The Arun District has three main towns; Arundel, Bognor Regis and Littlehampton. The old town and former river port of Arundel was established on the south western side of the river valley etched through the South Downs by the forerunner of the River Arun. The Arun is the second fastest flowing river in England (after the River Severn, Bristol) and is tidal beyond Houghton Bridge, Amberley. The Romans named the river ‘Trisantona’ ~ ‘The Great Wanderer’ and the course of the river has been periodically channelled across the coastal plain to enter the English Channel at the working port of Littlehampton. The communities of the Arun District have progressively settled across the coastal plain. Protection from river and coastal flooding are a significant part of the local government’s strategic planning.
Arundel
The first reference to ‘Harundell’ was recorded in AD877 when King Alfred bequeathed the fortified redoubt (built against the invading Danes) to his nephew Aethelm. Roger de Montgomery - elevated to the title of ‘Earl of Chichester and Arundel’ by his cousin William the Conqueror after the Norman victory at the ‘Battle of Hastings’ - founded Arundel Castle on Christmas Day, 1067. The enlarged and present medieval styled Castle was the creation of Henry the 15th Duke of Norfolk and construction was completed in 1903. Arundel Castle with its estate of 40 acres has become the second largest English Castle (Windsor Castle being the largest) and is one of the great baronial ancestral homes of England. On his coming of age on the 7th June 1870 Henry founded a Catholic Church designed and built in the ‘French Gothic’ style. In 1965, it became a Cathedral under the new diocese of ‘Arundel and Brighton’ and was rededicated as the ‘Cathedral Church of Our Lady and St. Philip Howard’. Philip, the 13th Earl of Arundel was canonised in 1970. These two buildings dominate Arundel’s skyline and dictated the town’s growth and configuration. The High Street, said to be the steepest in England, follows the line and direction of the Castle wall.
Bognor Regis
From a small Anglo-Saxon fishing village recorded in AD680 as ‘Bucgan ora’ (Bucgan’s shore) Bognor Regis is now an established seaside resort of some 22,555* residents. Bognor holds England’s record for the most recorded hours of sunshine and has been a popular destination for bathing since Sir Richard Hotham established the first ‘Summer Season’ in 1791. Sir Richard’s ‘Hotham House’ built in 1792 is considered one of the best Georgian houses in the County. Bognor was the setting for Jane Austin’s (unfinished) work ‘Sandition’ published in 1925. The pier and esplanade were constructed in 1865. Bognor was granted ‘Regis’ status by George V in 1929. Bognor Regis was part of the Chichester Parliamentary Seat until 1974 when it was joined with ‘Arundel and Shoreham’. In the 1997 reorganisation a new constituency was created linking Bognor Regis with Littlehampton. Bognor now benefits from a resurgence of interest in holiday taking in British seaside resorts.
Littlehampton
Littlehampton also has Anglo-Saxon origins; ‘Hampton’ was probably a Roman settlement (as ‘ham’ and ‘ton’ denotes) founded on the east bank of the River Arun. With a high tidal range and shifting sand-bars the coast has caused many ships to founder attempting access to the river mooring. The Dukes of Norfolk owned much of Littlehampton from 1610 until the 1930s. In 1672, the port and main quay were extended as a ‘Royal Dockyard’ and as a victualing point for Henry VIII’s warships. Upstream Arundel continued as an active river port until the 1820s and sailing ships were towed up river by a paddle-driven steamer tug – the ‘Jumna’. Littlehampton officially became a town in 1853 (motto: ‘PROGRESS’) and the advent of the railway a decade later opened the town to summer tourism and soon became a popular holiday destination. A cross-channel ferry operated from Littlehampton until 1882 when the ferry service was moved to the deeper draught port of Newhaven. Littlehampton was also a favourite town with artists and writers, such as JMW Turner, PB Shelley, ST Coleridge and Lord Byron – who reputedly swam often in the River Arun. The Parliamentary Boundary Changes of 1997 removed Littlehampton from the ‘Arundel and Shoreham’ constituency and adjoined it instead with Bognor Regis.
The Last National Census (2001) recorded the population of the Arun District as 140,787* composed of 47% male and 53% female gender. The mid-2004 estimate is 144,300* residents. Those ‘economically active’ numbered 61,627 (1999 figures*); 32% of Arun’s ‘economically active’ commute outside the Arun area for employment while 68% live and work within (1991 census*).
The main employment in the Arun District is predominantly linked to tourism, the rural economy (viz: agriculture and horticulture – the District has the largest cultivation under glass in Europe), the public sector, small engineering, distribution trades and business services. The commuters are employed mainly in financial, business and public services. Unemployment levels are 2%*
NB: There is a digest of the District Council’s advice on ‘Coping With Emergencies’
at the foot of this webpage; for full information visit www.arun.gov.uk
West Sussex is the tenth largest local authority in the country, with 105,000 pupils attending 295 schools and four pupil referral units. wsgfl.westsussex.gov.uk
For full information contact : www.arun.gov.uk ‘
Verdant’ is Arun District Council’s Waste Contractor
Refuse
There is a limit on the volume of refuse a household can put out each week. The maximum amount of refuse households can place is up to five standard size black sacks a week; these are the equivalent of 240 litre wheeled bin.
Refuse will be collected each week from the edge of your property nearest the highway and should be put out for collection by 07.00 hrs.
To find your refuse day and recyclables collection week connect to the interactive webpage on http://www.arun.gov.uk
If your refuse or recyclables have not been collected by 17.00 hrs please report it to Arun District Council on 01903 737754.
Green Waste Club (GWC)
Contact Verdant on 01903-734520
For a payment of £84.22 [including VAT and bin hire] a fortnightly garden waste collection service from the front of your property is available to GWC members.
GWC started in 2004 and has 7,000+ members. The scheme is processing 100 tonnes a week into high grade compost certified by the ‘Composting Association’ and approved by ‘Organic Farmers and Growers Association’
GWC members can benefit from 25% discount when purchasing ‘Earth Cycle’ compost from designated retailers within the Arun District.
Recycling
Wheeled recycling bins with a blue top have now been delivered to all suitable properties in Arun District. If you have not received a wheeled recycling bin please contact Arun District Council on 01903-737754www.arun.gov.uk/recycling
Some properties may be unsuitable for wheeled bins and sacks are provided instead.
The following is approved for recycling in the wheeled bin: these can be mixed together loose; not in plastic bags; tops should be removed from plastic bottles & cans and bottles rinsed clean.
Newspaper, magazines, brochures, directories, junk mail.
Cardboard packaging, greeting cards and similar.
Aluminium cans and tins.
Plastic bottles; milk, juice, fizzy drinks, detergents and similar.
If in doubt consult the recycling sticker in each bin
Collected fortnightly on same day as refuse collection from front of your property from 07.00hrs
Glass
Please access www.arun.gov.uk for full details of what can be recycled in Household Waste Recycling Centres.
NB: Glass will not be collected. Please take glass bottles to the Neighbourhood Recycling Centres listed below:
Recycling Points
Aldingbourne
The Prince Public House
Aldwick
Avisford Park
West Meads Precinct Car Park
West Park
Angmering
Downsway Shopping Parade
Arundel
Canada Road
Crown Yard
Mill Road Car Park
Barnham
Parsonage Farm Shop
Bersted
Bersted Tavern, Chichester Road
Family Tree Public House
Royal Oak Public House
Bognor Regis
Hothampton Car Park
London Road Car Park
Regis Centre Car Park
Tescos
Wheatsheaf Public House
Clapham
Village Hall Car Park
East Preston
Lashmar Road
Willowhayne Crescent
Eastergate
Barnham Station car Park
Felpham
Arun Leisure Centre
Grasmere Close Car Park
Ferring
Ferring Street
Littlehampton
Wickbourne Stores, Clun Road
Manor House Car Park
Southfields Road
St. Martin’s Car Park
Swimming Centre Car Park
Tesco’s Supermarket
The Sportsman
Watersmead
Wick Street
Windmill Green
Middleton
Shrubbs Drive Car Park
Pagham
Kings Beach Hotel
Rustington
Broadmark Car Park
Churchill Car Park
Sainsbury’s Supermarket
Slindon
Mill Road
Walberton
London Road, Fontwell
Village Hall Car Park
Yapton
King George V Playing Fields
Household Waste Recycling Centres
Mon-Fri
Sat & Sun
Littlehampton Mill Lane, Wick
08.00 to 19.00
09.00 to 19.00
Bognor Regis, Shripney Road
08.00 to 19.00
09.00 to 19.00
The following can be taken for disposal at Household Waste Recycling Centres
Parish councils are the most local elected body within the English system of local government. Unlike district or borough, county and unitary authorities, a parish council represents the concerns and aspirations of a genuine community. Other tiers of local government, by contrast, have become largely a mosaic of different communities, sometimes with little environmental, social or economic ties, since the re-organisation of 1974.
"Parish" is an old English word that means a local territory or catchments area and in historical times played a very important role in the lives of people, from providing them with a sense of communal identity through to how they ere governed. A parish had two principal functions: firstly to act as a civil unit which was responsible for the collection of taxes and tithes, the dispensing of justice and the raising of armies; secondly it was an ecclesiastical institution served by a local church or chapel, with a priest or similar clergyman tending to the spiritual needs of local people.
By the late 19th Century, the two functions of civil and ecclesiastical parish were formally split in law. The civil parish went on to develop into the parish or town council today. The ecclesiastical parish is now an entirely separate body, usually with entirely different borders to their civil counterparts, and with the proliferation of different churches most people today will live in several different such religious parishes. Many civil parishes have since faded into history largely superseded by the new local government system that was created in 1974. See later for statutory powers of parish and town councils.
source National Association of Local Councils www.nalc.gov.uk
arundel town council
history
Arundel’s recorded history began with the Norman Conquest and construction of a castle overlooking the tidal estuary of the River Arun in 1067. The often turbulent relationship between the ruling feudal lords, the Church and the inhabitants of the former borough and town of Arundel perfectly mirrors the development of democracy in England.
The earliest record of a ‘mayor’ in Arundel is Richard Dodins in 1280. Fifteen years later in 1295, two representatives were sent to the ‘mother of all parliaments’ the ‘House of Commons’ by the borough of Arundel. A list of the names of ‘mayors’ dating from 1539 hangs in the Town Hall’s ‘Atherley Chamber’. Corporation status was legally confirmed on Arundel in 1580: granted with 16 burgesses – one of whom was Mayor – and 2 sergeants at mace, Their powers over the community were wide ranging at that time.
In 1677, seventeen years after the end of the ’English Civil War’ – and one hundred years before the start of the ‘American War for Independence’ - Arundel was given its ‘Town Charter’. The Arundel historian Dr. G.W. Eustace {1} attributes the creation of this ‘close corporation charter’ as the root cause for a decline in community leadership in the 17th and early 18th centuries.
Arundel’s community administration under the ‘close corporation charter’ has been described as:
"…unrepresentative of the people, irresponsible to public opinion …no general line of policy for the good of the town was laid down or followed, future considerations were sacrificed to its own immediate advantages, and the resulting limited horizon was the inevitable legacy ...to succeeding generations...”{2}
Later studies concluded the:-
“ ...close corporation” (Arundel) to have been corrupt and negligent; its main activity was eating and drinking while burgess vacancies were sold to the highest bidder ... It had become a kind of secret society or gentlemens’ club.” {2}“ A self-perpetuating oligarchy sustained itself on a mutuality of family and business relationships, social equality, political and religious compatibility. ”{3}
The 1830s ‘decade of reform’, especially the 1832 ‘Reform Act’ and the 1835 ‘Municipal Corporations Act’ swept away the ‘close corporation status’ in Arundel and gave wider representation to the people. 1836 is regarded as the starting point for modern local government organisation.
The Arundel corporation had made use of the Fitzalan Chapel vestry for its meetings and in order to return the Fitzalan Chapel to the Castle Estate, Bernard, 12th Duke of Norfolk constructed a new purpose built Town Hall for the Arundel community; this was completed in 1836 a year before Victoria became Queen.
Sixty six years later, Henry, 15th
Duke of Norfolk - who was responsible for the major reconstruction of
Arundel Castle and Cathedral - became Mayor, and
in 1902 presented the valuable Mayoral Chain to the Arundel borough: (recently
seen and valued on BBC television’s ‘The 2006 Antiques Roadshow’).
HRH
The Queen visiting Arundel in July 1954 courtesy of west
sussex past
courtesy of west
sussex past
Bernhard,
16th Duke of Norfolk unveiling the Arundel Borough Council's 'Armorial
Arms' on Arundel Quay, 1959 with the Borough Mayor, Aldermen and Councillors
present.
The Local Government Reorganisation Act of 1972 dissolved the ‘Borough’ status of Arundel that had existed for 900 years. Along with Bognor, Littlehampton and parts of the Chichester and Worthing Rural Districts, the future governance of Arundel was taken over by the new Arun District Council.
On the 31st March 1974 the last ‘true Mayor of Arundel - Alderman & Councillor Hugh Fox unveiled a commemorative plaque to the out going borough council:
“From Norman times Arundel had enjoyed the status of a borough, being so described in Domesday Book, and the ancient privileges of the Mayor and Councillors were confirmed by Queen Elizabeth I in 1586 and again exemplified by a charter granted by King Charles II in 1677. For over nine centuries Arundel played an important part in the history of Sussex.
This plaque is unveiled to record the cessation of the borough status of the town on March 31, 1974 in proud and honoured memory of a succession of Mayors and Councillors, who with the Earls of Arundel and the Dukes of Norfolk, have striven to maintain its dignity and traditions.
“Since William rose And Harold fell There have been Earls Of Arundel.”
Extract from West Sussex Gazette: ‘The Mayor, unveiling the plaque said that not only Arundel, but hundreds of other ancient boroughs throughout the land were that day losing their ancient status. He described the new local government reorganisation as “a new slaughter of the innocents,” and said that the new set-up would be “a civil servants’ paradise.”
“The office of Mayor will now be a mockery because every parish can have a mayor,” he said.
This was a very sad day”.
The Arundel parish council was created out of the ‘Successor Parishes Order’ of 1973. Those (16) former Borough councillors automatically became ‘parish councillors’ and the former Mayor Hugh Fox proposed councillor W.J (Bill) Redman (deceased in 2007) to become the first Arundel Mayor of the parish. The first resolution taken was to apply for the term ’town’ to be adopted which would allow the parish to adopt a ’mayor’. Hence the Arundel Town Council was formed.
First elections for twelve ’Arundel town councillors’ were held in 1976.
The Arundel Town Hall and other Borough properties passed in title to Arun District Council.
Following a town meeting it was decided that the ownership and annual costs of maintaining the Town Hall building (£500 p.a) would be “too burdensome” on the community; the town council entered into covenants with Arun DC for its future use of the building.
Arun DC allowed the town council to retain the former borough’s “regalia and badges of office”. Arun DC allowed the town council to retain certain “chattels” from the town hall which included a tractor and its trailer.
The Mayor’s robes created for the state visit of Queen Victoria were also retained and the robes of the former borough’s aldermen were given to the Duke of Norfolk’s Estate for exhibition. At a subsequent town council meeting it was decided that the mayor and councillors would wear robes and process on the annual Remembrance Day Service each November 11th.
The former Arundel ‘Armorial Bearings’ were also adopted by the payment of £45 with the College of Arms: a decision made from economy than tradition. A new Coat of Arms would have cost £340.
The Town Hall building was valued at that time at £70,000. The WSCC Magistrate’s Circuit Court leased the building for use as a local ‘Magistrate’s Court’ from 1974 and the income was set aside for the maintenance and overheads of the building.
present
arundel town council The Town Hall
Maltravers Street
Arundel
West Sussex
BN18 9AP
There are twelve Arundel town council members: one of whom is elected Mayor by the council members for a term of two years. The members are elected by public ballot. Only the Mayor receives an annual allowance from the Town tax precepts.
Mayor Wendy Eve and Deputy Mayor Anne Harriott ex-offico all committees
Finance and General Purposes Committee
Planning and Environmental Committee:
D. Ayling, N. Beere, C. Heriot, J.Stewart, M. Tu, D. Wood
N. Beere, M. Godfrey, V. Holland, P. Moss, H. Wilson
Town Hall Committee:
M. Godfrey, C. Heriot, P. Moss, J. Stewart, M. Tu
The Council accepts the ‘Quality Council Tests’ and will continue to work to achieve the standards set out in the ‘2000 Local Government Act’. The Council also accepts the ‘Code of Conduct Standards for Councillors’ as set out in the ‘Model Code’ contained in the ‘2000 Local Government Act’.
Mission Statement
Arundel Town Council will work with other agencies to provide a safe, high-quality environment to meet the needs of residents and visitors and defend the best interests of the Town for the benefit of everyone.
Town Council Priorities
To pursue Quality Council status
To develop the income potential and use of the Town Hall
To continue to work with Arun District Council and other interested parties to complete the ‘Big Picture’
To review recreational & leisure opportunities.
Aims & Objectives
To enable residents of Arundel & its surroundings to enjoy high-quality social, recreational and cultural facilities within the Town and seek the continuing improvement and development of these facilities in accordance with the wish of residents.
To encourage and promote the economic & commercial vitality of Arundel.
To preserve the unique identity of Arundel & promote its heritage.
To ensure that harmony exists between commercial and residential requirements
To consult with and take due regard of all comments received from other statutory bodies, voluntary organisations and individuals, to ensure an improving standard of service to meet local needs.
To represent the views and wishes of the people of Arundel.
To help create a socially inclusive and caring community which embraces all residents irrespective of their circumstances.
Standards of Performance
The Standards of Performance are the Targets that the Council will aim to achieve under normal circumstances.
1. All enquiries or complaints – either personal, by telephone, post or electronic mail will receive a formal acknowledgement within two working days.
The enquiry or complaint will be acknowledged by the Town Clerk then referred to any principal authority or Agency as necessary and passed to the Chairman of the appropriate Town Council committee.
The councillor will contact the person making the enquiry or complaint to explore the issue and will advise the Town Clerk so that any further action can be taken.
The principal Authority or other Agency will be requested to communicate their response direct to the complainant and advise the Town Council of the outcome.
When the matter is dealt with insofar as Arundel Town Council can progress matters, the Town Clerk will send a follow up satisfaction survey document to the originator of the enquiry or complaint.
2. All callers to the Town Hall will be dealt with in a considerate manner.
Arundel Town Council subscribes to a policy of considering and treating all people as equals.
Callers wishing to discuss any matter will be invited to sit in private and indicate to a member of staff the issue which is a matter of concern to them.
All visitors will receive a private and considerate hearing.
Any visitor with a disability will have access to special facilities at the Town Hall.
Large print copies of Agendas and Reports can be produced for any member of the public requesting them in that format.
3. Council and Committee Agendas
Agendas will be despatched to councillors to give at least three clear days notice prior to the Meeting
Agendas will be placed on the Town Council’s notice boards and dispatched to the press on the Friday of the week prior to the Metting.
4. Council and Committee reports / minutes
Reports will normally be produced and dispatched to councillors on the Friday following the Meeting.
The Recommendations from the Planning Committee will be dispatched to the Head of Planning Services at Arun District Council by fax or e-mail on the day following the Meeting and confirmed by first class mail.
5. Financial matters
The financial business of the Council will be conducted in accordance with the Financial Regulations currently in force.
The Town Clerk will provide the latest reconciled financial information to the Policy and Finance Committee at three monthly intervals or other frequency requested by the Committee.
The Town Clerk will provide up to date information to enable budget reviews to take place and advise councillors on any related issues.
The Town Clerk will provide up to date information to enable budget reviews to take place and advise councillors on any related issues.
Certified copies of the previous years accounts will be available for public inspection and a budget will be agreed for the following financial year by December.
A copy of the unaudited accounts will be published in the Annual Report of the Council.
6. Staff
The Town Clerk will be qualified and experienced in accordance with national guidelines
The Town Clerk will actively seek to improve his / her knowledge and skills related to the Council’s business and ensure that other Town Council employees have the opportunity for appropriate training.
The Town Clerk will receive an annual appraisal which will provide a training and development plan.
Councillors will attend training and development courses and seminars as may be necessary for the proper performance of their Office.
The Town Clerk will follow a recognised course of professional development to national standards
The Town Council will support the professional development of the Town Clerk through funding and appropriate study leave.
A training and development budget will be provided and reviewed annually.
7. Quality Control
The Council accepts the Quality Council Tests and will continue to work to achieve the standards set out in the Local Government Act 2000
The Council accepts the Code of Conduct Standards for councillors as laid out in the Model Code contained in the Local Government Act 2000
From 1889 and onwards, when civil parishes were officially created, a patchwork of legislation has developed the parish and town council and the powers they it enjoy. Consequently, there are many anomalies concerning the powers of parish and town councils, such as they have the right to appoint representation to the governing body of any primary school they are served by, but not any secondary school.
Power to participate in schemes of collective investment
Trustee Investments Act 1961, s.11
Land
Power to acquire by agreement, to appropriate, to dispose of
Power to accept gifts of land
Local Government Act 1972, ss.124, 126, 127
Local government Act 1972, s.139
Litter
Provision of receptacles
Litter Act 1983, ss.5,6
Lotteries
Powers to promote
Lotteries and Amusements Act 1976, s.7
Mortuaries and post mortem rooms
Powers to provide mortuaries and post mortem rooms
Public Health Act 1936, s.198
Nuisances
Power to deal with offensive ditches
Public Health Act 1936, s.260
Open spaces
Power to acquire land and maintain
Public health Act 1875, s.164
Open Spaces Act 1906, ss.9 and 10
Parish Property and documents
Powers to direct as to their custody
Local Government Act 1972, s.226
Public buildings and village hall
Power to provide buildings for offices and for public meetings and assemblies
Local Government Act 1972, s.133
Public Conveniences
Power to provide
Public Health Act 1936, s.87
Recreation
Power to acquire land for or to provide recreation grounds, public walks, pleasure grounds and open spaces and to manage and control them
Power to provide gymnasiums, playing fields, holiday camps
Provision of boating pools
Public Health Act 1875, s.164
Local Government Act 1972, Sched.14 para.27
Public Health Acts Amendment Act 1890 s.44
Open Spaces Act 1906, ss.9 and 10
Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976, s.19
Public Health Act 1961, s.54
Town and Country Planning
Right to be notified of planning applications
Town and Country Planning Act 1990, Sched.1, para.8
Tourism
Power to contribute to organisations encouraging
Local Government Act 1972, s.144
Traffic Calming
Powers to contribute financially to traffic calming schemes
Local Government and Rating Act 1997, s.30
Transport
Powers to spend money on community transport schemes
Local Government and Rating Act 1997, s.26-29
War memorials
Power to maintain, repairs, protect and adapt war memorials
War Memorials (Local Authorities' Powers) Act 1923, s.1; as extended by Local Government Act 1948, s.133
Water Supply
Power to utilise well, spring or stream and to provide facilities for obtaining water therefrom
Public Health Act 1936, s.125
source National Association of Local Councils www.nalc.gov.uk
Arun District Council is responsible for environmental health, housing, planning, building regulation and control, waste collection and cleansing services, collection of council tax* and rates, disbursements of benefits, licensing of premises, taxis, leisure centres and community safety.
*Council Tax is made up of charges from several organisations:
WSCC tax
Arun District Council tax
Sussex Police Authority
Parish & Town council tax
less any discounts, relief or rebate due to the individual
West Sussex County Council is made up of 70 Members elected to represent their local communities. The County Chairman, Margaret Johnson, is the apolitical guardian of the interests of all members of the Council and its processes, as well as being its principal non-political representative. The Chairman is assisted by a Vice-Chairman, Peter Moor.
The whole County Council is the principal forum for political debate. Its 70 members meet about six times a year, at County Hall, Chichester. The meetings of the County Council are open to the press and public.
The County Council makes decisions on key policy plans, and examines some seven of these each year. It questions Cabinet Ministers and the Leader on significant matters to do with their portfolios. It decides the composition and areas of competence of the Cabinet, to which it delegates responsibility for carrying out many of the County Council’s policies. It also appoints the select Committees, which examine and review decisions and actions of the Cabinet, as well as some non-executive committees and a Standards Committee. The Council’s political make-up (May 2006) is:
Conservative
46
Liberal Democrat
17
Labour
7
THE CABINET
The west Sussex Cabinet currently has ten members selected from the Conservative majority. The Cabinet proposes the key policy decisions of the Council, which are subject to agreement by the full County Council of 70 members. Each Cabinet Member has a portfolio of work for which they take personal responsibility. Most decisions are made by Cabinet Members individually, but some matters ( for example, those which affect more than one portfolio) are made by the Cabinet as a whole. Agendas and items to be discussed are published before the Cabinet meetings, which are open to the press and public. Cabinet meetings are held every month, normally at County Hall, Chichester.
WSCC
West Sussex County Council serves over 755,000 residents. WSCC is responsible for the provision of services including education, social care, highways, waste management, fire & rescue, libraries, county records, trading standards, planning and countryside services. WSCC works in partnership with seven district and borough councils who provide localised services, including waste collection, environmental health, leisure facilities, housing, licensing and local planning applications.
high sheriff
The Office of High Sheriff has its roots in Saxon times (from the Old English ‘shire-reeve’) and s the oldest secular Office under the Crown. The Sheriff was the special nominee of the Sovereign and originally held many of the powers now vested in the Lord-Lieutenant, High Court Judges, Magistrates, Local Authorities, Coroners and The Revenue.
The ‘Provisions of Oxford (1258) laid down a yearly tenure of office and the High Sheriff remains the Sovereign’s representative in the County for all matters relating to the Judiciary and maintenance of law and order. The appointments and duties of the High Sheriff is set out in the Sheriffs Act 1887.
They are responsible for the well being and protection of High Court Judges when on a circuit in the County and personally attends the opening ceremony; they execute High Court writs, appoints deputies and delegates to the professional services e.g the Chief Constable of Sussex Police, etc..
Each year the serving High Sheriff submits nominations of possible future sheriffs to a tribunal which approve three names to go forward to the Sovereign. The Sovereign selects the Sheriff to succeed and the term of office runs from end of March ( the pre-1752 civil and legal year) annually. No person may be chosen twice within a three year period unless no other is deemed suitable.
The present High Sheriff is Colin PJ Field, Esq JP
Under Sheriff of the Bailiwicks of East & West Sussex
Dial House, 221 High Street, LEWES BN7 2AE
tel: 01273-477071
The office of Lord-Lieutenant is military in origin and is said to date from the reign of Henry VIII when its holder was made responsible for the maintenance of order, and for all military measures necessary locally for the defence of the Realm. The Lord-Lieutenant is the Queen’s representative in the county and his first duty is to uphold the dignity of the Crown, while promoting a good atmosphere and a spirit of co-operation among voluntary services, benevolent organisations and the industrial and social life of the county. The main duties include:-
Arranging visits of Members of the Royal Family and escorting Royal visitors to the County
Participation in civic, voluntary and social activity within the county
Liason with local units of the Royal Navy, Army and Royal Air Force.
Presentation of medals and awards on behalf of the Queen
Leadership of the local magistracy as Chairman of the Advisory Committee on Justices of the Peace, liason with the Lord Chancellor and the Department for Constitutional Affairs, and carrying out the duties of Keeper of the Rolls
The current Lord-Lieutenant of West Sussex is Mr. Hugh Wyatt
Lieutenancy Office
County Hall
CHICHESTER
PO19 1RQ
tel: 01243-777697
VICE LORD-LIEUTENANT
Col.Sir Brian Barttelot Bt. OBE DL
DEPUTY LIEUTENANTS
Currently the Lord-Lieutenant is required to appoint up to forty-seven Deputies
Deputy Lieutenants for the county of West Sussex.
Anthony Aston OBE, DL
The Rt. Hon the Lord Egremont DL
Douglas J Mayne DL
John RT Barclay DL
Ian R W Elliott DL
The Duke of Norfolk DL
The Hon.Lady Fiona Barttelot MBE, DL
Brian Fieldhouse DL
Col John R G Putnam CBE, TD, DL
Sir Hugh P D Bennett, DL
Graham G Ferguson DL
Douglas P Rigg DL
David Bowerman JP DL
Richard H Goring DL
John A Rimmer DL
Dr. Norman D Boyland DL
Mrs. Penny Hardwick OBE JP DL
Jeffrey Sandiford DL
Mrs. Judith M Buckland MBE, DL
Dr. Alan Hayes CBE DL
Major Mark FH Scrase-Dickins CMG, DL
Mark W Burrell DL
Clifford L Hodgetts OBE, DL, LLB
John H S Shippam JP, DL
John M Campbell DL
Mrs. Lilian J H Holsworth MBE, JP, DL
Brian S L Trafford DL
The Lady Sarah Clutton DL
Mrs. Margaret D Johnson DL
David H Tupper DL
Mrs. Margaret E Collins DL
Mrs. Brenda P M Large DL
Leslie W Weller DL
The Rt. Hon the Viscount Cowdray DL
Mrs. Gillian M Loveless DL,BA
The Rt. Hon the Lord Young of Graffham PC, DL
The Rt. Hon the Lord Dholakia OBE DL
The Rt. Hon the Lord Luce GCVO, DL
Thomas J. Ebdon DL
Sir Michael Marshall DL
The Earl of March & Kinrara, DL
Mrs. Daphne Anthony, JP, DL
Mrs. Susan Pyper, DL
On the 25th October 2006, The Lord-Lieutenant of West Sussex, Mr. Hugh Wyatt appointed the following people to serve as Deputy Lieutenants for the County:
The Earl of March & Kinrara, DL
Mrs. Daphne Anthony, JP, DL
Mrs. Susan Pyper, DL
The Earl of March & Kinrara, DL, son of a former Lord-Lieutenant of the County, was the creator of the 'Goodwood Festival of Speed' and 'The Goodwood Revival'. He has managed the 'Goodwood Estate' for a number of years. Married with fve children, his interests include motor sports and photography, the latter being his first career under the name of Charles Settrington.
Mrs. Daphne Anthony, JP, DLworked from Shell Oil International and latterly as a civil servant in the Paymaster General's office in West Sussex. She has been a Justice of the Peace since 1978 and an Adviser to 'Crawley Citizens Advice Bureau' since 2000. A former Chairman of Governors of 'Thomas Bennett Community College', she will be one of the guests meeting HM The Queen and HRH The Duke of Edinburgh when they visit the College in November. Married to Robert, the couple have two daughters.
Mrs. Susan Pyper, DLis currently Chairman of the 'Royal West Sussex NHS Trust' in Chichester. A former Forensic Scientist with the Metropolitan Police, she also served 11 years as an Officer in the Royal Air Force. Since the 1990's she has been on the board of a number of NHS Trusts, and is presently Chairman of the 'Regional Environmental Protection Advisory Committee' and a Board Member and Trustee of the 'Sussex Community Foundation' Married to Jonathan, the couple have two children.
Deputy Lieutenants are appointed by the Lord-Lieutenant at his discretion, subject only to Her Majesty The Queen not disapproving of the granting of the commission. Appointment to the office is in recognition of distinguished service to the community, predominantly in a voluntary capacity, or to country or county. There are currently 43 Deputy Lieutenants geographically located over the county.
Although military in origin, the post no longer has any military significance, but every Deputy Lieutenant undertakes to assist the Lord-Lieutenant in the performance of any duties that may be laid upon him or her.
Keepers of the Rolls (Custos Rotulorum)
At least from the fifteenth century one Justice of the Peace ‘especially picked out either for wisdom, countenance or credit’* served as the Chief of the County Bench with the title Custos Rotulorum, or Keeper of the Rolls. The Rolls in question were the records of the Court of Quarter Sessions, an administrative as well as judicial body.
It was the Custos Rotulorum who appointed the Clerk of the Peace, the professional lawyer who advised the County Bench on points of law and originally lead for the Crown in criminal trials.
In many ways this position is parallel to the Office of the Master of the Rolls, the original function of which was the Superintendence of the Rolls Chancery. As the Chancery developed from the Royal Secretariat into a Court of Law the Office itself developed from an administrative to a judicial one.
The military Office of Lord-Lieutenant, originally an occasional one to which individuals were appointed when danger threatened, was grafted onto the older Office in the reigh of William and Mary as a way of giving the now permanent Lord-Lieutenant the senior seat on the Bench of Magistrates.
Master of the Rolls have an outstanding archival record. Their custody has been excellent – the Rolls survive almost unbroken from the 1190s. The Sussex incumbents have records of the Court of Quarter sessions dating from 1594.
*William Lambarde
www.westsussex.gov.uk
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Nicholas John Gibb won the constituency in 1997 with a majority of 7,321 and joined the front bench of William Hague as the spokesman on ‘trade and industry’ before being appointed to the ‘Conservative Parliamentary Social Security Select Committee’. He made his House of Common’s ‘maiden speech on 4th July 1997
In 1998 he rejoined the frontbench as a spokesman on the ‘Treasury’, returning to ‘trade and industry’ in 1999. Following the 2001 General Election he was briefly spokesman on ‘environment, transport and regions’. Following the 2005 General Election he has been spokesman on ‘education’ and under David Cameron’s party leadership is the ‘Shadow Minister for Schools’.
Born September 3rd 1960, Amersham, Buckinghamshire. Educated at Maidstone Grammer School, the Roundhay School, Leeds, Thornes House School, Wakefield and Durham University (St. Hilda & St. Bede) where he achieved an honours degree in law.
Nick Gibb was formerly with Nat West Bank and from 1984 a Chartered Accountant with KPMG specialising in corporate taxation. He is the author of numerous ‘think-tank’ reports for public policy on tax reform and economics.
Simplifying Taxes
Nick Gibb 1987
Duty to Repeal
Nick Gibb 1989
Adam Smith Institute
ISBN 1-870109-71-6
Bucking the Market
Nick Gibb 1990
Maintaining Momentum
Nick Gibb 1992
Nick Herbert MP Conservative Party
The Old Town Hall, 38 High Street, Steyning BN44 3YE
Nicholas Le Quesne Herbert won the constituency in May 2005 with a majority of 11,309 votes. He was a member of the home affairs select committee and spokesman and in December 2005 promoted to Shadow Minister for Police Reform by David Cameron. He made his first House of Common’s speech on June 6 th, 2005.
Nick is a seasoned campaigner for defending the rural way of life, keeping Britain out of the euro and improving public services. His grandparents farmed in Sussex and from 1990 to 1996 Nick worked for the British Field Sports Society becoming its Director of Political/Public Affairs. He joined Business for Sterling in 1998 as their Chief Executive where he helped launch the campaign to retain Sterling in the UK against the euro zone; he played a leading role in setting up the Countryside Movement which became the Countryside Alliance.
He became a director of the independent think-tank Reform which he co-founded in 2002 described as “ the most important think-tank to emerge for a decade”. Reform has promoted new ideas to tackle crime through ‘zero tolerance’ policing, improve schools and hospitals by giving people more choice, and reduce the burden of tax.
His predecessor in Arundel & South Downs, Howard Flight, Deputy Chairman of the Conservative Party was widely regarded by his constituents as an outstanding representative: fully endorsing Nick Herbert his successor has been described as “one of the most effective political campaigners of recent years”. Nick Herbert is currently involved with the Campaign to save local hospitals from closing A&E services.
Born 7th April,1963; educated at Haileybury School winning an Open Scholarship to Magdalene College, Cambridge where he read law and land economy.
Working for Arundel & South Downs
“We need to preserve our way of life and the rural environment. The Government’s imposition of 47,000 new houses on West Sussex is appalling. We do not have the infrastructure to support development on this scale. Decisions on whether to build new homes should be made by local people, not dictated by government or unelected bodies like SEERA – which the Conservatives will scrap.
One of the reasons that we have such pressure to build new homes is that immigration is out of control – it has trebled under the current Government. The net inflow of people to Britain each year is now 157,000 – equivalent to a new town one and a half times the size of Crawley every year. Firm new controls on immigration will allow development to be concentrated on brownfield sites.
Local people face long waits for some hospital treatments. This is unacceptable given the extra money that has been put into the NHS. Worse, people are acquiring the MRSA ‘superbug’ when they go into hospital. Conservatives are committed to eliminating waiting lists and ensuring that hospitals are clean.
Rising crime is not inevitable, nor do we have to put up with antisocial behaviour. The Conservative Party will increase the size of the Sussex police force by a quarter – that is more than 900 new police officers – and Nick will be pressing for the return of the village bobby. We need to restore a culture of respect in society. A good place to start is in schools, where the Conservatives have pledged that discipline will be a priority.
Taxes are set to riseto a 25-year high and council tax has become an increasingly onerous burden, especially for pensioners. Conservatives will give a permanent discount to pensioner households, halving their council tax bills, up to a maximum of £500 per year. We reject the Liberal Democrat’s plans for a local income tax, which would cost a typical household with two earners over six hundred pounds more each year – what we need is value for money. By cutting waste and bureaucracy it will be possible to deliver better services while ensuring that not a penny is taken away from frontline services such as health and education.”
Taken from Nick Herbert: Conservative party website
The following is a digest of advice given by the Arun District Council to the public for coping with emergencies; the full texts can be viewed at www.arun.gov.uk
Born in 1920 and educated at Plymouth College. Served in Royal Corps of Signals during the Second World War and awarded the 'Order of Imperial Service Medal' in recognition of 42 years of working with the Civil Service. Represented Findon as a Parish and District Councillor and appointed Chairman of Arun District Council 1992/93.
Particularly involved in environmental and social issues affecting the South Coast and also Chaired SCOPAC (Standing Conference on Problems Associated with the Coastline). Retired as a District Councillor in 1995. Highly regarded by his peers, many tributes have been made and he is fondly remembered by his former colleagues. A minutes silence was observed by the full Arun District Council in memory of Mr. Birt's life and work.
He is survived by his wife, Eileen, and two children.