Q&A with Cllr Carl Walker, cabinet member for communities and young people and Deputy Leader of Worthing Borough Council

Listening and learning is at the heart of everything Carl Walker is working to achieve in his new role as Deputy Leader of Worthing Borough Council.

Whether it’s by taking the pulse of our local communities or collecting evidence and advice from experts in other parts of the UK, his focus will be on finding solutions to the big issues that are of most concern to people in Worthing.

Here Cllr Walker explains what he wants to get done - even if achieving world peace might take him a bit longer than other things on his to-do list.

Q. You have now been in the cabinet for two weeks. What are your first impressions of the role? Has anything surprised you?

It’s been an incredibly busy few weeks but the thing that’s surprised me most has been the amazing response from the people around the town. So many have contacted me to say how excited they are about the ideas we have, to support residents and improve the town as a whole. I’m an eternal optimist but I have to say that I’m sensing a genuine desire to bring about change and feel incredibly lucky that the people of Worthing have given us the chance to do that. A further surprise since becoming Deputy Leader of the Council is that I don’t look quite as bad in a shirt as I thought I would.

Q. What have been the first things you have done so far?

There are three key areas. Firstly, I’ve been developing a town-wide Big Listening campaign. This will involve creating opportunities for our communities to be heard. I want to ensure that the outcomes of these listening activities are reflected in Council strategy and will drive everything we do going forward. Secondly, I’m working with officers to develop our Cost of Living Emergency action plan. Too many people are struggling to feed their families and I want us, as a Council, to pull every possible lever to make this dreadful crisis more bearable for our residents. And thirdly, I’ve been working with our amazing young people’s team - Cllr Vicki Wells, Cllr Sam Theodoridi and our officers - on a strategy to really listen to and support young people in our town.

Q. Is there any person or group that you are taking inspiration from as you develop plans in your role?

There are so many local authorities across the country doing amazing work - Wigan, Newham, Tower Hamlets to name but a few. I’m all for learning from the very best practice, where authorities are trying innovative, exciting ways to make genuine change for their residents. I also take inspiration from people in our community. Before becoming Deputy Leader, I helped to found a local food bank charity, the Worthing Food Foundation. This is an entirely volunteer-led and volunteer-run organisation supporting hundreds of local families every week with food and essentials. It thrives due to the passion, commitment and amazing skills of our local residents - and leaves me in awe at the end of every shift.

Q. You’ve said that you want to put the community at the heart of everything the Council does. What does that mean?

Up until now, the huge potential for harnessing the views of our communities and translating them into Council policy has not been fully realised in Worthing. Our Council for the Community will set out to gain a deep understanding of what our residents and community groups want to see done, in order to ensure that Worthing Borough Council and the town itself are driven by those needs and aspirations. Our Big Listening campaign will be the first step in residents being heard, and being able to influence local decision-making in a way that is genuinely democratic and consequential.

Q. You plan to connect with those sections of the Worthing community that the Council may not have had close links to in the past. Who are those groups and how will you work with them?

Through my background as a community psychologist, I’ve learned that the way to effectively include those who have not felt connected is to change the way that we talk to people. As a Council we want to work with community organisations, residents’ groups, schools and charities to find new ways to connect. This means being an equal partner with our communities rather than taking the traditional top-down approach. As a Council we’re developing ways to be more ‘place-based’ - that is, working with residents in the local areas they live in and care about.

Q. The Big Listening event is due to begin in July. What are you hoping will come from it?

The Worthing Big Listening campaign will offer an opportunity to thousands of residents, in many different locations, to share their ideas across every area of Council activity. We want to know what residents love about Worthing and what they would like to see change. There will be many ways to make those voices heard, including evening events, online surveys, digital forums, work with specific community groups and schools and a Big Listening Festival.

Q. Young people have no voice in elections yet are a major user of Council services. What do you think needs to be done for young people in the borough?

I think there is the potential for some excellent provision for young children across the town. We had a lot of engagement with local community groups prior to taking over the Council and the message coming back was that we need safe public spaces for young people and more amenities and activities for those aged 11+. There is also the huge issue of mental health. I’ve worked on this before and produced a Worthing Young Person’s Mental Health Guide for parents and carers. We need to join with other public sector organisations, schools and charities to do everything we can. For example, I’d like to see a Worthing Young People’s Mental Health Festival to start this process off.

Q. Let’s jump forward in time. You’ve been in post for 12 months - what have you managed to get done so far?

Firstly, we will have started the process of empowering residents to take control of decisions in their communities. We’ll have also begun to deliver on our promise to build council housing and our Cost of Living Emergency declaration will have given real support to those most in need during such a difficult time. We also have ambitious plans to regenerate our town, create more green spaces and a vibrant, attractive and thriving town centre that supports fantastic Worthing-based businesses. I’m confident that all this will be beginning to take shape in 12 months’ time. 

On a personal level, I’d also like world peace and to look like Leonardo DiCaprio but that could take more than a year.

Report calls for Council and businesses to work together to improve Worthing town centre 

Business leaders and Council officers should work more closely together to help traders in Worthing town centre to flourish, a new report argues.

A Worthing Borough Council working group recommends that the town’s Business Improvement District (BID) should continue for a further five years to encourage more visitors to the area.

Worthing has had a BID - stretching from Heene Road in the west to past Splashpoint leisure centre in the east - since 2008 but traders have to agree every five years that they will continue to fund it and the Council has to be satisfied with the way it is operating. 

Cllr Martin McCabe, Worthing’s cabinet member for regeneration, said: “We're committed to a people-centred approach to the economic development of our town, redirecting wealth back into the local economy and into the hands of local people. We're ambitious about moving away from the failed developer-led approach to regeneration and towards a community wealth-building strategy that harnesses the power of our local communities and businesses. 

“I want to place on record my thanks to the TCI and our business community for all their hard work in making our town centre clean, safe and accessible. I'm excited about the possibilities for this Council, the TCI and other local groups to work together in new ways to build a long-lasting and resilient Worthing economy."

The BID is managed by Worthing Town Centre Initiative (TCI) - a not-for-profit business-led organisation which is funded by a levy on businesses in the town as well as income from the town centre markets, with traders deciding how the money should be spent.

Over the last five years an estimated £1.4m has been spent by the TCI in the town centre, including deep cleaning pavements, painting street furniture, hanging baskets, floral displays and Christmas lights. The TCI also employs two town centre rangers, who patrol the town centre helping shoppers and preventing crime.

A working group of councillors found that there is unanimous support for the BID amongst traders in the town centre, but that more could be achieved if the TCI worked more closely with the Council and its tourism and investment arm, Time for Worthing.

In turn, the TCI would focus on promoting the town and its businesses, improving the visual appeal of the town centre and making the centre safer and more welcoming for shoppers. It would also organise markets, events and activities to draw crowds to the town and would provide support and advice to businesses.

The Council pays a levy to the TCI as the ratepayer of a number of premises inside the town centre, such as its car parks, the town hall and the pier.

If the Council agrees to support the BID continuing, traders will be asked to agree to its business plan later this year.

For the BID to continue for a further five years, more than 50% of businesses that vote must vote in favour of it, and those in favour must also represent more than 50% of the total rateable value of the businesses that vote. If that happens, all eligible businesses would have to pay the levy, whether or not they voted in favour of it.

If businesses vote against continuing the BID, it will end on 31 March 2023.

For more information about the BID visit https://www.worthingtowncentre.co.uk/business-improvement-district/.

Local electronics manufacturer FermionX celebrates 50 years of manufacturing and global export success with their Seward ‘Stomacher®’ range of laboratory blenders.

In 1972, the first ‘Stomacher’ blender was built in response to the transition from daily cooked meals to pre-packed foods and snacks.  As the pre-prepared food industry grew, more stringent food safety tests and controls were needed to safeguard food chains and protect consumers.  The field of food microbiology grew rapidly and the Seward Stomacher® lab blender established itself as the essential piece of kit in food testing laboratories around the world.  The ‘Stomacher’ name refers to the way the food sample is broken down in the blender for testing, similar to food being transferred down to the human stomach!  Initial responses to the name were muted, (to say the least, although the alternative of ‘The Gizzard’ was quickly dropped).  50 years on, the name has stuck and is forever referred to as both the piece of kit and the process itself, referenced in thousands of protocols and scientific papers globally.

To date, the Worthing based company has played its part in manufacturing over 57,000 Seward Stomacher® laboratory blenders, and we export daily to global markets.  The role of the Stomacher® in sample preparation has expanded from food safety into fields as diverse as medical research for cancer treatments to environmental and industrial applications in soil and water testing.

‘It’s a great year for us’ states FemionX’s Commercial Director, Will Patrick ‘and evidence of how a small company our size can play a leading role in global markets.  We are continuing to add to our Seward product range, to innovate and respond to today’s global food safety and microbiology demands’.

With more emphasis now than ever on food chain security, Seward Stomacher® lab blenders continue to play a key role in food safety labs around the world. 

Sussex Solicitors Welcomes New Senior Partner

Sussex-based solicitors Bennett Griffin is delighted to welcome Anthony Edwards as Senior Partner.

Tony has spent many years working in the legal and financial services sectors, with experience in leading fast-growing enterprises, strategic management, Venture Capital and as a lawyer working on high-value mergers and acquisitions.

From 2003 to 2012, Tony was managing partner of Thomas Eggar LLP, leading the firm through a period of rapid expansion to become the leading firm in the South.

Between 2003 & 2017, he chaired Thesis Asset Management plc, a fast-growing investment management service provider for private clients, charities, pension funds, and trusts. More recently, from 2017 until April 2020, he chaired The Ince Group PLC, a publicly quoted legal services business, from its admission to AIM through to its acquisition of multiple law firm offices in the UK and across Europe, the UAE and Asia.

Speaking about his new role at Bennett Griffin, Tony said: “I am delighted to be part of the leadership team at such an exciting time for the firm. 

“I have been working with Managing Partner Kate Hallin for the past three years, during which time the business has been transformed. Her focus and energy is reflected in the positive approach adopted by the firm’s workforce.

“Bennett Griffin has a well-deserved reputation for its legal expertise and is highly regarded as a nimble and entrepreneurial enterprise serving private and commercial clients. I look forward to being part of the senior team and helping the firm to achieve its exciting growth strategy.”

Bennett Griffin is an award-winning Commercial & Private Client Solicitors, offering wide-ranging and expert legal service to clients in Sussex and across the southeast.

Managing Partner Kate Hallin says she’s thrilled to be working with Tony: 

“Tony and I have had a great working relationship from when I joined Bennett Griffin a few years ago.

“I was very fortunate to have his ear to bend and advice to lean upon whilst making my way on the Managing Partner path. I am thrilled that we are now business partners and look forward to the future of Bennett Griffin with him by my side.”

If you are looking for a resilient legal partner you can trust and work alongside, get in touch with our team today on 01903 229999 or by emailing info@bennett-griffin.co.uk 

Colonnade House June Events

Bank holidays, bunting, BBQ's and indecisive weather are on a lot of people's minds this month, but let Colonnade House distract you with a great selection of exhibitions  throughout June.

Figment Arts: Looking Out 14 - 26 June 10.00 - 17.00

Artist led Figment Arts Studio is a group of autistic, learning disabled and neurodiverse creatives. Full Event Details here

Nora Young: Befriending Frazzles14 - 26 June 10.00 - 17.00

Nora Young describes her process for this exhibition as a "journey of mindfulness practice that helps me manage the repeated circular thought patterns that are best described as ‘frazzle’." Full Event Details here

YOU ARE HERE: 28 June - 3 July 10.00 - 17.00

An exhibition of collage, painting and printmaking by local artists Daniela Maria Gargiulo and Anna Vartiainen. Full Event Details here

Chris Prince: My Wild Side 28 June - 9 July 10.00 - 17.00

For the last 15 years Chris Prince has been behind the lens of his camera taking photos of wildlife. Full Event Details here

Creative Commissions in June

Nine local arts projects have received funding from the Creative Commissions grant scheme run by Adur & Worthing Trust. The projects will take place throughout 2022 and include creative sessions using wool in Sompting, augmented reality apps, drag artist performances and Black History Month celebrations.. Find out more here

Highdown Gardens tree is vandalised

A conifer tree thought to be more than 50 years old at the world-famous Highdown Gardens has been vandalised. 

The tree was stripped of all its bark at the end of last month (May 28/29), potentially exposing it to disease and pests with the damage believed to be deliberate as the exposed trunk and branches were engraved by a sharp object, while footsteps were also found at the base. 

Worthing Borough Council manages the gardens, which benefited from a £1m National Lottery funding boost last June to regenerate the eight-and-a-half-acre beauty spot.

Cllr Vicki Wells, Cabinet Member for the Environment, Worthing Borough Council, said: “We are hugely saddened that somebody has deliberately damaged one of the historic trees at Highdown Gardens.

“Highdown Gardens is there to be enjoyed by everyone, not just now but in decades to come. Deliberate damage to any of these trees is completely unacceptable as it can cause disease and their premature death. Importantly, deliberate damage is a criminal offence and those found guilty will face legal action. So if you see anyone damaging any of these trees, please report it.”

Stripping a tree of its bark denies it access to vital nutrients, while also lessening its natural protection from both animals and the elements and denying it the chance to grow branches and putting the tree under great stress.

The chalk gardens have been managed by Worthing Borough Council since they were handed over for the benefit of local residents more than 50 years ago.

Situated in the South Downs countryside between Durrington and Angmering overlooking the sea, the gardens are free to visit and are currently open from 10am till dusk.

They are home to The National Plant Collection of the plant introductions of Sir Fredrick Stern - a unique collection of unusual plants and trees to be discovered all year round.

Article from Adur & Worthing Council News

Q&A with Cllr Martin McCabe, cabinet member for regeneration at Worthing Borough Council

Cllr Martin McCabe is the new cabinet member for regeneration at Worthing Borough Council and has got straight to work outlining the new administration’s approach. Today he talks about embracing change, Teville Gate - and protecting our green assets for future generations.

Q. You have now been in the cabinet for two weeks. What are your first impressions of the role? Has anything surprised you?

The passion and energy of the whole Council team is incredible. I love their enthusiasm, their pride in our town and their readiness to embrace the change. It’s certainly surprised me but it's great to see people already moving from a culture of playing it safe to being unafraid and ready to innovate.

Q. What have been the first things you have done so far?

I’ve started by outlining our new approach – to engage with residents and to listen.  First up will be Montague Place and those squiggly lines – which personally, I’d like to see gone. I've also been reviewing Council contracts inherited from my predecessors so we can get our borrowing back under control. We need to build a sustainable recovery by rebalancing our Council's finances away from debt and towards long term investment in our community. Plus we’ve started putting together a multimillion-pound bid for government funding to make our public spaces greener.

Q. When you hear “regeneration” what do you think of?

To be honest, Doctor Who!  It makes me think how arcane some of our language sounds. We have to change that - we have to communicate better with people in the real world. When I'm out in town or on the school run, I don't say I'm the cabinet member for regeneration. I say I'm the guy who has to finally sort out Teville Gate and the rest.

Q. What attracted you to the regeneration portfolio?

In every leadership role I've had, I’ve always been excited by the chance to make real, tangible change. Working with the Army changed my life and engrained a culture of teamwork and always striving to be the best we can be. I was born and raised here. It’s a special place and I want to help make it even better. So It's the greatest honour I can imagine, to be given this opportunity to help our town move forwards.

Q. Have you got a list of things you personally want to achieve as cabinet member for regeneration?

It's not about me, it’s the team that comes first. We're clear on what we want to achieve - to make our town greener and cleaner and to open up this council to the public by making it more transparent and accessible. We'll tackle the Council debt we've inherited. And we'll listen, listen, listen.

Q. Are there parts of the borough that you want to focus your attention on?

In terms of geography, the most urgent area is from Teville Gate down to the seafront. Our town centre and seafront are vital to our economy and the message we send out about Worthing. Alongside that, we've got to protect the Ferring/Goring Gap for future generations.

Q. Are there examples of regeneration in other areas that you want Worthing to imitate or emulate?

Waverley Council is a fantastic example on housing. We’ve visited and met with both the Council and the developer. We learned a lot and will be taking that forward into our own plans. Preston Council also gives us a good template for working with our community partners and improving our environment. Like them, we can deliver a vision for Worthing where active travel, green spaces and truly affordable housing replace cars, empty shops and concrete.

Q. Let’s jump forward in time. You’ve been in post for 12 months - what have you managed to get done so far?

Held a great Big Clean-Up for our town centre and wider communities.  Begun our programme for building council housing and finally ended the years of uncertainty on key sites like Teville Gate and Union Place. And I hope, seen the back of those squiggly lines at Montague Place!

Worthing & Adur Chamber appoints new President and Chief Exec!

At the 84^th Annual General Meeting on Wednesday 18^th of May at Rooms Worthing it was announced that Tony Hedger from A&T Business Associates is the incoming President of Worthing & Adur Chamber and Tracie Davey, previous Operations Manager for the Chamber will be taking on the role of Chief Exec of Worthing & Adur Chamber.

Tony has been a member of the Chamber since 2009 and been on the Executive Committee for 11 years and been a Vice President for a number of years.

Tony commented “Having been a Vice President for a number of years, it feels like the right time to step up and take on the role from Chay after what has been a very unusual couple of years. We are far from being over these challenges, but the Chamber has continually evolved like many of our members. I am very keen to grow the Chamber membership and improve what the Chamber offers its members.”

Tracie started at the Chamber 14 years ago, working just 2 hours a week alongside running her own retail business. Tracie became an integral part of the team and after selling her business 11 years ago, became the Operations Manager. During lockdown, Tracie worked hard to adapt the Chamber’s services to a virtual world, introducing many different types of online events and support workshops.

Tracie’s aims and ambitions for the Chamber are to continue the growth of membership, regularly reviewing and developing the membership benefits, providing an increased variety of networking opportunities and events. To look at how the Chamber can continue to evolve, stay fresh and bring in new and relevant ways of engaging with our members. The Chamber is all about collaborating, highlighting strengths and opportunities and championing its members. Her vision is for the Chamber to be the first organisation businesses turn to for support locally.

Tracie commented “I’m really looking forward to be taking on the role of Chief Exec, it’s a really exciting time for the Chamber. With an increased team, we will be able to build on the great work we have done over the past two years and ensure the Chamber continues to evolve and adapt to meet the needs of our amazing local business community.”

www.worthingandadurchamber.co.uk

Brighton season ticket holder meets Murray in competition winning hospitality day

A lifelong Brighton & Hove Albion season ticket holder was given the chance to meet club legend Glenn Murray – thanks to a competition hosted by Sussex law firm Mayo Wynne Baxter.

Gym club coach Andrew Hair, his wife Pauline, daughter Rebecca and grandson Caleb Jordan had a pitch-side photo with Murray before the Seagulls’ 3-1 final-day victory over West Ham on Sunday, 22 May. The family, of Hurstpierpoint, were then treated to a three-course pre-match lunch in HB’s Restaurant alongside ex-Albion players, before watching the match. They were also given a framed, signed home shirt.

Andrew, who has been running Hurstpierpoint Gymnastics Club for more than 40 years, said: “We all had a fabulous day thanks to the Mayo Wynne Baxter team and everyone at the Amex – we were pampered from start to finish.

“It was wonderful to meet Glenn Murray and also Bobby Zamora, who are two of my all-time Albion dream team members thanks to the pleasure they have given us in the past.“We will treasure the opportunity to go pitch-side for the presentation and we are delighted to have photos to remember the occasion. We hadn’t been to HB’s Restaurant before and the staff were so helpful and attentive the whole of our time there.

“The result added to the day, which was finished off in style with the gift of a replica shirt to our grandson – now proudly wearing it – and a photo opportunity with Marc Cucurella, who we spotted in the car park as we left the ground.”

Mayo Wynne Baxter has sponsored the largest platinum lounge within Brighton’s prestigious 1901 Club since The Amex Stadium opened in 2011. Last year, the firm announced it had extended its partnership until the end of 2025/26 season.

The firm hosted a fan-zone activation ‘Spot the Ball’ competition in September 2019 in collaboration with the club, with the winner receiving a hospitality package for the day. However, due to the coronavirus pandemic, the prize was put on hold until the final day of the 2021/22 season.

Lorna Gietzen, marketing executive at Mayo Wynne Baxter, said: “We are so glad that as winners of our competition, Andrew and his family have finally been able to experience their prize. When Covid struck, we paused the competition and eventually, ended up closing it to further entries. Eight people had chosen the correct grid spot, so we randomly selected a winner out of a hat.

“We have been a strong supporter of sport across Sussex over the years and we are proud to be Albion sponsors – not only because of their impressive journey up the divisions, but also because of the amount of work they do within their local community.”

Pictures - Lorna Gietzen, Rebecca Hair, Glenn Murray, Andrew Hair, Pauline Hair and Caleb Jordan

Free Event - Discover the essential components of an effective exit strategy

A successful exit is often seen as ‘payback’ for the investment you’ve made in successfully running your business. But what is a successful exit and, how do you achieve one? An exit can take many forms, from an outright sale to a senior team buyout, from a merger to a transfer within the family, or even a liquidation. All are different in nature but the most lucrative share the need for serious planning if the outcome is to meet expectations.

At this event we will be discussing the elements of an effective exit strategy, including:

-What is an exit strategy?

-When should I start planning for exit?

- How will I develop the plan?

- Who needs to be involved in formulating the strategy?

Wednesday 6 July 2022 09:30 - 12:30 The Charmandean Centre Worthing

This seminar is aimed at owners of SMEs from £300k to £5m turnover (but businesses with turnover outside this range will also benefit from attending). Typically entrepreneurs who, up until now, have been too busy running their businesses to invest time thinking about their exit. Leaving planning your exit too late means arriving at an end point and having precious few options. This is not a good idea. Take a first step to securing your future.

Book your free place now