Mid Sussex District Council (MSDC) approved its Corporate Plan and Budget for 2019/20 at a meeting of Full Council on Wednesday 27 February 2019.

The 2019/20 Corporate Plan and Budget is set to focus on supporting economic progression and the ambitious growth programme in Mid Sussex. It will also allow for the protection of frontline services as well as investment in community services and facilities.

Councillor Garry Wall, Leader of Mid Sussex District Council said “We will be continuing to invest to support local communities. 2019/20 will see us advance some of our most ambitious objectives to date. These include the Burgess Hill Growth Programme which is one of the largest projects we have ever been involved in.

“We will support economic growth through the delivery of full-fibre gigabit connectivity and increase the number of electric vehicles charging points around our District.

“We will secure infrastructure improvements to support housing growth, like GP surgeries, schools and community facilities. A masterplan for Haywards Heath and a Conservation Area management plan for East Grinstead will be developed.

“Further, we will invest in our playing pitches, playgrounds, parks and open spaces.

“To improve the health of Mid Sussex residents our Wellbeing team will continue their work in the community to help people make healthy lifestyle choices. Once again we will invest in our leisure centres to make sure we have great facilities to help people stay fit and active.

“It is seldom an easy job setting a Corporate Plan and Budget for the year ahead. However, we are determined to provide the best range of services we can.
It’s vitally important that we continue to plan for the long-term, invest wisely and focus our resources on the things that matter most to local people.”

The Mid Sussex portion of Council tax will increase by 3.1% in 2019/20 which equates to £4.95 or just 10p per week for an average Band D property.

If homes and businesses currently experience download broadband speeds of less than 2Mbps, you can be helped with access to a service that will offer speeds of at least 2Mpbs via a subsidised satellite or wireless broadband installation.

People affected may apply for a voucher code which will cover most of the cost of installation and commissioning of the broadband service, typically reducing it by £350.  Please note that the applicant is then responsible for paying the monthly subscription for the service selected for a minimum period of 12 months.

The Better Broadband scheme is part of the Government’s commitment that every premise in the UK should be able to access broadband at ‘basic’ speeds of 2Mbps. The government is consulting with telecommunications providers on an obligation to provide broadband at minimum speeds of 10Mbps by 2020.

More information is available on the relaunched Better Broadband scheme website:  https://basicbroadband.culture.gov.uk/

PARISH COUNCIL MEETING

The next meeting of Poynings Parish Council to be held in the village Hall on Tuesday 5^th March 2019 at 7pm.

Agenda

1. Apologies for Absence
   
2. Minutes
   
3. Matters arising
   
4. MSDC and WSDC
   
5. Public Participation
   
6. Expenditure for December and January
   
7. Planning applications
   Holy Trinity Church Poynings Road Poynings.
   Proposal: Replace wooden frame doors at the entrance to the church with doors made entirely of galvanised steel which will hang on existing brackets.
   Downmere Poynings Road Poynings
   Discharge of Conditions 3, 5, 13 and 14 on planning permission
   
8. MSDC Garden Party Nomination
   
9. Annual Parish Meeting
   
10. Insurance
    
11. Elections
    
12. Update on play equipment and outdoor gym
    
13. Indoor Table Tennis Table
    
14. Dog waste bins etc
    
15. Code of Conduct and Standing Orders
    
16. Items for next month’s Agenda
    
17. Date for next meeting
    

Clerk to the Council
Mr Colin Warburton

Ready, steady… count! The CRE Star Count event begins today, so when you’ve got a clear night near you, take a moment to look up at the sky and tell them how many stars you can see in Orion. Your results will help them create a map showing the best places to enjoy the stars, and will also support their work to combat light pollution and reclaim our dark skies. It doesn’t take long to take part and makes a great family activity.

They’ll be taking submissions until 23 February, but the skies look set to be clear tonight, which makes for perfect stargazing…

Take part: how to get involved in Star Count

Thursday 24^th January 2019

The West Sussex Health and Wellbeing Board (HWB) is holding its next meeting in public in Haywards Heath. The Board would like to invite local residents and organisations to come and see the Board in action. There will be a question time item on the agenda for members of the public to pose questions to the Board.

The Board aims to improve health and wellbeing outcomes across all local health, social care and public health services and for the whole population. It brings together elected members, leaders from the NHS, social care and the voluntary sector to work together and support one another to improve the health and wellbeing of the residents of West Sussex.

Meeting details are as follows;

This meeting will be open to the public, including residents, community and voluntary groups. Members of the public present as observers at the meeting will have an opportunity to ask questions. If someone has more complex questions they are asked to submit their question in advance (ideally several days), so that a more detailed answer can be given. To do this, please contact Erica Keegan on 0330 222 6050 (a local call) or via email: Erica.keegan@westsussex.gov.uk

Further information about the HWB, together with the meeting agenda and reports can be found on the County Council’s website: www.westsussex.gov.uk/wshealthandwellbeing. The Chairman looks forward to welcoming you to the meeting.