Sussex Magazines

Councillor Peter Jones, Leader of the Council, said “We have a once in a lifetime opportunity to stimulate the local economy, benefiting residents and businesses, made possible by our careful planning in past years. We are one of the biggest organisations in East Sussex and we will be considering plans to spend £254 million on development projects over the next four years. This totals nearly £500 million when we include other contributions, for example government grants.”

Some of the Council's major new and ongoing projects are:

• £15 million for superfast broadband – to more than match the £10.6 million Government grant, with an early focus on rural areas that have low speeds or no broadband at all

• a further £24 million for the Bexhill Hastings Link Road (subject to Department of Transport contribution) – to improve the economy by giving access to land for business and housing

• £10 million investment to ensure continued high quality services in the face of rising numbers of children being referred and in care

• £15 million for school improvements, including £5 million for Etchingham Primary School replacement, £1 million to improve school sports halls that can be used by the community in Robertsbridge, Hastings and Uckfield and £9 million for the new academies in Eastbourne and Hastings

• £13 million towards the Keep, the state-of-the-art archive centre

• £7.5 million for library buildings including £6 million for Hastings and £1 million for Newhaven to improve and expand

• £7 million for vulnerable adults and older people including £5 million in Seaford for older people and supported living flats and a new library for the community, £1 million in Hailsham for housing for older people and people with learning disabilities, and £1 million in Bexhill for housing for older people

• £60 million on roads maintenance, upgrades and related work.

In the budget for services, the Council has to save at least £56 million over the next three years, on top of the £37 million saved this year. For next year (2012/13), £19 million of savings are needed to cope with both reduced funding from government and increasing costs such as support for elderly people and vulnerable children and inflationary costs on road maintenance. But even after savings the Council will still be spending over £360 million next year on services which benefit all residents.

• Cabinet meeting papers for 26 January 2012

Councillor Keith Glazier, Lead Cabinet Member responsible for finance, said: “To manage these reductions we are concentrating on what our residents and businesses need, making sure we do the right things in the best way and working closely with our partners. Finding different ways of providing services and making back office savings will reduce the impact on people in East Sussex.

“We know how difficult household budgets are and so, for the second year running, we are considering a proposal to use the special Government grant to enable us to freeze council tax.”

If the proposals are agreed by Cabinet, the budget will be considered by a full meeting of the Council on Tuesday 7 February 2012.

The current library is closing on Saturday 28 January 2012 and moving to a temporary base at Elm Court in Blatchington Road, Seaford which will open on Monday 20th February 2012.

While the library is closed, people can use any other County Council library and also renew books and materials online or on the phone.

The temporary library will be open on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 9.30am until 6pm, on Friday from 10.30am until 6pm and on Saturday from 9.30am until 5pm.

Contact details are:

Elm Court
Blatchington Road
Seaford
East Sussex, BN25 2AD

Renewals: 0345 60 80 195
Enquiries: 0345 60 80 196
Email: library.seaford@eastsussex.gov.uk .

For more information about the library, go to our Seaford Library page.

East Sussex County Council has arranged exhibitions at its main libraries in the two towns starting at the end of this month and running through February and March. The exhibitions will give people the opportunity to find out more and meet funeral celebrants who will explain their role.

The first exhibition starts at Lewes Library, Styles Field off Friars Walk on Monday 30 January 2012 and will run until Saturday 18 February. The event includes two ‘Ask an Expert' sessions in the Library on Tuesday 7 February from 2pm to 4pm and on Friday 17 February from 10.30am to 12.30pm when experienced funeral celebrants, Pamela Day and Helena Goalen will be on hand to answer questions.

Peacehaven Library in the Meridian Centre will then host an exhibition from Thursday 23 February 2012 until Saturday 10 March 2012. This will also include an ‘Ask an Expert' session with Malcolm Bacon on Tuesday 6 March 2012 from 10.30am to 12.30pm.

Councillor Tony Freebody, Lead Member for Community Services at the County Council said: “Our Registration Service is there for us at key moments – registering births, conducting marriage and civil partnership ceremonies and registering deaths. What many people don't know, however, is that they continue to support many families after bereavement by conducting civil funerals.

“A civil funeral is a unique and sensitive ceremony that is focused completely on the wishes, beliefs and values of the person and family involved. It offers the opportunity to create a deeply personal and fitting farewell to a loved one and to celebrate their life. If you want to find out more then visit one of our exhibitions or drop in to one of our Ask an Expert sessions.”

The exhibitions have been arranged by the Council's Registration Service and Library and Information Service. Last year, similar exhibitions were held at libraries in Eastbourne, Bexhill at Hastings.

For more information about civil funerals visit our section on Births, deaths, marriages and civil partnerships.

For more general information about libraries visit our Libraries pages.

The concert, at Lewes Town Hall, will involve talented young musicians from all over the county and will include music by Gustav Holst, Ralph Vaughan Williams and Hubert Parry.

The music includes Holst's First Suite in E-flat for Military Band, which is a landmark of British symphonic wind music. The Vaughan Williams Fantasis on a theme by Thomas Tallis, is written for two string orchestras and solo string quartet. This piece also holds a significant place in British musical history, influencing generations of composers with its elements of folk song and modal tonalities.

The concert will conclude with Hubert Parry's great Symphony No 3 'The English', a fitting conclusion to this concert of English music, given by talented young musicians from East Sussex Music Service

Formed in 1988, the orchestra has been performing to a high standard for many years. Recently, they performed the film music from Star Wars and Harry Potter, played overtures by Beethoven and Wagner, and symphonies by Beethoven, Tchaikovsky, Sibelius, and Shostakovitch.

The orchestra is part of the East Sussex Music Service, an East Sussex County Council service, and is also strongly committed to performing new music, and in 2007 premiered ‘Auditorium' by Ed Hughes and Sophie Rickett at Glyndebourne Opera House. In 2008 the orchestra premiered ‘Lewes Pictures' by Rob Hinchliffe, which portrays life and scenes from in and around this bustling Sussex Town.

Tickets will be available on the door from 6.45pm, and are priced at £6 for adults and £3 for concessions. For further information about South Downs Youth Orchestra or East Sussex Music Service, please contact the Music Service on 01273 336770 or via email at music.service@eastsussex.gov.uk.

The information event has been jointly organised by parents of children with special needs and disabilities and people who work with the families including staff from East Sussex County Council.

It will bring together under one roof a host of information from a wide range of different groups and organisations.

There will also be a focus on planned Government changes to how services for children with special educational needs may be provided in the future. These changes include simpler assessments and plans for young people, with the potential for more parental control over which services are accessed through the support of a personal budget. This would allow young people and their parents to be more central to this process.

The event will give parents and carers the chance to find out more about the various support services that are available to help them and their children. It will also give them the opportunity to let service providers know what changes they would like to see.

Cllr Colin Belsey, the County Council's Lead Member for Children and Families said: “Being a parent is a tough job, and everyone needs help or support at some stage. Being the parent of a child with special needs or disabilities adds extra challenges. Knowing where to turn for help can also be a problem and so that's why we hold events like this.”

“The fact is there is a range of support available for families, but people need to know how they can access that help. We hope at this event to bring together as many organisations as possible so we can create a one-stop shop of information and support.”

The event, for all parents across the county, is being held at Uckfield Civic Centre on Thursday 2 February from 10am until 2pm.

There will be a wide range of information covering such issues as education, training and employment options, health support services, leisure and social opportunities, and housing and independent living advice.

At the event there will be an opportunity to chat to professionals, to ask for advice, and to take in displays by various groups and support services, both from within the County Council and a range of external organisations.

Cllr Belsey added: “This is the latest event of this kind we've arranged and they've always proved extremely popular and useful. This time the focus will particularly be on the proposed changes to how some services are provided and how parents will be more involved and have more control.”

To book a place at this event or to find out more, phone: 01273 481230, email: sarah.lindfield@eastsussex.gov.uk or visit our section on Children with disabilities and special needs.

The Marketplace will be at the East Sussex National Golf Resort and Spa near Uckfield on Tuesday 7 February (3-7pm).

Millions of pounds will be spent by public sector bodies on roads, schools and other projects in the coming year and small and medium sized businesses from the construction industry will be at the event to see how they can become part of the supply chain for councils and other public sector partners in the region.

The event marks the second anniversary of the Build East Sussex launch, and provides an opportunity for networking between suppliers and contractors in the construction and related industries. Key note speaker this year will be the popular broadcaster Simon Fanshawe, Chair of Council of the University of Sussex and Chair of the Brighton & Hove Economic Partnership.

This year for the first time the event will be enhanced by the addition of a number of businesses providing services to the construction sector, such as members of the East Sussex Consultants Framework, payroll providers, and construction software suppliers, and the event itself is being sponsored by the design software company Autodesk.

Build East Sussex, which is led by East Sussex County Council and Brighton & Hove City Council, is a network of construction companies, subcontractors and business support organisations.

Councillor Peter Jones, Leader of East Sussex County Council, said: “Build East Sussex now has over 660 businesses registered on its website. Over 550 work opportunities have been advertised on the website leading to major contracts being awarded to local firms involved in the initiative. We're delighted with progress and hope to see more companies signing up at the Marketplace event next month.”

• Build East Sussex website

Firms both already registered and those interested in joining Build East Sussex will be welcome to come to the East Sussex National on February 7th. The event will give them the opportunity to:

• Find out about potential projects in the area
• Meet the contractors who will be leading the projects
• Find out what requirements must be met to increase the chances of working for the contractors
• Meet a range of business support organisations that can assist in meeting those requirements
• Network with other suppliers and subcontractors
• Register on the Build East Sussex website

Further information

For more information about the event, businesses should call David Moore on 01263 735486 or visit the Build East Sussex website and click on ‘Events' on the top menu.

East Sussex County Council's Planning Committee has approved the plans for the fantastic new development that will be built at Warwick House in Sutton Park Road. The new facility is due to open for business in Autumn 2013.

Councillor Tony Freebody, Lead Member for Community Services said: “I'm absolutely delighted that we have been given the green light. People in the Seaford area will be getting a brand new library where we can offer them their library services in a wonderful building that will be accessible to all. This is another example of the County Council's multi-million pound investment in libraries across East Sussex.”

Councillor Bill Bentley, Lead Member for Adult Social Care, said: “Following the approval of the Planning Committee, we can forge ahead with our plans to upgrade the older people's day service currently offered at Homefield Place in Seaford. This is great news for both the users and carers of our service and for our staff who will transfer over to the new building, once it's built towards the end of next year.”

Library users, people who use social care services, local councillors, neighbours and the voluntary sector were invited to join in wide-ranging and in depth consultation. Special ‘drop-in' sessions were organised, where local people were able to see the plans, meet the architects and discuss the proposals with council staff.

RH Partnership from Brighton designed the new building and the construction company is Vinci Construction UK Limited of Maidstone.

The development includes up to nine supported flats for people with learning disabilities. The flats, having their own entrance and lift facilities, will be provided on three floors. People with a learning disability will be able to live in the community with support and care being provided by a staff team. The tenants will be able to enjoy increased independence and choice by living in the community.

• Warwick House, Seaford

The formal opening of the Mercread Centre in Seaford on Friday 20 January will be carried out by former British paralympian Kristina Veasey. The project was funded by East Sussex County Council to replace and improve youth facilities in the town.

Kristina Veasey, a member of the British women's basketball team in the Paralympics of 2000 and 2004 will be joined for the opening celebration by representatives from the County Council, the centre's management committee and various other people who have worked for Seaford's young people over many years.

Cllr Nick Bennett, who will attend the ceremony, is the County Council's Lead Member for Learning and School Effectiveness. He said: “I'm delighted we have been able to work so closely with the National Association of Clubs for Young People and its management committee to bring this exciting project to fruition. We have been able to provide significantly improved facilities at Mercread that can be used and enjoyed by young people for many years to come.

“This has been an extremely complex project for a number of reasons, and it has taken longer than I hoped it would, but I think the results have been worth waiting for.”

Roger Daw, Chair of the centre's management committee, said: “This is so exciting, a unique opportunity for us to engage with all the young people of Seaford and with the community to listen to their needs and offer a really interesting range of activities. In the current climate there will be economic challenges but we look forward to facing these and providing something special.”

The Centre in Mercread Road offers youth work sessions provided by the County Council's Targeted Youth Support Service, a broad range of activities for 3- to 19-year-olds, and facilities for other community groups.

In a complex capital project the centre was allocated a £775,000 budget for a major building upgrade by the County Council. It now boasts a new multi-purpose hall suitable for sports activities, a social area including coffee bar and snug, a large accessible demonstration kitchen, small meeting room, and self-contained large area ideal for hiring out for children's parties and meetings.

The building is owned by the National Association of Clubs for Young People, but managed locally through a management committee. The land it is on is owned by Lewes District Council and leased to the committee. The County Council has entered into an agreement with the management committee to be able to provide youth services from the building.

As well as welcoming the significant improvements to the youth facilities at the centre, the management committee is particularly keen to use the building to create stronger links between older and young people in the area.

Friday's ceremony marks the official launch of the centre but activities are already underway for the young people of Seaford and surrounding areas.

This also marks the start of the site being open seven days a week from 11am to 4pm.

On 28 January you can meet members of the Steering Group, discuss any ideas for use, and learn more about how organisations can apply to run activities and events on the site.

The Steering Group would also like to invite children and young people to suggest names for the different areas of the site – more information will be available on the open day.

For more information on the site visit Facebook and search for St Anne's old school site.

Services affected include:

• 119, 120, 123, 126, 128, 143, 145
• school journeys on 92A, 92B, 92C and 121.

These services are being reviewed after Renown Coaches gave notice to terminate some of the contracts the company holds to run supported bus services for the Council. The bus company says the main reason for doing so is due to significant increases in fuel costs since they took on these contracts in 2009.

The County Council has looked at the current use of these bus services to help plan for replacements. Due to budget limitations and rising costs affecting all bus operators, some less-used services are likely to be reduced. However, in response to comments we have previously received, we are also planning some improvements to services.

Read the proposals in detail and find out how you can give your views:

• Consultation – changes to Rider bus services in Lewes, Newhaven and Seaford

The closing date for comments is 3 February 2012.

We will take views into account while developing the final timetables. The revised services will come into effect from 22 April 2012, following a competitive tendering process.