Working for the Social, Economic and Environmental Well-Being

RYE TOWN COUNCIL working for the social, economic and environmental well-being of the Antient Town of Rye

NEWS – JANUARY 2010

POWER-FULL

On 9 November Rye Town Council became only the third town or parish council in East and West Sussex to be eligible to exercise the power of well being and was the first of the 31 Rother local councils. Previously the Town Council was restricted on how much it could spend on activities for which it had no statutory power. However, subject to certain caveats, such as not being able to raise tax directly, the Town Council now has the power to do anything it considers would promote or improve the economic, social or environmental well being of the parish. To be eligible to exercise the power the Council had to meet the following conditions: having a Qualified Clerk and at least 80% of Councillors trained in the use of the new power, at least two-thirds of vacancies being filled at the last ordinary elections, and publication of a community engagement statement of intent (see www.ryetowncouncil.gov.uk). The new power gives the Council greater flexibility, should it be required. It could, for example, team up with a registered social landlord to build and rent out affordable accommodation, run a post office in the absence of another operator, support the fishing industry locally, or even sponsor a local contender for the Olympics. However, the power of well being is not accompanied by ‘new funding’, the Council would still need to raise any additional monies needed from traditional sources such as taxation, loans, grant funding, revenue from services provided or investment income.

PLAN LATEST

The Rye Local Action Plan has now been published and copies may be collected from the Town Hall (Mon-Thurs, 9am- 1pm). Early in the New Year the various stakeholders associated with the ‘actions’ within the document will be invited to the Town Hall to discuss how to proceed. Members of the public are welcome to get involved in any of the actions of interest to them. Contact: Richard Farhall, 223902 or email [email protected].

ALLOTMENTS UPDATE

The Town Council is continuing to take legal advice over Rother District Council’s refusal to return the freehold of the two remaining allotments sites in Rye – South Undercliff and Love Lane. The Town Council holds the view that its decision to pass the sites to Rother in 1976 was mistaken because the Local Government Act 1972 states that in an area which is parished the parish council is the Proper Allotments Authority – and neither, at that time, did Rother District Council have the ‘power of well being’ to fall back on. The Town Council considers that it effectively delegated the function – with the associated land – and can ask for the function to be returned to it at any time (which it has done). Rother’s response to resolve the dispute consisted of an offer to the Town Council of a long leasehold on both sites for a minimum period of 99 years at a peppercorn rent. This offer (since withdrawn) was unacceptable to the Town Council because it could be misconstrued as legitimising Rother’s freehold claim.

PLANNING APPLICATIONS

If you write to the Town Council objecting to (or supporting) a planning application you must make sure you write also to the Planning Authority, Rother District Council. It is Rother which determines applications and the Town Council does not automatically forward letters from members of the public to it.

EMERGENCY PLANNING

The Town Council has formally adopted Part 1 of a Rye Emergency Plan, produced by the Rye Emergency Action Community Team – which comprises Anthony Kimber (Chairman), John Holbrook (Secretary), Cllr Granville Bantick, John Izod, Paul Carey (former Mayor) and Richard Farhall (Town Clerk). It can be viewed in the News section of www.ryetowncouncil.gov.uk or a copy may be requested by ringing the Town Hall (223902). If you find yourself in the unfortunate position of needing sandbags you can obtain them free of charge (max 12 per household) from the Rother Community Help Point – to be found on the ground floor of 25 Cinque Ports Street (opposite Rye DIY). Please note that you will need to find the sand – and fill the bags – yourself!

KEEP RYE TIDY!

A reminder to those of you living – or owning residential property – within the Conservation Area that plastic sacks containing general waste should be put out as close as possible to the collection time in order to reduce the risk of the contents being scattered by gulls!

CARBON FOOTPRINT

The Council has agreed to support and (in principle) act as a joint lead on a funding bid for £500,000 from Phase 2 of the Low Carbon Communities Challenge. The Department of Energy and Climate Change is prepared to provide 20 communities with £500,000 capital funding each for projects designed to reduce carbon emissions. Rother District Council is steering the bid which has seen the formation of a Rye Low Carbon Communities Group – the membership of which includes the Town, District and County Councils; Rother Environmental Group and Rye Harbour Nature Reserve. During a recent brainstorming session, ideas for suitable projects included: the installation of electric charging points; electric vehicles for Rye Harbour Nature Reserve and Rye & District Community Transport; electric car hire in Station Approach; a local waste & recycling centre; solar heating of Rye Pool; re-creating saltmarsh; an electric car pooling scheme; environmental education centre, completing the National Cycle Network (between Tillingham Sluice and Monkbretton Bridge). At least 450 expressions of interest are known to have been submitted; the outcome of Rye’s bid should be known early in the New Year.

The County Council has submitted a planning application (RR/2866/CC) to construct a Multi Use Games Area (MUGA) at Rye College. The Town Council will consider its response at its Planning & Townscape Committee meeting scheduled for Monday 4 January, 6.30pm.

SURGERIES

The next four Councillor Surgeries will be attended by: Jan 6 Frank Palmer and Ian Potter Feb 3 Shaun Rogers and David Russell Mar 3 Mary Smith and Sam Souster April 14 David Wright and Granville Bantick

If you would like to book a 15-minute slot at the Town Hall please ring 223902 by noon on the day of the surgery. The first appointment available is at 6.30pm. Andy Hemsley’s weekly Thursday drop-in surgeries at Rye Town Hall remain suspended. Andy is generally in Rye on Fridays and may be contacted on 01424 856781. Michael Foster MP holds a monthly surgery at the Town Hall on the second Friday of the month. To make an appointment please ring 01424 464604 or email [email protected]

______RYE TOWN COUNCIL INFORMATION

FORTHCOMING TOWN COUNCIL MEETINGS All are open to the public. You are welcome to attend, ask questions and express any concerns at meetings of the full Council and Planning Committee. Meetings are held at the Town Hall, with the first listed commencing 6.30pm unless indicated otherwise

Jan 4 Planning & Townscape 18 Planning & Townscape, Policy Feb 1 Planning & Townscape, Public Services 8 Council, Leisure & Tourism 15 Planning & Townscape Mar 1 Planning & Townscape 15 Planning & Townscape ` 24 Annual Town Meeting (Rye College, 6.30pm for 7pm start) 29 Planning & Townscape, Council

CONTACTING RYE TOWN COUNCIL by post Town Hall, Market Street, Rye TN31 7LA by phone 223902 by fax 227706 by email [email protected] web www.ryetowncouncil.gov.uk

Principal staff Town Clerk Richard Farhall Assistant Town Clerk Judy Pettitt Councillors BANTICK Granville 25 Udimore Road, Rye TN31 7DS t 227724 BREEDS John 71 Udimore Road, Rye TN31 7EA t 222554 (Deputy Mayor) e [email protected] BREEDS Jonathan The Standard Inn, The Mint, Rye TN31 7EN t 225996 ELLIOTT Brian The Windmill, Ferry Rd, Rye TN31 7DW t 224027 e [email protected] FIDDIMORE 8 Doleham Cottages, Doleham Hill, Guestling TN35 4NA t 01424 Bernardine e [email protected] 814194 HALL Lorna Rolvendene Farm, Love Lane Rye TN31 7NU t 229808 e [email protected] HOLMES Sonia* 23 North Salts, Rye TN31 7NU t 222068 e [email protected] KIRKHAM Jo 10 Cadborough Cliff, Rye TN31 7EB t 222562 OSBORNE Paul Cadborough Cottage, 170 Udimore Road, Rye t/f 222415 TN31 6AA m 07973 742210 e [email protected] PALMER Frank 4 The Strand, Rye TN31 7DB t 222603 POTTER Ian 146 Udimore Road, Rye TN31 7DZ t 223453 ROGERS Shaun 103 Winchelsea Road, Rye TN31 7EL t 223942 m 07983 098284 e [email protected] RUSSELL David* Mountsfield, Rye Hill, Rye TN31 7NH t/f 227106 SMITH Mary 10 Tower St, Rye e [email protected] t 227569 SOUSTER Sam 96 Udimore Road, Rye TN31 7DY t 224305 (Mayor) e [email protected] WRIGHT David 11 Landgate, Rye TN31 7LH t 227696 m 07703 214793 e [email protected] * also a Rother District Councillor for Rye Surgeries

Rye Town Councillors hold regular surgeries at the Town Hall on the first Wednesday of the month, 6.30pm-7.30pm. If you would like to discuss an issue or concern please ring Judy on 223902 to make an appointment.

Rye Heritage Centre

Home of the Rye Town Model, a gift shop, Old Pier Amusements and collection point for the Rye Audio Walking Tours. Operated by Rye Town Council. t 226696. www.ryeheritage.co.uk.

Useful Contacts

East Sussex County Council t 01273 481000 www.eastsussexcc.gov.uk MP (Michael Foster) t 01424 464604 Rother District Council t 01424 787878 www.rother.gov.uk Rother Homes t 0845 3550999 www.horizon-hg.org.uk Rye Community Help Point t 222293 Rye County Councillor (Keith Glazier) t 229581 e [email protected] Rye Partnership t 229600 www.ryepartnership.org.uk Rye Tourist Information Centre t 229049