the money to bring forward these developments, creating scores of homes and improving public services while saving local taxpayers a large sum in running costs.

Greater Brighton leaders welcomed the national investment as a big boost to the regional economy, adding it showed the partnership of councils, business and education providers was paying dividends across the City Region.

Councillor Garry Wall, Chairman of Greater Brighton, said: “This is an excellent result and is yet another example of how by working together we can bring investment into our City Region.

“Given the high level of competition from around the UK for this fund, it’s a real vote of confidence that we have received this funding. In total, we have now brought in close to £2 million of investment through these government schemes which shows we must be doing something right.

“We must now put this money to good use to deliver on the jobs, homes and regeneration schemes that can help bring millions into our local economy while transforming our local communities and region as a whole.”

The One Public Estate programme was launched in 2013 to make better use of public-sector sites, cutting running costs, freeing up space for new homes and jobs while improving services to residents. It is a joint initiative between the Cabinet Office, the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government and Local Government Association

It is designed to encourage the emergency services, local councils and government departments to work more closely together by sharing sites and creating public-sector ‘hubs’ - where services are delivered in one place.

The announcement by the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government confirmed the following Greater Brighton projects were successful:

• Burgess Hill Station Quarter - £90,000
• Moulsecoomb Neighbourhood Hub - £83,000

The programme also won a grant of £35,000 to support the programme management.

Councillor Daniel Yates, leader of Brighton & Hove City Council, said: "The One Public Estate programme is a great example of how we are working with partners across the region to make the best use of public property and land for the benefit of all our residents, providing housing, jobs and better public services.

“We’ll use the funding to progress the Moulsecoomb Neighbourhood Hub project which is improving and bringing a range of public services together, as well as using redundant land to provide new low-cost housing. We are growing the scope of this project to provide more than 300 affordable homes and enable closer joint working between health and social care services.”

Cllr Wall, who is also Leader of Mid Sussex District Council, said: “The Burgess Hill strategic growth programme is the most ambitious programme of change anywhere in the sub-region.

“There will be significant development and investment in the area in the near future so the funding award for the Burgess Hill station quarter is vital for our community.

“This project offers a unique opportunity to maximise the delivery of new housing and commercial floorspace and facilitate the redevelopment of the station itself.”

It brings the total amount brought into the region through the Greater Brighton One Public Estate programme to £1,042,500. A further £819,000 has been received in Land Release Fund capital fundingto three projects in Brighton & Hove.

Among the projects to benefit from funding is a proposal to create a new health hub for Worthing’s Civic Centre (£90,000 funding in November 2016). Others include the Hove Station Quarter (£70,000) and the North Street Quarter (NSQ) Health Hub in Lewes (£150,000) which both received funding in January 2018.

The Minister for Implementation, Oliver Dowden, said: “Getting the best use out of publicly-owned land can help to regenerate our towns and cities and give people improved access to the services they need.

“This programme shows that when government works smarter, with public authorities coming together, taxpayers get better value for money, new jobs are created and space is freed-up for vitally needed new homes.”

Brighton Main Line Improvement Project | Update

Bus Hub at Three Bridges
The bus hub has been operating successfully since Saturday with only minor teething problems. Whilst we know that these may have caused passengers some inconvenience, we are glad to say that they did not impact departure times or bus arrivals. Passengers were welcomed off the train at Three Bridges, with teams directing them to the correct bus departure gate, so they could catch their onward connection. Staff assisted passengers with luggage and those with accessibility issues via an alternative route. The undercover walkway and waiting area in the hub helped us keep everyone dry.

Bus Operation
The bus operation largely worked well with positive feedback from passengers around the short wait times, frequency of buses, comfort on board the buses and treats being handed out at stations by our brand ambassadors. 

While some confusion was caused around the existence of the fast bus from Brighton to Three Bridges, this was clarified over the weekend and on Monday.  Given the size of the operation, it was not possible to run this route for the first weekend (due to final testing) and during the weekdays. However, please be assured that the fast bus service will run again this weekend similarly to other weekends.

Engineering Achievements
The blockade has been an opportunity for us to conduct an unprecedented amount of essential work in this area and will help us improve reliability on this part of the network. From 01.00 on Saturday, 16 February, the teams arrived on site to mobilise the first 8 engineering trains and get work underway working against a strict milestone plan. There were five main work sites broken down by geographical location which further comprise 27 individual sites of work.

Since Saturday, the Balcombe Tunnel Junction was removed, excavated and the new track laid. Drainage works took place at Balcombe Tunnel, Copyhold Junction and at Haywards Heath. The teams have been busy cleaning out old drainage and laying new. This will remove the risk of flooding, make the track more reliable and journeys safer and quicker.

Signalling upgrades have taken place at Haywards Heath and Preston Park as well as from Hassocks to Patcham. At Preston Park, rails were renewed, signals upgraded and track circuits were converted. Cabling in Clayton Tunnel took place and brick work repairs continue throughout the week. Conductor Rail renewal took place at Burgess Hill and the cables have now been reconnected.

From Keymer to Lewes, track works and general maintenance have taken place. From Cooksbridge to Lewes, signal upgrades including conversion to LED lighting has taken place. 

The programme of work is on schedule and the teams continue their work each day to ensure the service on the Brighton Main Line can commence early on Monday morning.

Station Improvements
The blockade also gave us the opportunity to conduct some much needed work at the stations affected.  As well as this being a good time to do this work with the stations being empty, it is also a gesture of thanks from us to passengers for bearing with us during the closure. At Haywards Heath station, the timber supports on both island platforms have been replaced and we have repaired, upgraded and deep-cleaned the station. The Plumpton station footbridge was stripped and primed and station timbers and platforms have been repaired. The top coats of paint will be completed during the three follow-up weekends.  At Cooksbridge, the old bridge was looking tired and in need of refurbishment.  We have replaced the stair treads on the footbridge and given the station a deep clean. Preparation for the level crossing works in March have also taken place.

At Wivelsfield, work on the platform is progressing. The team has renewed platform copers and started the planned programme of strengthening platform support work on Platforms 1 & 2.  The remaining works to Platform 2 will be completed as planned during the three follow up weekend. In addition, there has been substantial general maintenance repairs to the station and stairways including deep cleaning and repainting.

We hope that once passengers return to their stations on Monday and throughout next week they will be please to see the improvements that we’ve made.
 
At Balcombe station, the old footbridge is being removed today with installation of the new footbridge on Thursday.  While clearing vegetation at the Brighton end of platform two at Balcombe station, our engineers discovered a carving engraved in stone. The hand-hewn carving commemorates a strike by the drivers and firemen of the London, Brighton and South Coast Railway which occurred on Monday 25 and Tuesday 26 March, 1867. The dispute was over pay and working conditions and was resolved by the Wednesday of the same week

Experience the fun of circus with a free performance on the Worthing Pavilion Theatre Promenade
 
Dip is new trampoline and live music show specifically created and devised to be performed in public spaces and outdoor programming. With a cast of three performers including Max Calaf as a lead artist and the support of existing collaborators they will be performing a free show on Sunday 14 April, 11.00am and 2.00pm on the Worthing Pavilion Theatre Promenade. Max Calaf has previously performed in Worthing's Summer of Circus festival with indoor trampoline show Anyday.
 
The show revolves around ‘the found’; how we find each other, objects we find daily and how we can make creative and fun use of waste, as well as interrogating relationships in a society of overconsumption. The framework explores sound, musicality, physicality and narrative possibilities, using a trampoline with a platform as a centre stage.The company aims to make an all-ages show for families to enjoy somethingimaginative and quirky that is a highly visual and sonic experience. It offers a light hearted show with the artistic vision of a contemporary circus practice.
 
The combination of three performers and the diversity of their skills, ranging from acrobatics, free running, music, dance, juggling and comedy are brought together in an exciting and unique piece. Technical elements include: Acro-balance on a trampoline, trampoline technique, ‘platform’ work, acro-dance, free running and tricking. They create the show with the lively atmosphere and the possibilities of the outdoor setting in mind.
 
Dip will bring something unique to the British circus and outdoors arts scene. The project is a platform for UK based trampolinists, offering working opportunities nationally and internationally.
 
The project has a circus nature, however the language used in the work of the company is very close to the language of dance, dance theatre and physical theatre. All Max Calaf Sevé collaborators and artists have some contact with the dance world, have been a dance practitioner themselves and are interested in blurring the boundaries of circus/dance/performance/theatre/visual art.
           
Please note that this is a free event, but Worthing Theatres recommend booking a ticket so we can keep you up to date if anything changes about the show -ie weather, time change etc. You can book tickets for Dip from the Worthing Theatres box office on 01903 206 206 and online at worthingtheatres.co.uk.

Food For Thought | Murder? You Be The Judge and Jury
March 12 @ 12:00 pm - 2:30 pm
£19.75 

John Eddleston is famed for being one of the great authorities on crime, murderers and execution having studied and written numerous books on the subject of real-life unsolved murders, killers and villains.  

We are delighted to welcome back John, aka MR M!!, at your request, for another true-to-life murder mystery talk. A real case from the last century. This time you will be shown all the evidence, hear all the witnesses and get all the facts and you can decide whether the accused is guilty or innocent before John reveals his expert theory.

 This interactive talk will begin at 12 noon followed by lunch at 1:00pm

The Menu

Beef Bourguignon

Creamed potato & green beans

Grilled fillet of Skate

Caper and lemon butter

New potatoes

Pea and mint risotto

Cherry tomato and spring onion salad (vegan)

….

Sticky toffee pudding and custard 

Bananas tossed in dark rum

Booji Chocolate and  vanilla ice cream ( vegan)

A selection of cheese, biscuits and pickle

Freshly ground coffee, tea infusions and mints

 £19:75 Per Person

Shoreham Harbour Joint Area Action Plan - Proposed Main Modifications

Plans to reviatlise Shoreham Harbour and surrounding areas take another step forward as the councils submit the Proposed Main Modifications for public consultation. The Shoreham Harbour Joint Area Action Plan includes proposals and policies for new housing and employment generating floorspace; and for upgraded flood defences, recreational and community facilities, sustainable travel, environmental and green infrastructure improvements.

Adur District Council, Brighton & Hove City Council, and West Sussex County Council are jointly inviting comments on the Proposed Main Modifications to the Shoreham Harbour Joint Area Action Plan. The formal Notice of Consultation is attached to this message.

Main Modifications are those which are considered necessary to make the plan sound and legally compliant. The tests for soundness are as follows:

• Positively prepared: the plan should be prepared based on a strategy which seeks to meet objectively assessed development and infrastructure requirements, including unmet requirements from neighbouring authorities where it is reasonable to do so and consistent with achieving sustainable development;
• Justified: the plan should be the most appropriate strategy, when considered against the reasonable alternatives, based on proportionate evidence;
• Effective: the plan should be deliverable over its period and based on effective joint working on cross-boundary strategic priorities; and
• Consistent with national policy: the plan should enable the delivery of sustainable development in accordance with the policies in the Framework

The Proposed Main Modifications are proposed without prejudice to the Inspector's final conclusion on the Joint Area Action Plan which will take account of all representations submitted in response to this consultation.

The documents made available for consultation include:

·         Schedule of Proposed Main Modifications to the Shoreham Harbour Joint Area Action Plan (January 2019)

·         Sustainability Appraisal of the Shoreham Harbour Joint Area Action Plan (Proposed Main Modifications) (January 2019)

·         Non-Technical Summary of the Sustainability Appraisal of the JAAP (Proposed Main Modifications) (January 2019)

The councils have prepared a Schedule of Additional Modifications. These are minor changes to the Joint Area Action Plan which do not affect soundness. These are for information only and do not form part of the consultation:

·         Schedule of Additional Modifications to the Shoreham Harbour Joint Area Action Plan (January 2019)

The councils have also published a Consultation Statement to accompany the Schedule of Proposed Modifications:

·         Consultation Statement Shoreham Harbour Joint Area Action Plan (Proposed Main Modifications) (January 2019)

All consultation documents and supporting evidence and can be viewed on the submission page on the Adur & Worthing Councils website:

https://www.adur-worthing.gov.uk/shoreham-harbour-regeneration/main-modifications/

Hard copies of the consultation documents will also be available to view at the following council offices and libraries:

Brighton

·         Bartholomew House, Bartholomew Square, BN1 1JE

·         Jubilee Library, Jubilee Street, Brighton, BN1 1GE

Chichester

·         County Hall, West Street, Chichester, PO19 1RQ

Hove

·         Hove Town Hall, Norton Road, BN3 3BQ

·         Hove Library, 182-186 Church Road, Hove, BN3 2EG

Portslade

·         Portslade Library, 223 Old Shoreham Road, Portslade, BN41 1XR

Shoreham

·         Shoreham Centre, Pond Rd, Shoreham-by-Sea, BN43 5WU

·         Shoreham Library, St Mary’s Road, Shoreham-by-Sea, BN43 5ZA

Southwick

·         Southwick Library, Southdown Road, Southwick, BN42 4FT

Worthing

·         Portland House, Richmond Rd, Worthing, BN11 1HS

Representations must be made after 5pm 21st January and received by 5pm 4th March 2019.

Representations should be provided in writing by completing and submitting the response form using the following methods:

• Consultation response form - Proposed Submission Shoreham Harbour Joint Area Action Plan (to type into) (177KB)
• Email address for representations: consultation@shorehamharbour.com
• Post to: Shoreham Harbour Regeneration, Adur District Council, Town Hall, Chapel Road, Worthing, BN11 1BR

Please make sure tell us which main modification each of your comments relates to by referencing the relevant number from the Schedule of Main Modifications.

Representations at this stage should only be made in relation to the legal compliance and soundness of the Proposed Main Modifications to the Local Plan. Representations should specify in what respect(s) the Proposed Main Modification is considered to be unsound, and what change(s) would need to be made to make it sound. These terms are explained in a guidance note available from the locations set out above or from the Adur & Worthing Councils website.

Anonymous comments or comments received outside the consultation dates will not be accepted. Please note that comments cannot be treated as confidential. Copies of all comments will be made available for the public to view (including respondent's name) but will not include any personal contact details or signatures.

All representations received within the statutory consultation period will be submitted to the Inspector examining the Shoreham Harbour Joint Area Action Plan.

For further information please contact: info@shorehamharbour.com

Or, telephone: 01273 263000 and ask for the Shoreham Harbour Regeneration Team

St Barnabas Fairy Tale Fair

Date: Sunday 14th April
Time: 10:30am - 4:00pm 
Venue: Worthing Charmandean

The fair will feature 70 stalls with local makers and designers selling their Easter and Spring creations. There will also be St Barnabas stalls and raffle, cafe and home baked cakes and treats, face painting and lots of magical extras to explore. 

The fair will be open 10.30am - 4pm and will be opened by Worthing Town Crier, Worthing Deputy Mayor. There will also be appearances from the mad hatter on stilts, the Ghostbusters, and the Easter bunny. 

We need your feedback: Make sure your business is heard 

Gatwick Diamond Business Awards – Triple Finalists

While Valentines Day for many meant hearts, flowers and chocolates the celebration for Gemini Print was receiving the excellent news of being judged Finalists for the 2019 Gatwick Diamond Business Awards. These awards are viewed by many as the ‘tough ones.’ in the South, so everyone was very pleased.

The Gemini Print team were especially delighted to be recognised for three categories that are key to the companies business strategy – high-quality production, client service excellence, plus positive relationships with key suppliers, partners, charities and the community. 

The Award for Customer Delight: Judged and sponsored by DMH Stallard

Manufacturing Business of the Year: - Judged and sponsored by Kreston Reeves

The Award for Supply Chain Excellence:- Judged and sponsored by University of Brighton

Gemini Print consistently strives to achieve being recognised as the ‘perfect print partner’. The team would like to express their thanks to all their clients who take the trouble to send in testimonials.  As well as being such a great motivator day to day it is this sort of feedback and assessment that plays a key role in enabling Gemini Print to have the confidence to enter business awards.

Tony Hyams-Parish, the Employment Partner at  DMH Stallard, said:  'DMH Stallard are delighted to be sponsoring the Gatwick Diamond Business Awards 'Customer Delight' category.  Customer Delight was the natural category for us to focus on and we believe it is essential in developing great business relationships.  In recent years we have grown considerably, and this has been achieved through every member of the firm being strongly focussed on delivering exceptional service to our clients.  In his Employment practice, Tony promotes the importance of long term relationships, the positive impact of great communication, retaining and recruiting excellent people and sharing best practice both inside and outside the firm'. 

www.dmhstallard.com

Kreston Reeves advise dynamic businesses, not for profit organisations, private individuals and families on all areas of business, tax and wealth helping them make confident decisions about the future.

We are dedicated to meeting and exceeding the needs of all our clients wherever their ambition takes them.

Kreston Reeves Manufacturing Partner Allan Pinner commented: "The Gatwick Diamond Awards provide the opportunity for businesses and professionals to be recognised for their success and hard work whether for growth, innovation or contribution to our community.  We are particularly delighted to be sponsoring the Manufacturing Business of the Year 2019."

www.krestonreeves.com

The University of Brighton is delighted to sponsor the award for supply chain management, as a leader in both teaching and research in this area.

Their MSc in Logistics and Supply Chain Management teaches students to understand the process and systems crucial to the world of business and equips them for careers in areas such as supply chain analysis, logistics, manufacturing and operations planning.

Alongside teaching, their research into supply chain management has generated many business partnerships including a knowledge exchange programme with Littlehampton-based Dando Drilling that analyses and optimise the company's supply chain.

“We welcome opportunities to work with organisations of all types and sizes in sectors as diverse as creative and digital, healthcare, teaching, environmental, pharmaceutical and biomedical sciences, and engineering.

We embrace collaborations with companies and the public sector through knowledge exchange, consultancy, commercialisation of research, use of our equipment and facilities, and short courses for workforce development. At the University of Brighton, partnership working is fundamentally important to us. With a long established history of collaborating with companies in the Gatwick Diamond area, the Gatwick Diamond Business Awards provide a wonderful opportunity to recognise business excellence. We are proud to be part of this annual celebration as the Diamond continues to be significantly important to us.”

www.brighton.ac.uk/business

http://www.gatwickdiamondbusinessawards.com/107-2019-finalists.html

If you have any questions, please, do contact Suzanne Heaven, Marketing Director s.heaven@gemini-print.co.uk or call 01273 086206

Greater Brighton visits: The Hub in Burgess Hill

Greater Brighton leaders have hailed the creation of a new industrial park as the first stage of a major £1 billion investment programme to transform Burgess Hill.

The Mid Sussex town is the largest single growth location in the City Region with work well underway to bring 5,000 new homes, schools, gigabit broadband, the region’s first science park as well as improvements to transport and digital infrastructure to the area.

One of the first phases of this £1 billion Burgess Hill Growth programme is the creation of The Hub, a 50,000 sq m industrial warehouse park which will become home to 2,000 jobs.

With work on the first unit - a new 4,000 sq m warehouse for global courier company DPD - nearing completion, Councillor Garry Wall, Chairman of Greater Brighton, was given a tour of the site by owners Glenbeigh Developments.

After seeing the work in person, Cllr Wall said he was confident that The Hub would be the first of a series of major schemes to come forward in the Burgess Hill area with the benefits being felt across the City Region.

Cllr Wall, who is also Leader of Mid Sussex District, said: “I want to thank the team at Glenbeigh for taking time to show us around what is a very impressive and highly-sustainable new development. In a matter of months, this prominent site has transformed into a high quality warehouse which will be operational in a matter of weeks.

“Developments like The Hub are crucial to the future of Greater Brighton as a whole. Individual towns cannot exist in their own smaller locality and it is only by working with our neighbouring partners that we can ensure shared prosperity.

“There is no doubt that this major investment in creating jobs and homes in Burgess Hill will bring benefits to Crawley in the north and Brighton, Worthing and Lewes to the south.

“We know Greater Brighton is a resilient area for employment, but projects like The Hub ensure that we can continue to provide the buildings and environment that businesses need to grow while providing good quality jobs to local people.”

Sat on a 15 hectare site, The Hub sits on a prominent site on the A2300 between the A23 and town centre.

Planning permission has been secured for seven main units, which will be 12 metres high and suitable for technology and warehouse companies. Further space will be created for start-up companies.

A direct energy supply to the site will be provided by a nearby solar farm, which Glenbeigh has secured approval for.

A range of transport improvements on the adjacent A2300, which includes a new bus stop, have also been finished

Colin Whelan, director at Glenbeigh Developments, said: “It was a pleasure to show Garry and the Greater Brighton team around The Hub. They were all impressed with the quality of the build, but also the transport and energy infrastructure we’ve got in place.

“We’re looking forward to getting started with phase two in the next coming months and bringing more employment to Burgess Hill and the wider Greater Brighton region.”

For more details visit www.thehubburgesshill.co.uk.

The death of paper-based VAT records is nigh. Are you ready for Making Tax Digital (MTD)?

Businesses have just a few weeks left to prepare for Making Tax Digital. Sussex-based chartered accountants, MHA Carpenter Box, is reminding business clients that the deadline is rapidly approaching.

The migration to digital is happening because from April 1, 2019 paper records will cease to meet the legal requirements in tax legislation where VAT is concerned.

Almost all VAT registered businesses with a turnover above the VAT threshold (currently £85,000) will need to maintain digital records, for VAT purposes from the changeover date.

They will also need to provide their VAT information to HMRC by using third party commercial software.

VAT registered businesses with a turnover below £85,000 will not have to use the new system until April 2020, at which time the Government expects to widen the scope of MTD to both Income Tax and Corporation Tax.

A small number of businesses such as trusts, local authorities, public corporations, unincorporated ‘not for profit’ organisations, VAT divisions and VAT groups who have more complex requirements have until 1 October 2019 as HMRC believe they may need more time to test the system.

Public sector entities required to provide additional information on their VAT return (e.g. Government departments and NHS Trusts, and traders based overseas) also have until 1 October 2019 to comply with the new MTD requirements.

Stuart Noakes, Partner and Head of Tax at MHA Carpenter Box, said: “Once bedded in, MTD should make it easier for businesses to get their tax right and keep on top of their tax affairs. However, we know that some businesses will be daunted in the move away from the paper systems they have managed with for many years. We can certainly help them to find a cloud solution, submit quarterly returns to HMRC and we even provide training to ensure that they remain compliant.”