Join Councillor James MacCleary, Leader of Lewes District Council for our weekly live Q&A. James will be giving all the latest updates from the district council and our partners. If you have a question please put it in the comments of the Facebook post or bring them to be answered […]
Live Leader’s Q&A – Wednesday 23 June at 10am
This Wednesday, Cllr James MacCleary will be joined by Ruqia Osman and Hermella Abay of Diversity Resource International to hear about the event they will be holding this Saturday which has the theme ‘standing in solidarity against equality’. If you have a question for Ruqia, Hermella or James, please post […]
Big Improvements for Old Malling Farm Plans
District Councillors for Lewes have welcomed significant improvements in plans for a housing scheme at Old Malling Farm. The outline planning application for the proposed development went before the South Downs National Park Planning Committee on 10 June. Councillor Adrian Ross, Cycle Lewes and Lewes residents spoke at the committee […]
Consultation on council plan to help people struggling financially
A consultation is being launched over Lewes District Council’s proposal to increase support for low-income families and people in financial difficulty. Cabinet councillors on Thursday, June 10 agreed to move ahead with plans to consult on a new scheme for 2022/23 that would reduce council tax bills for the worst-off working-age people or those on the lowest incomes in the district. It would also remove the minimum income […]
People asked for views on proposed changes to local constituencies
The Boundary Commission for England has published its initial proposals for new parliamentary constituency boundaries. The proposals increase the overall number of constituencies in England from 533 to 543 and aim to make them more equal in terms of the numbers of electors each constituency contains. The Lewes constituency would […]
Live Leader’s Q&A | Wednesday 9 June at 10am
This Wednesday, Cllr James MacCleary will be joined by Kaye Crittell of the Let’s Do Business Group who will be updating on the latest news from the Newhaven Enterprise Centre. Join James and Kaye at 10am this Wednesday 9 June, live on our Facebook page and as always, please post your questions in the […]
Lewes District Council – Newly elected Chair and Vice-Chair for 2020/21
Councillor Christine Brett has been elected Chair of Lewes District Council for 2021/22 at a meeting of Annual Council on twenty – seventh of May. Councillor Brett is a Liberal Democrat councillor for the Seaford South ward and served as Vice-Chair during 2020/21. The outgoing Chair, Councillor Adrian Ross, was […]
Councils in Lewes Constituency given share of £203 million funding to help rough sleepers
Two councils in the Lewes Constituency are being given a share of £203 million in funding to help end rough sleeping, in a move welcomed by local MP Maria Caulfield. The funding will support vital projects such as shelters, specialist mental health or addiction services, and targeted support to help […]
Statement from Lewes District Council and Eastbourne Borough Council
The councillors and officers of Lewes District Council and Eastbourne Borough Council are deeply saddened at the news of the death of His Royal Highness The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. Our thoughts are with the Royal Family at this time. Details of an online book of condolence are expected […]
Today’s top tips
Ever need to recycle unopened glass, plastic or metal food packaging? Remember to open and empty the contents before recycling. As with all food packaging, please wash and squash before popping in your recycling bin! Have you tried our Report It app? It’s the quickest way to report environmental issues when you’re out and […]
LOCAL PEOPLE BENEFIT FROM HANDOVER OF NEW COUNCIL HOMES
The momentum behind Lewes District Council’s drive to develop affordable homes continues to pay dividends for local families as one housing development is completed and another is set to start. On the recently finished Old Hamsey Lakes development in South Chailey the council has made 12 homes available to people […]
Live Leader’s Q&A: The Makers Directory | Wednesday 17 March at 10am
For this week’s live Q&A, Cllr James MacCleary will be talking to Corina Fletcher about The Makers Directory – a great new one-stop searchable directory of artists and makers in Lewes district which will be launching soon. Join James and Corina this Wednesday 17 March at 10am on our Facebook page. Facebook.com/LewesDistrictCouncil […]
International Women’s Day: Live Q&A | Monday 8 March at 1pm
To mark International Women’s Day 2021, Cllr Zoe Nicholson will be holding next week’s Live Q&A on Monday 8 March at 1pm. Zoe will be talking to Mebrak Ghebreweldi of Diversity Resource Internationalabout the event they are holding that evening, and to Karen Dobres, Co-Director at Lewes FC about becoming the first club teams […]
Cabinet triggers funding opportunity for businesses in Lewes district
Cabinet councillors at Lewes District Council have earmarked a funding pot for businesses in the district and self-employed who are suffering exceptional hardship, including those that have not been able to access any of the government Covid-19 support. Councillor James MacCleary, Leader of Lewes District Council, said: “We are increasingly […]
Councillors put ”sustainability at heart of new developments”
Councillors at Lewes District Council have agreed to implement three new technical advice notes for developers that put a much greater focus on issues of sustainability, both in the planning phase of construction and when work is underway on site. The planning technical advice notes (TAN) cover sustainability, the circular […]
Councillor supports those left behind by the Chancellor
Lewes District Council Co-operative alliance Councillors Imogen Makepeace ( pictured ) and Rob Banks brought a motion to council last night to support the ExcludedUK’s campaign to call on the government to fix the unfairness for those that have not benefited from any of the covid19 support schemes. Imogen Makepeace […]
Deputy leader prioritises supporting residents, Covid recovery and climate action
The deputy leader of Lewes District Council has vowed to continue prioritising support for people who have been hit hardest by the pandemic and ‘not scaling back our ambition’ to tackle the climate crisis in the district’s recovery from the Covid-19 crisis. The comments from Councillor Zoe Nicholson (pictured), who is also Cabinet member for Finance and Assets, came as a rise of less than 10p a week […]
Council’s new bidding process for voluntary grants is ‘fairer approach’
Cabinet councillors on Lewes District Council, on Thursday, February 4, approved a new approach for allocating grants to voluntary organisations which will enable a wider range of groups to apply for funding. This follows a review, including a consultation over the autumn, of the existing Community Grants Policy that awards grants annually to local organisations in three-year cycles. A new competitive bidding process will be introduced this year […]
Plea not to hit hard-pressed residents with increased council tax
The largest political group on Lewes District Council says now is not the time to hit residents with an unnecessary council tax increase. Conservatives are pressing for a zero increase for 2021/22 but the ruling anti-Conservative coalition are adamant to squeeze the largest rise they can implement, even though many […]
”Renew now” for garden waste collection service
Further to our earlier article, residents wishing to take advantage of the Garden Waste Service are being reminded by a Councillor to renew their subscription. People have until Friday, March 19, to renew online and guarantee the service continues without interruption between April 2021 to March 2022. Anyone who does […]
Lewes Holocaust Memorial Day 2021
Holocaust Memorial Day remembers the millions of people who suffered in the Holocaust and in the genocides which followed in Cambodia, Rwanda, Bosnia, and Darfur. Lewes is commemorating Holocaust Memorial Day by hosting live and virtual events including:• online discussion• haiku workshop• online spoken word event To find out more information visit facebook.com/groups/LewesHMD We also encourage people to […]
Live Leader’s Q&A – Wednesday 13 January at 10am
This week Cllr Zoe Nicholson will be joined by Christina Ewbank to discuss theLEAP Business Start-Up Programme and other support available to businesses and entrepreneurs in the district. If you have a business idea and would like some help and advice getting it off the ground please join us at 10am this Wednesday […]
Newhaven town centre regeneration
Councillor James MacCleary (pictured), Leader of Lewes District Council and ward councillor for Newhaven South, said: “I’m obviously pleased that the town where I live is set to receive this funding, it will allow us to kickstart some really important change in the town and create yet more momentum behind the longer-term […]
Live Q&A: Waste and Recycling – Wednesday 23 December at 10am
For the final live Leader’s Q&A of the year, Cllr James MacCleary will be joined by Cllr Julie Carr, Lead Member for Recycling, Waste and Open Spaces and Sean Towey, Head of Environment First, who will be giving a few key updates and answering any questions you have about these services. Please join […]
Council takes ‘decisive step’ to build community wealth in Lewes district
Cabinet councillors today (Thursday, December 10) agreed an ambitious action plan to build local wealth in the Lewes district based on recommendations from a national economic thinktank report. Lewes District Council made a commitment to community wealth building (CWB) in its Corporate Plan adopted in February 2020 and commissioned the Centre for Local Economic Strategies (CLES) to undertake a study over the summer involving in-depth interviews with council staff and […]
Council offers financial lifeline to people suffering hardship
Lewes District Council will provide increased support to people in financial distress and on low incomes, Cabinet councillors agreed today (Thursday, December 10). The Local Council Tax Reduction (LCTR) scheme for working-age people has been running since 2013 and awards a council tax reduction up to maximum of 80% of a person’s council tax liability and is means-tested. […]
Environment Agency to consider options for tackling cliff erosion
Cabinet councillors at Lewes District Council have welcomed an Environment Agency led initiative to better understand what viable options exist for managing the risks posed by cliff erosion at Telscombe Cliffs The stretch of coast from Ambleside Avenue South to Southern Water’s Portobello Works is undefended from erosion by the […]
Council to sell minority share in North Street Quarter to Human Nature Deal is subject to planning permission being secured
Cabinet councillors at Lewes District Council have agreed to sell their minority share in the North Street Quarter site in Lewes to Human Nature, subject to the developer securing planning permission for the new scheme that it wants to bring forward. The decision follows the news last week that MAS […]
Local Lib Dems call for £1,000-a-year boost for over 1,500 carers in Lewes District
Local Lib Dem parliamentary spokesperson, James MacCleary, is calling on the Government to raise Carer’s Allowance by £1,000 a year, to help support 1,515 unpaid carers in Seaford, Newhaven, Lewes, Ringmer and the rest of Lewes District during the coronavirus pandemic. The party’s leader, Ed Davey ( pictured) who has […]
Live Leader’s Q&A – Wednesday 9 December at 10am
Councillor James MacCleary will be hosting this week’s live Leader’s Q&A. As well as the usual updates, James will be talking to Helen Browning-Smith about the Shop Independent at Christmas campaign – this will include how you can win a hamper of locally produced goodies by supporting local independent traders! […]
Spending review a ‘missed opportunity’ says James MacCleary
The government’s Spending Review announced by the Chancellor is a ‘missed opportunity’ says James MacCleary, Liberal Democrat parliamentary spokesperson for Lewes.The Spending Review announced no extra support for the 3 million people taxpayers who have received no support from the government during Covid-19 or for carers, children living in poverty or […]
Council leaders appeal to Chancellor: ”Don’t forget district councils”
The leaders of Lewes District Council have appealed to the Chancellor of the Exchequer to not forget the role played by district councils in tackling the impact of Covid-19 and supporting local economic recovery. The Covid-19 pandemic has left the council facing up to a £12m shortfall over this year […]
Lewes District Council calls on Lewes MP to oppose government planning reforms
Lewes District Council has supported a motion calling on Maria Caulfield, MP for Lewes, to oppose the government’s proposed planning reforms. Councillor Robert Banks, ward councillor for Plumpton, East Chiltington, Streat and St John Without, brought the motion at Full Council on 23rd November. Councillor Banks said: “The cross-party opposition […]
Council extends orders to prevent anti-social behaviour
Lewes District Council has renewed two Public Spaces Protection Orders (PSPOs) to prevent street drinking and dog fouling. PSPOs are measures councils can use to protect the community from anti-social behaviour and they restrict what people can do in specific areas. The two orders, which were put in place in 2017 for three years, were due to expire this month unless renewed. […]
Local Restrictions Support Grant portal is now live
The Local Restrictions Support Grant portal is now live. These grants are to help businesses which have been mandated to close during the current lockdown by central government. For details about eligibility and to apply visit www.lewes-eastbourne.gov.uk/…/help-for-businesses/. If you need help understanding the schemes put in place to help businesses through […]