The hugely popular Mid Sussex Play Days have moved to a new stage for summer 2020 – with performers beaming into homes across the district to provide fun and entertainment.

Last year thousands of people enjoyed the free Play Day activities in towns and villages throughout the District. However, due to the current Covid guidelines it is not possible to gather for such large-scale events, so another solution had to be found.

Working alongside performers and event organisers Mid Sussex District Council has organised puppetry, sport and circus entertainment for the under 10s on each day of the summer holidays from 20^th July. Weekly sessions for over 10s will include DJ workshops, graffiti art and dance sessions.

“Play is vital to the physical and mental health of children and families and indeed everyone. This is increasingly the case and recent months have reminded us of the importance of our parks and open spaces, and time spent together with friends and family. When it became clear that we couldn’t proceed with our traditional Play Days programme, we knew we had to rethink our approach,” said Councillor Webster, Cabinet Member for Community.

“At the best of times it is a challenge to keep children entertained over the summer holidays but this year there are restrictions which are likely to make this even more tricky. Many of the performers previously involved in Play Days were really keen to help out and we have created a varied programme which we hope will go some way to helping with a mix of entertainment, ideas for activities, and fun that may start online but will, we hope, provide inspiration for many more inside and outdoor activities.”

Parents and carers are urged to visit www.midsussex.gov.uk/playdays to sign up for emails about the programme coming up. The link from there will contain new content every weekday at 11am.

For more information contact Sally Blackmore, Mid Sussex District Community Engagement and Events Officer or email communityservices@midsussex.gov.uk.

Following the great success of the first Mid Sussex Applauds Awards last year, nominations are now open for 2020. The Awards aim to highlight the fantastic work of individuals and organisations across the district.

Spot last years candidate from Poynings…

Through each of the eight categories the Awards seek to recognise our connections and celebrate our community. With categories ranging from young achievers to green champions, those who help support active lifestyles and who work to bring communities together, we hope to highlight all our community VIPs. The categories are –

Good Sport Award – a club or individual who has made an outstanding contribution to supporting activity or sport in Mid Sussex

Young Volunteer of the year – recognising those young people who have made a difference in their local community

Stronger Communities – a community group or organisation that has helped to bring together cultures and communities through a local project or community activity

Young Achiever Award – against all the odds, someone who has overcome significant obstacles and made a positive difference to their own lives or to other young people through education, campaigning or helping another overcome a difficult situation or personal problem

Take Pride in Mid Sussex – This award will recognise residents who dedicate their time and energy into keeping Mid Sussex clean and green, take pride in their local area by creating community gardens, painting local spaces, upcycling or encouraging others to recycle.

Business in the Community Award – recognising a business which supports or makes a positive contribution to benefit and enhance community life

Lifetime Achievement Award – an individual who has made a substantial commitment to the community in their lifetime

Stronger Together – an individual who has helped to bring together cultures and communities through a local project or community activity

Mid Sussex District Council Chairman Councillor Colin Trumble commented, “2020 has been an exceptionally challenging year for all in the community. I have been extremely impressed at the way organisations and individuals have risen to those challenges giving vital support, especially to those most in need. I have also been impressed by the way businesses have very swiftly adapted to the new environment and continued to give help to their communities. Yet, while the response to recent challenges has been magnificent, I am so pleased that people and organisations have continued to do the charity and support work they always do. Unquestionably, this shows we have a strong community in Mid Sussex of which we should feel proud and for which we should feel grateful.

“I know there will be many individuals, groups and organisations we will want to thank and recognise so please send in your nominations for this year’s Mid Sussex Applauds Awards so we can celebrate their achievements and tell their stories.”

Residents are encouraged to take part in the straightforward nomination process which will be open until 18th September. Just visit www.midsussex.gov.uk/applauds for details of how to nominate.

From 6^th July West Sussex County Council have advised that their Household Waste Recycling Sites at Burgess Hill and East Grinstead are now accepting all items. Please note that both sites are NOT able to accept trailers. This is to ensure appropriate social distancing measures are maintained. For details of what you can take to each site please visit their website www.recycleforwestsussex.org

• Lockdown easing comes with risks of further outbreaks. To help us manage any new outbreaks in the county we have developed a ‘local outbreak control plan’ which includes details about the public health response and what actions businesses and residents might be asked to take – please take a look.
• Stay safe as pubs and restaurants reopen – Leaders from local authorities, blue light services and health have come together to urge people to stay alert to Covid-19 and avoid placing strain on local services as businesses reopen. Read more.
• More items allowed at recycling sites- From Monday (6 July) residents will be able to deposit more items at our Household Waste Recycling Sites. For full details read our release online. 
• ‘Select and Collect’ service coming to a West Sussex Library near you! – From Monday (July 6), West Sussex Library service is introducing a ‘Select and Collect’ service
• Help keep our county clean  As lockdown restrictions are relaxing more people are visiting public spaces and areas of natural beauty.  Keep our countryside, beaches and parks clean by taking a bag for your own rubbish in case you cannot find a bin, or the bin is full. 

• Coronavirus updates – Visit our website for the very latest service updates. Visit the webpage.
• Birth registrations open for 2,000 West Sussex babies born since lockdown – Find out more.

Even though lockdown is easing if people still need support it is available

Request support

Wherever you live, if your request is urgent, for example, you are going to run out of food or medicine within the next three days, please phone 033 022 27980 so that we can make sure you get the help you need as quickly as possible.​

Support from district and boroughs – For residents who do not meet the criteria for receiving direct Government support, but still need help.

• Adur & Worthing Councils – Community request form
• Crawley Borough Council – Community request form 
• Horsham District Council – Community request form

Support from the County Council’s Community Hub – The team are coordinating all other support requests across the county and arranging help.

Request support via our form (external link)

Many thanks

Sue

PARISH COUNCIL MEETING

The next meeting of Poynings Parish Council is to be held online using Zoom software on Wednesday 8th July 2020 at 7pm.

Login details to be emailed prior to the meeting, please contact me if you wish to attend for details.

Agenda

1. Apologies for absence
2. Matters Arising
3. MSDC and WSDC
4. Public Participation
5. Expenditure for April 2020 and May 2020
6. Planning applications
   a. Orchard Cottage Dyke Lane Poynings BN45 7AA
   Proposal: Demolition of existing dwelling and associated outbuildings and erection of single replacement 3 bed dwelling with ancillary detached garage and home office.
   Closing date for comments 16th July 2020.
   https://planningpublicaccess.southdowns.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?keyVal=QBG5OJTUG3R00&activeTab=summary
   b. The Gate House Poynings Road Poynings West Sussex BN45 7AG
   Proposal: Provision of external cladding, insulation, flue and new roof to outbuilding (part retrospective), new wall to north of house (retrospective), retaining wall close to west boundary (retrospective), wall and entrance gates at south end of house (proposed)
   Closing date for comments 20th July 2020.
   https://planningpublicaccess.southdowns.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?keyVal=QAY168TUFTL00&activeTab=summary
7. Winter Plan
8. Covid-19 Update.
9. Financial report.
   a. Certificate of Exemption
   b. Annual Governance Statement
   c. Accounting Statement
10. Item’s for next month’ s Agenda
11. Dates of Next month’s Meeting

Mr Colin Warburton
Clerk to the Council

Hideaway Cottage
6 Poynings Road
Poynings
West Sussex BN45 7AP
Tel: 01273 857024
clerk@poyningsparishcouncil.com

Today we received our delivery of compost we now have stock of multipurpose, along wit farmyard manure, landscape and decorative bark, peat free new horizon compost, John Innes no2 and 3, and John Innes Ericaceous

The multipurpose is limited to 4 bags per transaction we have more compost on order but there will probably be a 3 to 4 week wait for delivery

We have a delivery of shrubs, we have herbs in stock and our homegrown Roses, also some herbaceous plants.

Today we have had a new delivery of indoor plants we have a good selection to choose from

We are still waiting for a bird care delivery, so stock is a bit thin on the ground

Water is precious whatever the weather. With more of us at home this summer, there are a few simple steps you can take to help us keep taps flowing.

For more information Click here

New Local Authority Discretionary Grants are now available to local companies who are not eligible for the Government’s main Small Business Grant support scheme.

The Government announced in March a scheme to provide grants to businesses in receipt of Small Business Rate Relief and those working in the Retail, Hospitality and Leisure sectors. Those grants are to help businesses meet the ongoing premises related costs and challenges they are facing as a result of the coronavirus pandemic and are still available to qualifying applicants.

So far, Mid Sussex District Council has distributed more than £24m to nearly 1,900 local business but there are many more who don’t qualify for this support and are in desperate need of financial help during this coronavirus pandemic.

The Government has now allocated Mid Sussex District Council £1.4 million to help support businesses that were not eligible for the original grant. The Council has been asked by the Government to prioritise the following types of business for this funding, subject to eligibility:

• Small businesses in shared offices or other flexible workspaces
• Regular market traders with fixed stall locations who do not have their own business rates assessment and have their main domestic residence in Mid Sussex
• Bed & Breakfasts which pay Council Tax instead of business rates
• Charity properties in receipt of charitable business rates relief which would otherwise have been eligible for Small Business Rates Relief or Rural Rate Relief
• Businesses in the supply chain to the Retail, Leisure and Hospitality sectors that did not qualify for the original government business grants but pay business rates or have other property costs
• Businesses that did not qualify for the original government business grants but pay onerous business rates or have relatively high property costs
• Businesses which may have qualified for a business grant but are waiting for a business rate valuation decision from the independent Valuation Office

Applications are open to businesses outside of the categories listed above but will only be considered once these priority applications have been processed.

Local businesses are encouraged to apply for funding online at www.grantapproval.co.uk and applications must be received by Midnight on 14 June 2020. All applications will be assessed as quickly as possible after the closing date.

Councillor Stephen Hillier, Cabinet Member for Economic Growth said:

“We welcome this additional financial support from Central Government for our local businesses who have been hit so hard by this dreadful pandemic. However, we expect demand for this support to be extremely high, possibly over-subscribed, and so it will be important for us to assess each application against the set criteria swiftly and in an equitable manner.

“I urge every business that applies for this grant to provide us with as much information as possible about how the coronavirus pandemic has affected your business. Please provide evidenced details about the costs you are facing, of your lost income and information about your employees and how this funding could help you to protect local jobs.

“We’re aiming to support as many small business in our District as possible to ensure they continue to help the local economy post COVID19 but there is a limited amount of money available for this scheme and once it has been allocated the scheme will close.

“If your small business is struggling due to this coronavirus pandemic and you haven’t been able to obtain support from the Government through previous schemes then please submit your application now at www.grantapproval.co.uk“