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Promoted by Jane Kilby on behalf of Roger Barrow and Colin Rickman of Chichester Conservative Assoc, St John’s House, St John’s St, Chichester, PO19 1UU.
PRINCIPLES AND VALUES
These are the principles and values of our Conservative-led District Council which we will follow if elected again
Competence
We ensure council services are delivered efficiently to residents.
Compassion
The Council tax reduction scheme was established in 2012. It is now one of the most generous in the country. It reduces council tax payable to as low as zero depending on income.
The Supporting You team has been established to help residents cope with soaring prices.
The Freeland Close project was completed, providing 17 additional units of temporary accommodation (including 2 accessible units) and has been in use from March 2022.
We adopted a new Housing Strategy 2020–25 setting down the Council’s housing objectives, including prevention of homelessness, reducing rough sleeping and delivering 1000 new affordable homes over 2020- 25.
The Housing Team continues to work with rough sleepers, alongside our partner Stonepillow and supported by Government funding. This has led to a significant reduction in the number of people sleeping rough in the district, with many former rough sleepers being helped to access accommodation and then remain in it.
Covid-19 testing sites were set up in some Council-owned car parks across the District and the Westgate Leisure Centre was used as a vaccination site. NHS staff were also given free parking in our Northgate car park during the emergency.
Covid grants payable to households and small businesses were paid out in record time, earning praise in Parliament. These grants helped households avoid hardship and businesses maintain employment
Financial Control
Tight Financial control has been sustained. This ensured balanced budgets until the upsets from Covid and the cost of living crisis.
Our prudent control of our finances over many years allowed substantial reserves to be built up which enabled us to finance the revenue deficits caused by Covid and inflation.
Council Tax was increased moderately each year to ensure adequate funds for services.
Parking charges have been kept in line with inflation to ensure adequate funds for services while still giving good value to motorists
The New Homes bonus payments from government were largely retained for investment, not used for financing current costs.
The council has avoided any borrowing.
Use the experts and outsource our services where it is the best option
Our leisure centres were outsourced to Everyone Active.
The Careline personal alarm service was outsourced to Axa.
But the CCS (waste collection, parks and street sweeping) service was retained in-house as external consultants confirmed it was extremely efficient.
Protecting services
No frontline cuts have been made; instead efficiencies in provision have been realised. Working with the private sector to promote economic growth
Information is given to businesses to assist their expansion.
New inward investment by private sector is facilitated.
New warehouse and office facilities at Enterprise Centre and Ravenna Point in Terminus Road, Chichester were built by the council with both sites enjoying very high occupancy rates.
The Council has been leading on the Southern Gateway redevelopment in Chichester.
At the start of the pandemic, the Revenues Team swiftly prepared and implemented multiple grants schemes for businesses to allow them to continue to trade.
The rebuilding project for St James Industrial Estate in Chichester was granted planning permission for nearly 48 thousand square feet of floor space in 30 new units across 5 blocks. It will open early next year and already around half the units have been pre-let.
Delivering a new Local Plan to determine land use in areas outside the National Park
This has been achieved in the face of immensely challenging and complex planning process and environmental constraints.
Ensuring Community safety
The team of Community wardens is reducing anti-social behaviour.
The council has retained a CCTV network in our towns
Addressing Climate change
A Climate Emergency was declared by the Council in July 2019.
A net zero by 2030 target was set for CDC facilities.
The decarbonising of the Westgate leisure centre in Chichester was initiated as an important step towards the net zero target.
2 fully electric refuse freighters have been ordered to enable CDC to test their operational effectiveness ahead of potential further electrification of the whole CDC fleet.
Helping Communities
The Council has initiated Vision projects for the City and our rural towns.
Litter Enforcement was established using East Hants District Council staff from 2018 onwards.
Funding has been approved to enable work to commence on the refurbishment of 5 key public convenience sites across the district.
Improving Council Governance
New panels of councillors were established to ensue that all–party Committees or Panels consider every item before it goes to the Cabinet for decision or recommendation to full council