The following is my September 2023 report to Hailsham Town Council
Increased Road Maintenance Spending in East Sussex
There was some confusion at the last meeting of the Town Council when one member suggested that the only reason that highways spending had increased this financial year was because it had been cut by a similar amount in the prior year. This is definitively not the case. With the modest hiccup associated with COVID/Lockdown period excepted, road maintenance spending has been on a significantly rising trend. The substantial rise in spending (which follows a report commissioned by the ESCC Cabinet at the beginning of 2023) that we have budgeted for this 2023/24 financial year combined with the introduction of a new Highways contractor leave me confident that things will improve markedly over the coming years.
I am really pleased to see the promised works in South Road and Ersham Road delivered in July and looking forward to seeing Diplocks Way resurfaced.
I enclose a table of Highways Structural Maintenance/Investment spending by East Sussex County Council prepared by County Officers to clarify the position. The local challenge is therefore now to make sure that we get every significantly damaged road/pavement which meets the intervention criteria reported on the Highways website and in front of our Highways Steward. Your recent efforts on this front are very much appreciated.
Town Councillor Road Surveys
Councillor Potts (Hailsham West) shared the exchange between Hailsham Town Council and County Highways over the state of our local roads. I had several exchanges with Highways regarding the local surveys conducted by Town Councillors and what possible next steps might follow. As a result of my conversations with them on Friday, they have said that they are more than happy to inspect the damages to the roads highlighted, but they would like a bit more information (as it is a long list) to assist with the efficient execution of this exercise. They will be writing to you as a council imminently seeking some clarification and to agree a way forward.
Anti-Social-Behaviour & Car Fires
I reached out again to the office of PCC Katie Bourne again two weeks ago for an update on arson and ASB in the Town. Subsequently, I had a conversation with Chief Inspector Andy Nicklin responsible for this area. The takeaways were that the police are confident that the string of car fires has abated. With respect to local ASB, their targeted work, supported by increased resourcing and focus on key offenders, is having some success in reducing offending from the most prolific youths.. Chief Inspector Nicklin reiterated that they are heavily reliant on the public reporting ASB incidents either online (link below) or via the 101-telephone line. This assists them in mapping the ASB hotspots in the Town and helps them to direct police resourcing.
https://www.sussex.police.uk/report-online
East Sussex welcomes £10.5 million bus service improvements.
As part of the East Sussex Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP), £10.5 million of Government funding has been invested into improving bus services across the county. Every district and borough has benefitted from the enhanced services, with new hourly daily services in some areas, frequency enhancements, and additional evening and weekend services.
As well as the service enhancements, the ambitious plan has resulted in reduced fares and the successful introduction of an on-demand bus service, FlexiBus, in rural areas of the county.
More information about this story can be found here. A full list of improvements is available on the East Sussex County Council website.
Creative business investment programme launched in East Sussex
A scheme to help companies become investment ready is available to creative industries in East Sussex. The ‘Create Southeast’ programme aims to support local creative businesses to develop the skills needed to secure investment and facilitate access to additional funding. The initiative is part of the government’s national ‘Create Growth’ programme to help grow creative industries nationwide. The programme will run until 2025.
Events celebrate Older People’s Day
A programme of activities will take place across September and October to mark International Older People’s Day 2023. The ‘Full of Life’ events programme has been unveiled by East Sussex County Council and East Sussex Senior’s Association (ESSA) and features over 40 free and paid for activities open to the 50+ age group.
Solar panels to contribute to county’s environmental efforts.
Efforts to reduce carbon emissions from council buildings across the county have been boosted by the latest installation of solar panels. The Keep in Moulsecoomb became the 13th building to have panels fitted as part of East Sussex County Council’s climate emergency plan. Within 12 months, the new installation is expected to save 23 tonnes of CO2 and save around £45,000 in energy bills.
As well as the 13 solar panel installations, East Sussex County Council has completed 20 LED lighting projects and installed low carbon heating in two of its buildings in the last two years.
Gerard Fox
Conservative County Councillor
Hailsham New Town
